Masseria Palane, in Lower Salento between the countryside of Castrignano del Capo and Patù, celebrated its tenth anniversary this year with a grand party on May 25th.
The ancient building, originally built as a farmhouse and later converted into a tobacco factory and then a warehouse for the Filanto footwear company, was a ruin when it was purchased by Linda and Roberta.
They shared the story of the farmhouse and how they, from Friuli Venezia Giulia, arrived in Salento.
From Friuli Venezia Giulia to Apulia
The two sisters had frequented the area since they were girls. Linda would spend her holidays in the villages where many of her Bologna university classmates were born, while Roberta worked in one of the most renowned villages on the Ionian coast as a sailing instructor. After purchasing a small house in Acquarica del Capo, Roberta served as the family’s summer base until they decided to all move to Salento and tasked their mother, Paola, an architect, with finding the ideal solution.
A week was enough to Paola’s special eye to identify the ideal structure. Within a year, with project approval and permits, and the following eight months of work with local workers, the property saw the light of day and became Masseria Palane, home to Roberta and Paola, who left Udine, and Linda, along with Davide and their daughter, who moved here from Bologna. When asked if they’ve ever regretted their choice, they unanimously answered with a resounding no!
The name chosen for their dream come true comes from the place, called Palane, which in turn refers to the prickly pear cactus blades that are everywhere here and have also become the symbol of the structure.
There are six guest rooms available. Three, called “Le Antiche Stanze”, overlook the internal courtyard and are named after the geographical areas that once constituted an Italy yet to be unified: Messapia, Esperia and Apulia.
The courtyard also provides access to the Ipogea Wellness Area, featuring a heated, naturally saltwater pool carved into the rock, with a hydromassage jet and neck massage jet, a large sensory shower, a massage area, and a relaxation corner with herbal teas.
The other three rooms are called “Patio” because each has a private porch overlooking the Mediterranean garden and pool. Their names refer to the Sea, the Sun and the Wind, the three words that define Salento. Ours? The large suite dedicated to the Sea, where our Otto was able to choose where to sleep in complete comfort. And it’s thanks to him, and his size, that we were assigned the largest room in the property!
Featuring two rooms, it accommodates up to 4 people and boasts a large bathroom featuring a shower… room: the glass door leads into a spacious space elongated by a Gothic vault covered in modern cement tiles, allowing for plenty of freedom of movement. Each room is unique, and all feature elegant furnishings that blend perfectly with the original star-vaulted spaces.
Opposite the entrance to Masseria Palane are two other buildings belonging to the property: the parking lot, enclosed by high walls and accessed through a remote-controlled gate, and the Dependance Atelier, so named because it is the space chosen by Paola to paint her paintings. The masseria has retained its rural spirit, from the internal courtyard to the stables, which are the recently completed part known as the Villa of Masseria Palane, connected to the main complex by a door leading to the pool but with a garden and independent entrance.
Despite the comforts and charming furnishings, reminiscent of the local area and the owners’ home region, with forays into the Campania region with its Vietri ceramics, Masseria Palane’s rural past shines through. Paola, Linda, and Roberta have resisted the temptation of the English lawn with automatic irrigation. In the garden, both the existing one and the green area that will be landscaped during the coming winter season, the main features are Mediterranean scrub, aromatic herbs, and olive and fig trees.
Inside the villa, there are two bedrooms with bathrooms and a private outdoor space, while the fully equipped kitchen and living room are shared. The garden, which will soon feature a large hot tub, also features an outdoor dining area illuminated by the iconic Puglian lights.
At Masseria Palane, four-legged friends of all sizes are welcome and can roam freely. The private green space with dedicated access and an outdoor shower is a definite plus for those of us who travel with our dogs. As for “two-legged friends,” Linda and Roberta kindly and cheerfully accommodate guests’ requests, organizing bike rides and walks to discover the Salento countryside, boat tours, meetings with artisans, visits to local food and wine producers, wine, oil, and other local produce tastings, fresh pasta-making classes, pizzica dance classes, and even stargazing with an astronomer.
We’d like to reserve our final words for Masseria Palane’s breakfast: we won’t forget the flavor of the delicious homemade treats served on the lavish buffet, from savory focaccia to soft ciambellone, from scrambled eggs with bacon to tarts and pasticciotti, from jams to freshly made natural smoothies. Plus, as cappuccino lovers, we assure you that Masseria Palane’s ranks at the top of our personal list!
Book your vacation at Masseria Palane and let us know if you’ll be won over by Linda and Roberta‘s pampering, which begins in the morning and continues until sunset, the perfect time to enjoy an aperitif by the pool after a refreshing swim.
Masseria Palane
Via Trieste, 115 – Castrignano del Capo (LE)
Info: +39 388 996 6930 – info@masseriapalane.com
