Five-star villa holidays in Puglia

In Italy, there are only two hotels under the prestigious Mandarin Oriental banner. One,  with Antonio Guida’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant, in Milan’s fashion district, and the other in Blevio, on Lake Como, with suites and historic lounges framing one of the world’s most glamorous stretch of water. But it doesn’t finish there. In anticipation of the upcoming openings in Cortina (by 2026 for the Olympics) and in Sardinia (also in 2026), they have taken over management of two beautiful masserias in the Itria Valley; 17th-century Masseria Petrarolo, in Monopoli, and the Masseria Pistola, with its characteristic trullo roofs, in Alberobello. The architecture is typical of Apulian agricultural estates, surrounded by centuries-old olive groves, vineyards and lavender fields, with contemporary designer interiors. The nine rooms of the first, ten of the second, can be rented for family vacations or with friends, with no-one else around.

These two Apulian masserias are part of the Exclusive Homes collection that Mandarin Oriental manages in partnership with StayOne, a community of owners of beautiful homes in places of exceptional charm: villas on the French Riviera or on the beach on the Costa Brava, in Marbella, Majorca and Ibiza, but also chalets in the Austrian Alps and cottages in the English countryside. There are currently about 20 of them, but the idea is to increase that number to 100 within the next five years, between the UK, Europe and Asia.

In all these private, independent properties, guests feel at home thanks to the unique and personalized atmosphere of a private residence, while services are those of the finest five-star luxuries. On arrival, a dedicated concierge greets guests and is on hand to organize accommodation and arrange home chefs, excursions, guides, transfers, and access to major events. An example? You can request to arrive by helicopter or watch the Monte-Carlo Formula 1 Grand Prix from a yacht. Anything is possible. Always.