Description
Surrounded by a pinewood of around half a hectare, Otranto Retreat is a beautiful house with a glimpse of the blue sea visible through the trees outside; it is part of a bigger villa, but has its own private access and is totally self-contained. Located in a fantastic position, it is just 300 m from the closest access to the sea and 700 m from the historic center of Otranto. The house is built with the “pietra leccese”, the local building stone typical of the Salento, and it is characterized by large spaces with vaulted ceilings. Covering a surface of around 120 sq. m, it comprises a living/dining room, 2 bedrooms, 2 shower rooms and the outdoor pergola.
From the outdoor pergola, three steps lead you up to the entrance inside in the spacious living/dining room (around 30 sq. m), characterized by a double-vaulted ceiling. This area, provided with a fully-fitted kitchen corner and furnished with a double sofa-bed and a 6-seat dining table, serves as a hall to all the other rooms. One finds one elegant double bedroom of around 25 sq. m, also having a vaulted ceiling and featuring a poured concrete flooring (typical of the construction techniques of the past); then there is the second double bedroom, slightly smaller, but very cozy; and finally a door leading to the garden ( up three steps). Each bedroom makes use of either one of the two shower rooms of the house.
Outside: just outside the entrance, there is a vast pergola for the exclusive use of the house, equipped with 6/8 bench-seat dining table, armchairs, outdoor chairs and a very nice stone sofa with cushions; just nearby, there is a washbasin and an outdoor shower (with hot water). The part of the garden running along the house is for the exclusive use of its guests (except for the ordinary maintenance work by a trusted gardener), whereas the rest of the garden of the villa is shared with the owners (who stay in the property only in August). All the outside area is provided with night lighting, tracing the most trodden paths ( for example, from the gate to the house entrance), and conceived so as to interfere as little as possible with the surrounding environment; hence a few spots of light allow to read or dine al fresco.
AMENITIES: fridge with freezer, electric oven, induction cooktop, various kitchen utensils, dishwasher, washing machine; air conditioning cool/warm; garden furniture; outdoor shower with hot water; up to 4 car parking spots under the trees.
The weekly prices include: electricity, gas and water utility charges; bed&bathroom linen; housekeeping service two hours twice a week. The final cleaning fee is to be set aside upon arrival, € 120,00. On request and at extra cost, additional hours of housekeeping service. Please know that, as provided by the law, from April 01st to September 30th the payment of a € 1,00 tourist tax is due per person per day, up to 7 consecutive days. Children under 12 y.o. and disabled people are exempt.
DISTANCES:
The house is at around 350 m from the dock of Otranto, where it is possible to rent out a boat for daily excursions along the coast, and at around 700 m from the historic centre.
Sea: closest sea access at 300 m, on flat rocks and a small pebble beach (suggested especially when the wind comes from the South); the wider beaches with beach clubs are at 15 minute walk; the amazing beaches of the Alimini Lakes are 10 km away (about 20 minute drive).
Centre, supermarkets, shops, restaurants: 700 m
Closest suggested restaurants: “Bar del Porto” at 300 m, “L’altro Baffo” at 750 m
Medical emergencies: 2 km
Hospital: 20 km (Scorrano)
Acaya Golf Club (18 holes): 34 km
Santa Maria di Leuca (de Finibus Terrae): 55 km
Gallipoli (the last outpost of the Magna Grecia): 48 km
Lecce (the capital of the Baroque): 42 km
Brindisi (airport): 97 km
Bari (airport): 218 km
The coach station is at the dock (400 m). The railway station is at around 2,5 km. A direct route connection with Otranto’s ring road makes it possible to avoid crossing through the in-town traffic and leads straight away to the provincial highway route.
The house history
The original portion of the house, corresponding today to the southern part of the ground floor, was built around 1907 within a vineyard that does no longer exist. The house was erected by the family De Viti de Marco belonging to the lesser local nobility, who held it until the ‘70s. Particularly involved in the works was Antonio De Viti de Marco, a University Professor and Member of Parliament, a pioneer in the field of study of Finance as we know it today; remarkably, he was one of the only 12 professors who refused to take an oath to the Fascist regime. Until the ‘60s the house was occasionally home to youth in need. And even today some villagers of the nearby towns keep alive the memory of the generosity, open-mindedness and social involvement of Prof. Antonio and his family, notably the women: his American wife Etta Lathrop Dunham, his daughter Lucia, his sister Carolina and her daughters, Lucia and Giulia Starace. The latter, for example, put a great effort to encourage the appreciation of the traditional craftsmanship to the benefit of the local community; as well as to support alternative farming techniques such as organic and biodynamic agriculture, thus anticipating of a couple of decades the environmental awareness increasingly spreading today.
