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OUR REVIEW
The scent of olives.
Olives. Hundreds and hundreds of orderly lines of olive trees. The Salento countryside is characterised by vast areas covered by these trees. It seems as though the sky is encased by an olive-wood frame. This is what surrounds the Masseria Bosco in Avetrana, a beautiful and ancient farm in the heart of the Ionian Coast whose historical roots go back as far as the 1600s.
Travelling in the evning through a wide expanse of olive groves, you will be greeted with a beautiful, imposing and silent building situated at the very end of the road. The complete silence and tranquillity, alongside the amazing scent of the olives are the elements that dominate in this rural structure. The typical star vaulted ceilings and the local tufa masonry have been carefully renovated and extended, preserving the ancient atmosphere that came from the mixing of wood and stone.
On passing through the arched entrance one enters a unique world: a cordial and welcoming atmosphere where the guest feels immediately at home. It is the ideal location to enjoy in complete tranquillity the colours, tastes and scents of the Puglia region. Here hospitality, warmth and a festive atmosphere are at the heart of this “masseria”. A refined cuisine incorporating ancient recipes gives the opportunity to savour dishes representative of the best Mediterranean tradition, accompanied by a wonderful selection of renowned olive oils, all produced on site.
Where once stood the peasant quarters, there are now new rooms with very high ceilings and traditional Pugliese furnishings, with white decorated pottery floorings and bathrooms decorated with irregularly contoured majolica tiles in colours from green through ochre to white. The more observant will spot some small kittens, little fishes and gooses engraved engraved here and there who will bid you good morning. The quality body and face products of the courtesy set are olive-based and are also produced in house.
There are many places to seek out and explore; the well, the main house and restaurant, the vegetable garden with its display of ancient farm tools, the large swimming pool and, hidden underground, a “small” health centre excavated from the rock. Here, once your eyes are accustomed to the darkness, you will be able to see a maze of passageways softly illuminated by the iridescent colours from the chromotherapy area, beyond which you may catch a glimpse of the massage beds, always surrounded by the omnipresent scent of olives using as the base of the cosmetic line of aesthetic treatments.
The breakfast is excellent with the cakes and pastries all being carefully baked on the farm. Light, soft and sweet smelling and served with exquisite home made jams, salumi and fresh locally produced cheeses.
The tradition continues in the kitchen where local, seasonal recipes are offered. There are country vegetables, “cicerchie” or broad beans, beans or chickpeas with fried bread and traditional sauces that accompany the home made durum wheat pasta, whilst the second course features local meat dishes, all cooked on the olive tree embers or “in pignata”.
Signora Lucia and her daughter Pierangela are the spirit of Masseria Bosco. Lucia will be happy to guide you around the antique “mercatini” and will also accompany you shopping at the local market, gladly stopping to chat to you during the day, while Pierangela is the chief organizer, the creator of this cordial ambience and the warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Masseria Bosco is a charming and exotic place where, surrounded by the olive groves, you will be able to rediscover inner peace and harmony.
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