Overview If a holiday ‘away from it all’ is what’s needed, then Puglia’s Salento is the perfect destination. Most Italians barely know where the region is - far less what’s to be found there - with the result that, for the past five or so years, Puglia has been quietly collecting urban refugees from all over the world, who come to enjoy the region’s stark beauty and varied history, its delectable Primitivo wines, perfect beaches and fantastically fresh seafood. Masseria Varano is a freshly restored farming estate with two pretty, self-sufficient guest houses that can be rented separately or together. Simply but very comfortably furnished, each has a full complement of amenities, from air-conditioning to ensuite bathrooms, as well as access to a large private swimming pool. Those perfect beaches are ten minutes away; historic evidence is easily witnessed at Gallipoli, a Byzantine port on the Ionian Sea, or Lecce, where the Roman Empire and 17th century Baroque collide at every corner.
