The Thinking Traveller: Masseria Mangiamuso
It’s hard to capture the soul of Masseria Mangiamuso in 50 seconds, but after spending a week here in June with my family, that’s the one thing I came away with. Memories filled with joy, pure soul - and full tummies. It feels like we have added to the 500 plus year history, which seems to happen whenever I stay at a The Thinking Traveller property. It was a week we will remember and tell stories about for years to come, pouring over photos and remembering the magic of this truly special place.
Rising proudly from the whispering olive groves that surround it, Masseria Mangiamuso is a fortified farmstead dating back to the 17th century. Once the beating heart of a busy agricultural estate, today it is an oasis of Puglian tranquillity, with carefully conserved original features, an abundance of space, contemporary comforts on tap, and a gorgeous pool - all just a couple of kilometres from stunning Ostuni and the Adriatic Sea.
The gorgeous home chef, Maria spent time in the kitchen with my sister Amanda, food editor of Australian House and Harden Magazine, along with local pizza Heros who showed us how to make the tastiest traditional pizza, cooked in the original pizza oven on the property.
The olive groves which surround the property are truly special, and feel like calming giants while I wondered around the garden in the early evening.
Masseria Mangiamuso rises on an olive carpeted coastal plain midway between the gorgeous white, hill-top town of Ostuni and the small Adriatic resort of Villanova, with its beach, seafront restaurants and shops. The rolling Puglian hills of the nearby Valle d'Itria are home to several picturesque towns and villages, including Cisternino, Locorotondo and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alberobello - trulli central! All, including Ostuni, have regular markets, as well as a great selection of bars, trattoria and restaurants. Other wonderful towns within an easy drive include the Baroque centre of Lecce and the lovely coastal towns of Monopoli and Polignano a Mare.
I truly had the most special week there with my family, and every time I stay with The Thinking Traveller it feels more than just a holiday, it feels like I have moved to a new country and immersed myself in the European culture, all while enjoying a unique property, and its these holidays I will never forget.