Luxury, Villa, Puglia, Italy, Pool, Beach

Sitting high on a plateau overlooking the bay of Serotinus Elena, the villa has a spectacular view of where the Ionian and Adriatic seas meet. Chic and stylish interiors have been achieved in the traditional Puglian building and the lovely beaches of the ‘heel’ of Italy are a stone’s throw away.

Serotinus Elena sits in a lush Mediterranean garden of pine trees and ‘Macchia’ scrub (reminiscent of the Corsican ‘Maquis’) through which the bedrock protrudes in a fashion characteristic of this area of Puglia. The view over the bay of Leuca is fantastic here, at the very end of Italy, where the Ionian and Adriatic meet.

The villa is architect designed in stylish white curves, the walls massively thick to insulate agaoinst the heat of a Puglian summer. Interior spaces flow into one another and the clean lines and neutral colours create a beautifully cooling effect. The whole property is air-conditioned but it has also been designed cleverly so that bedrooms are at the rear which is much cooler. There are pergolas shading the front and rear of the villa, under which guests may dine al fresco but there is also a large formal dining room with crystal table. All the bedrooms have private entrances and the whole villa is furnished and equipped to a very high standard.

Puglia is a fascinating region with so much to see and do be it historical, cultural or more active. Situated above the charming town of Leuca, villa Serotinus Elena offers guests the opportunity to experience the preferred riviera life of the Romans. There are plenty of great bars and restaurants, an incredible coastline on either side of the ‘heel’ which can be explored by boat or car and the towns of Lecce, Otranto and Gallipoli with their beautiful churches, castles and architecture. Further north are Ostuni and Albarobello, famous for its ‘trulli’ and lots of pretty little villages. There are two boats in Leuca marina at the disposal of guests on a daily rate basis to explore the coves and grottos of this fscinating coastline. Puglianese people are warm and hospitable - their hand gestures enormous! - the food is a well-kept secret and there are many excellent wines, including Negroamaro and the Primativo.

Perfect Italian summer living awaits guests at Serotinus Elena - the perfect antidote to British summers!

ps. One of my favourite restaurants in the whole of Italy is the Lilith in Lecce. Fabulous cuisine, typical of the region (0832 241194 Via Principi di Savoia,39)