Masseria Le Mandorle
Thoughtfully and sustainably renovated to balance the original stone with contemporary materials, this impressive property is a celebration of the surrounding landscape
Masseria Le Mandorle is a large and luxurious villa for 16 that sits within the Porto Selvaggio nature reserve and is surrounded by three hectares of private parkland.
The original core of a 16th-century farmhouse has been restored and updated, with a rebalance of the different architectural languages that reflect the building’s history. The result is a cohesive mix of old and new, with redesigned interior spaces that connect with nature through expansive glass walls, including a seven-metre-tall, glazed atrium that connects the two historic wings.
Sustainability was at the heart of the restoration and local stone sits alongside exposed concrete, reclaimed wooden beams and micro-resins, while the interior design and artworks reflect a contemporary aesthetic and include designers such as Eames, Castiglioni and Massironi.
The architecture will wow guests and brings a level of comfort to match. The living space is vast but cleverly zoned and includes two fireplaces, one of which is built into a 12-metre-long wall of concrete - an artwork in itself. Meanwhile, the bedroom suites are large and luxurious in a high-end minimalist manner.
Outside, there is a 15-metre pool in a semi-walled garden in the olive grove, an orchard and vegetable garden where guests can help themselves, a large terrace on the first floor and shaded dining and lounge terraces on the ground floor, all with fabulous sea views.
This is a phenomenal property in a privileged location on the west coast of Italy’s heel, with some of the best beaches and baroque towns of the Salentine peninsular on the doorstep.
