A masseria is a traditional, fortified farm or country house built within a large estate. Its structure served a number of purposes. Firstly, providing accommodation for the local lord or Massaro (landlord or farm manager), who would live on the upper floor below which were usually sited the storerooms, workrooms, stables and living quarters for the farmhands. It was generally very large in size and built of thickly-carved blocks of tuff and limestone. The main building was often connected to a chapel and surrounded by courtyards, and large fertile gardens. Finally, strong protective perimeter walls were designed to keep out unwanted visitors like marauding Turks. Beyond the walls lay the fields and farmland. Architecturally, masserie are fabulously exotic places where Greek, Moorish and Spanish influences bear witness to Puglia’s eclectic past. Thanks to their large size and impressive architectural designs, over recent decades a great many of Puglia’s masserie have been transformed into luxury hotels and glorious private residences. What is a Masseria?
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NjE5ODQ=