Luxury villa in Italy, Puglia, 17th century restored olive mill, Original features, Ideal for two families, Beach nearby, Cook service, En suite bathrooms, Family owned, Heated pool, Mountain biking, Open fireplace, Peaceful and quiet, Tastefully furnished, Well equipped kitchen

Olive Mill, Ostunia, Puglia, Italy (Sleeps 12 + 1)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Lovely, restored 17th century olive mill
• 12m swimming pool with lovely views
• Original stone features 
• Elegant furnishings with contemporary touches
• Ideal for two families
• Views of nearby Ostuni

This 300-year old olive mill is entirely built in stone and has been painstakingly and lovingly restored by its owners to ensure that all the original features were returned to their original condition. The mill was where all the local olives would have been taken for conversion to olive oil up until the second  world war, and the family still produce their own oil. The property stands in its own grounds of one hectare, and is surrounded by thousands of olive trees intermingled with huge prickly pear cacti and honey-coloured dry stone walls; a most unusual landscape and more reminiscent of parts of Greece than Italy.

The owners were very keen that the building’s decor should focus on the beautiful ancient stone walls. It has been tastefully furnished with a few well chosen pieces and an eclectic mix of classic and antique furniture. However, the house also has modern comforts, such as air-conditioning in six of the seven bedrooms and under-floor heating on both floors, plus Egyptian cotton linen to ensure the best night’s sleep.

Once inside the mill, you pass through glass doors that open on to the long sitting room (soggiorno), which is where the pressing originally took place. This fabulous room has a superb lighting system, designed to illuminate the arches and stone columns from below, through the glass floor panels. There is a dining area at one end and a further small sitting room with its own fireplace. Leading off the sitting room is the large, well equipped kitchen, which has a stone table for 10 people to sit comfortably, and French windows opening onto the garden and pool area. There is also an open fireplace here for cosy winter dining.
There are also two twin bedrooms on the ground floor that share a bathroom, and an additional room suitable for a nanny.

On the first floor, there are two double bedrooms, both with en suite bathrooms, which are accessed via the terraces with outdoor steps. There is a spiral staircase to the rear of the kitchen, which takes you up to a double bedroom with an interconnecting twin bedroom, both en suite, perfect for a family with small children.

Spacious terraces surround the first floor and are ideal for sunbathing and enjoying wonderful views out to the sea and over the rooftops of Ostuni. The back terrace is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a chilled sundowner and indulge in some magical star gazing.

At lunch time or in the evening, there are perfect settings in the walled garden in front of the house for dining al fresco: the pergola has an open fireplace, or there is also a large stone table under the shade of an olive tree, with a small outdoor kitchen for barbeques. Beyond the garden is the heated pool, ensuring that your children are in full view without being adjacent to the house. There are steps leading down to a 4m long shallow end.
Staying in the Olive Mill feels like one is in the middle of the countryside, yet civilization is actually quite close by, with a supermarket only 500 metres away, a beach just a short drive of 5kms and the beautiful and historic city of Ostuni just 1.5kms drive.

There are wonderful little towns and villages to be visited in this delightful area. Most interesting is Alberobello, famous for its thousands of trulli, the world famous circular stone houses with cone-shaped roofs. The Grotte de Castellana have amazing underground caves and passages. Festivals are also in plentiful supply, with many visitors descending on the area in high season to see the decorated streets and sample the local food of the small towns with their fascinating centro storicos.

2009 PRICE from:
Low season £1,950
Mid season £2,950
High season £3,950