Villa Aurum

Just a stone’s throw away from the glamourous town of Polignano a Mare which is home to some of Italy’s finest beaches you will find Villa Aurum. This rural escape sits in five hectares of private grounds filled with carob, citrus and olive trees plus fragrant juniper and lavender. Here guests can unwind in the serene setting and yet the town centre can be easily reached as it is only 4.5km away.

This spacious, contemporary villa is set over two floors, with the rooms lined with floor to ceiling windows and sliding doors on to the garden and terraces. The beautiful, ever-changing colours of the expansive sky pour in to the home and also light up the bright white exterior façade.

On the ground floor there are two living spaces where you can sip a glass of local wine and listen to music together in the evenings. If you visit in the winter months, the sitting room with cosy sofas and an open-fireplace is the perfect spot to gather, while on warmer days there is a sun room with a dining table and sofas overlooking the garden. You can opt to prepare meals indoors in the fully-fitted kitchen or outdoors using the summer kitchen which boasts a pizza oven!

There are nine bedrooms available where you can rest and recharge after busy days exploring Puglia’s sights. The ground floor is where you will find the majority of these rooms; there are four rooms with double beds on the ground floor and an additional three bedrooms with double sofa beds. The rooms with sofa beds can either be utilised as bedrooms or as extra living rooms for each of the other bedrooms, depending on the size of your group. These bedrooms all offer en-suite bathrooms with many opening out on to a furnished terrace area. The remaining two bedrooms are located upstairs and as this space has a kitchenette and a terrace of its own it could be used like a separate apartment by a family or a group of friends wishing to maintain a bit of their own space.

The rural area around the home is ideal for spending time outdoors in nature; near to the villa you are able to find horse treks, bike hire, tennis, fishing and water sports. If you would prefer a more relaxing day then why not head to a nearby vineyard for a tour and to sample the delicious wines. The nearest wine tastings take place just 2km away from the villa.

When you need to pick up some pastries for breakfast there are a few small shops close by but you may prefer to drive the 3.5km to the amazing town of Polignano a Mare, one of Puglia’s best-loved destinations. The town has a fantastic range of shops, cafes and restaurants, with everything from family run trattorias to fine dining eateries available here. There is also a picture-postcard old town with maze-like streets leading out on to bustling piazzas where you can visit a modern art gallery and ancient churches. Most people visit Polignano a Mare for its beaches which are stunning; you could visit a quiet beach like Ponte dei Lapilli or head to Bari’s most photographed beach, the breath-taking Cala Porto Beach.