Tenuta Monacelli Lecce

“A Wonderful Estate Near Lecce”

This is a beautiful estate near Lecce, consisting of two masseria's that share the same facilities and are within walking distance of each other. We stayed at the Monacelli estate, and it was amazing. The inner courtyard is stunning, and every evening from 19:00–20:00 an aperitivo is served there,… more

This is a beautiful estate near Lecce, consisting of two masseria's that share the same facilities and are within walking distance of each other. We stayed at the Monacelli estate, and it was amazing. The inner courtyard is stunning, and every evening from 19:00–20:00 an aperitivo is served there, just before dinner at their excellent restaurant. Breakfast is plentiful, and the huge swimming pool with its bar is a real highlight. The staff are warm and welcoming—special thanks to Tecla, who was especially helpful. The atmosphere is quiet yet charming, perfect for relaxing. It is a relatively expensive masseria compared to some smaller establishments, but not as costly as the top luxury ones. In my opinion, it’s worth every penny. I recommend staying at least three nights to truly absorb the place. The location is perfect: you can easily cycle to the beach (about 10 minutes) or drive to Lecce and Otranto. After exploring those busy tourist spots, returning here feels like arriving at a tranquil oasis. Highly recommended!

less

“Authentic, relaxing and simply beautiful”

Tenuta Monacelli is not one of those modern design hotels in Puglia – and that is exactly what makes it so special. Instead of following trends, it remains authentic and truly beautiful. It doesn’t even feel like a regular hotel, but rather like an invitation to spend wonderful days on a marvelous … more

Tenuta Monacelli is not one of those modern design hotels in Puglia – and that is exactly what makes it so special. Instead of following trends, it remains authentic and truly beautiful. It doesn’t even feel like a regular hotel, but rather like an invitation to spend wonderful days on a marvelous 17th-century country estate. Still, everything is there for those who appreciate relaxation and understated sophistication – above all, the incredibly friendly staff. The reception team is very helpful and competent, while the restaurant and bar staff provide warm and attentive service. Around the historic buildings of Tenuta Monacelli and the nearby Masseria San Giampaolo lies a stunning park filled with ancient olive trees, flowers, fig trees, and a lawn as green as a golf course – with a large swimming pool at its heart. Lunch is served at long wooden tables under a shady roof, where the bar offers local cold dishes and the estate’s own olive oil. What could be more relaxing than enjoying a fresh Caprese salad with Tenuta’s own wine, chatting with other guests, or even sharing the table with the owners’ family? Even during hot summer days, we were perfectly comfortable spending the whole day on the estate. Before dinner, an aperitivo is served in the central square, followed by an atmospheric open-air restaurant where authentic local dishes are prepared – including fresh meat from the grill and everything at fair prices. One evening, we enjoyed our very special little family’s celebration in the garden with seafood starters, freshly grilled fish and delicious desserts. The cooking and service were excellent and created a wonderful atmosphere. During our stay, there was also a wedding celebration – but far from disturbing us, actually it felt like stepping into a classic Italian movie. The dinner was held in the gorgeous garden, with white tables, flowers, lights and decorations contrasting beautifully with the green lawn. At very occasional times you may hear music at night if the wind carries it – but hey, this is Italy! Although you could easily spend all your time on the estate, Tenuta Monacelli is also a perfect base for excursions to places like Ostuni, Otranto, Lecce, Gallipoli and stunning beaches. And after a short 1-km walk through olive groves, you reach a true cultural gem of Puglia – the fascinating and tranquil Santa Maria di Cerrate Abbey, which was founded as a Byzantine monastery in the 12th century and is a fine example of Apulian Romanesque architecture, enriched by Byzantine frescoes.

less

“Tenuta Monacelli”

A piece of haven on Earth, placed in the middle of an olive garden.The perfect combination of nature and modern life style.Everyone there was so friendly and welcoming that we felt like we were guests in our friends/relatives home.Absolutely delicious food and good quality drinks, mostly their own … more

A piece of haven on Earth, placed in the middle of an olive garden.The perfect combination of nature and modern life style.Everyone there was so friendly and welcoming that we felt like we were guests in our friends/relatives home.Absolutely delicious food and good quality drinks, mostly their own products.Many thanks to Serena for helping us with the booking and making for us the best programme for every day of our stay.Thank you to Senior Giuseppe( the owner )and his lovely wife for their warm hospitality.And special thanks to Mino for his great service,also to Jessica and Giacomo.Definitely One of the few places I would love to visit again!

less