Relais Villa San Martino

Even as it gains momentum as a sun-drenched Italian holiday destination, it’s worth remembering that Puglia has been here a long time. Why exactly it’s booming right now is anyone’s guess, but they didn’t just knock the place together out of plywood and plaster in a bid to divert tourist dollars out of Tuscany. It’s a place with a quite distinct history and style, both of which are on display at the Relais Villa San Martino, at the edge of the old town of Martina Franca.

It’s inland, more or less right in the middle of the triangle described by Bari, Brindisi and Taranto. While the landscape is typically Pugliese, dry and sparse, this restored 19th-century farmhouse is surrounded by uncharacteristically lush gardens. And the house has been carefully returned to its former glory not by an interior decorator with a B&B Italia account but by an art restorer Martino Solito, a man whose profession obviously demands a keen eye for the authentic.

The public spaces and the twenty-one rooms and suites are classic in style, with thoughtful modern luxuries alongside the antiques. A palm-fringed pool and a basement spa make for maximum relaxation.