Tenuta Specolizzi

The one-story Tenuta Specolizzi is half working farm and half boutique hotel, combining rusticity with an elegant, if not necessarily luxe, vibe. The peaceful grounds are threaded with tree-lined paths, and an informal atmosphere pervades -- there is no true lobby, and the front desk is a farm-style table. Couples and families with children are welcome, and there are pools to accommodate both. White beach umbrellas and sun beds surround the chic main pool, while the adults-only pool -- reached by following a stony path with an ancient ruins vibe -- has a waterfall cascading from a rocky cove. The spacious breakfast room feels like a sunlit porch, with farmhouse touches and large windows that look across gardens full of olive, fig, and eucalyptus trees. Guest rooms have access to shared terraces with tables and chairs, and plenty of space to read or enjoy a glass of wine.

The Tenuta Specolizzi is removed from Puglia's busier towns, set on a quiet working farm several miles from the gorgeous white-sand beaches along the Ionian Coast. There is no traffic noise, and no need for blackout curtains to combat city lights. Lido Marini Beach is about a 10-minute drive away, and the shops there offer everything a guest might need, including delicious takeout for lazy nights. A car is necessary to explore the area, but guests will likely want to spend some time enjoying the lovely hotel grounds. Porto Badisco beach -- which has a cave with rock paintings and is said to have been visited by Virgil when fleeing Troy -- and the historic harbor town of Otranto are each about an hour's drive away. Pescoluse Beach, known as the Maldives of Salento, is a 15-minute drive south.

Rooms at Tenuta Specolizzi, located in the farm's former stables and barn, are clean and airy with sparse furnishings. Decor is rustic and homespun, with comforts like Frette sheets, woven headboards, and framed etchings of plants and crops. Wood shutters and Dutch doors add a charming, farmhouse feel. Bathrooms have modern showers -- no tubs -- and the deluxe room has a rain shower, beautiful marble walls, and very pretty fixtures. Some rooms have the option of kitchen usage, for a surcharge. There are safes, minifridges, and flat-screen TVs -- which vary in size by room. Sleeping here feels like home, but far more relaxing.

Tenuta Specolizzi may be part-farm, but it has a cutting edge spa carved from rock which offers an array of treatments like Reiki, mud baths, and various massages. Both pools are large enough to actually swim in, and have elegantly landscaped decks, and plenty of sunbeds, cabanas, and beach umbrellas. A poolside bar serves local wine, and the adult pool has a stunning waterfall. During the low season, there is a dedicated private beach with sun-beds and umbrellas. The daily peasant-style breakfast includes locally sourced food, and is served until late morning. There is no lunch or dinner service, but the hotel offers poolside evening meals on Tuesdays; the town of Presicce, a 15-minutes drive away, has several casual trattorias. The hotel shop sells locally produced olive oil, jams, and natural beauty products.