Agriturismo Tenuta Mazzetta

The setting is pleasant, with flowers and a swimming pool, but you’ll get bitten by lots of mosquitoes at night. The Masseria is in the middle of nowhere, hard to spot from the road because the signs are poor, and almost impossible to find without Google. The rooms are clean, though damp. Our shower hose was broken and they fixed it, but the toilet kept flushing constantly. The hotel needs an upgrade. Staff are nice, but they don’t speak English. Flavia, the receptionist, is the only one who does, and there’s no one on staff at night. I left or forgot my Rayban glasses there, and I’m sure of that. When I asked if they’d found them, they said they hadn’t. I’m still following up on this!

It’s very quiet and restful here, though quite remote. The rooms are simple but nice, each with a patio, two chairs, and a small table where we had several charcuterie dinners. Parking in the gravel lot is easy, but the driveway is a 1.5 km dirt road, so expect a dirty car. The room staff, breakfast team, and reception were friendly and helpful, especially Mary at the front desk and the young woman who makes excellent cappuccinos. The pool is promoted heavily online, but it doesn’t look like it’s worked for several years. The landscape and olive orchard are also neglected. During our stay, two men were painting and splattered paint on plants, rocks, doors, light fixtures, and everything else. They seemed unfamiliar with prep, drop cloths, or even how to use a brush. There was no WIFI, despite it being advertised. We raised concerns with the owner about the room fees and the broken pool, but she wasn’t willing to make things right. After we got home, we received a bill with an extra $250 for a baby cot that we neither needed nor received. That’s still unresolved.

Peace and quiet, surrounded by olive groves, made it easy to unwind away from the hustle and bustle. The place has a unique history and a charming, distinctive feel, with lovely greenery, a pool ringed by palm trees, and good food and wine. Spending time there was a real pleasure.

The staff were fantastic, and the food was gorgeous. We also really enjoyed the pool, which wasn’t busy. Our room was very good and had everything we needed. The hotel has a lovely traditional feel and sits in a beautiful, peaceful spot. Would love to stay there again.