The
Fasano Plain
Fasano
is an attractive but modest town a few kilometers from the
sea. Its surroundings are remarkable for the huge numbers
of ancient olive trees, some up to a thousand years old. Gnarled
and twisted, these giants have survived due to the mild climate.
Nowadays the olive groves are protected and it is difficult
to build on the plain. Property is at a premium, especially
with a new top-class golf course at Savelletri enhancing the
area’s facilities. However, there is opportunity to
buy seaside villas at several resorts strung along the Adriatic
coast, such as Costa Merlata, with its elegant tree-lined
avenues and small family beaches.
Ostuni
Ostuni
is known as the “white city”. Its historical centre
is both beautiful and impressive, with a cathedral sat atop
a hill, surrounded by a maze of whitewashed houses and alleyways.
The sea is only about five kilometers away.
Property
around Ostuni is not currently as sought-after as in the neighbouring
Itria Valley, but this will soon change. A wide variety of
houses is available - trulli, villas and masserias - at extremely
attractive prices. Restoration costs also are cheaper south
of Ostuni than in the Itria Valley, where there is more demand
for the master trullo masons.
Towards
Cisternino there is rolling countryside, to the south the
land is flatter, dominated by olive groves.
Lecce
Lecce
is an important cultural centre, with a university tradition
dating back to Greek times. It is also known as the “Florence
of the Baroque”, because of its ornate 17th and 18th
century architecture.
The city
is an attraction for visitors, but the countryside around
the city is less hilly and varied than the Itria Valley region,
and interest in property in the south of Puglia mainly concentrates
on the coasts.
The area
around Lecce and to the south is becoming well-known internationally
now for its wines, and some delightful reds, based on the
Primitivo, Amaro Negro and Malvasia varieties, are made in
the region.
Salento
The
area south of Lecce has a varied coastline. On the Adriatic
the coast is fairly bare down to Otranto, a port town with
an intriguing history and cathedral. South of Otranto the
Adriatic coast is splendidly scenic, with cliffs dropping
down to the water’s edge, and a handful of attractive
coastal towns dot the coast road.
From the
tip of the “heel”, at Santa Maria di Leuca, the
Ionian coast takes over, with gentler slopes down to rocky
and occasional sandy beaches. Many stretches along this coast
are uninhabited.
As the
tip of the peninsula is about an hour and a half from the
nearest airport of Brindisi, this region is as yet relatively
unexplored by British visitors or prospective house purchasers.
Many examples of a local type of trullo are available for
restoration, so too are historical masserias, long neglected
but with large estates, and prices are reasonable. Villas
by the sea are surprisingly expensive, however.
Salento
is not everyone’s cup of tea. It can seem remote, rugged
and far less affluent than central Puglia. It is quieter in
winter, with less social and cultural life. But if you want
to be ahead of the pack, a longer-term investment in Salento
property is worth considering.
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