Anchored among centuries-old olive trees on the Adriatic coast of Puglia, a sixteenth-century masseria watchtower rising above the Valle d'Itria flatlands became the structural heart of Masseria Torre Maizza when Rocco Forte Hotels took over the property. The tower — its crenellated profile still visible above the estate's whitewashed sprawl — sets the architectural register for everything beneath it: thick masonry walls, barrel-vaulted ceilings rendered in rough lime plaster, and the characteristic Apulian chequered floors that reappear across the interiors in both terracotta-and-white and grey-and-white arrangements. Olga Polizzi, Rocco Forte's design director, calibrated the interiors around the existing fabric rather than against it, layering block-printed headboards in sage and crimson, hand-painted ceramic plates mounted as wall decoration, and striped linen bedding over floors that predate the hotel by several hundred years. The restaurant unfolds through a sequence of vaulted arches, branching brass chandeliers with leaf-form arms catching light against the whitewashed stone above, arched windows framing the working olive grove beyond. Outside, a pool terrace is enclosed by dry-stone walls typical of the Pugliese countryside, the bar faced in blue-and-white majolica tilework that pulls the Adriatic palette inland. Across the property's 28 rooms and suites — distributed through the tower and its surrounding casette — the tone stays close to the agrarian tradition of the masseria itself: natural linen, local stone, rattan pendant lights, and shuttered green-painted windows opening toward the sea.

1hr drive from Bari (BRI) and Brindisi (BDS) airports

Masseria Torre Maizza is located in the most glamorous destination on the Italian Adriatic coast. Inspired by the sensational landscapes of Puglia and the ethos of Rocco Forte Hotels, it exquisitely blends local heritage with contemporary luxury and unparalleled service. Surrounded by ancient olive groves, the renovated 16th century masseria will be filled with thoughtful design accents and details to create a unique sense of place, from the stunning Olga Polizzi-designed rooms and suites to the romantic sunset rooftop bar and elegant restaurant overlooking the swimming pool. The resort also features a 9-hole executive golf course, a private beach club and an indulgent spa.