Masseria Santa Teresa

The food was amazing, and the location and clean, beautiful property made our week there with family feel just right. Big applause for the team, they really were the best. If you’re reading this, stay at Masseria Santa Teresa and enjoy this beautiful area. You won’t be disappointed ☺️

We spent a week at Masseria Santa Teresa and managed to visit a lot of Puglia. Monopoli is only a 10-15 minute drive away, with places like Polignano a Mare, Bari and Alberobello also easy to reach. We made it to Ostuni, Lecce, Taranto and Matera as well. Alberobello is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its trulli, the traditional dry-stone houses with cone-shaped roofs. Ostuni is the “White City,” with its whitewashed buildings. If you want a polished Ritz-style resort with a less authentic Italian feel, this may not be the place for you. It’s a traditional fortified farmhouse, and for a real Puglian experience, that’s a big part of its appeal. The setting is peaceful, and after a day out exploring it was a lovely place to come back to and unwind. There’s a real sense of authentic charm here. Simona at reception was warm and welcoming each day. She gave us useful ideas for places to visit and helped arrange dinner reservations, always making sure we were comfortable. Breakfast was a treat too. Biagio, our waiter, quickly picked up on what we liked and made an effort to make us feel like family. Even with the language barrier, he was so warm and enthusiastic. My daughters loved greeting him every morning, and their laughter is a memory I’ll always treasure. His care really stood out. The Masseria was spotlessly clean. Some hotel rooms and the garden area were being renovated while we were there, and I’d love to come back and see the changes. We stayed in the main part of the Masseria. Our room was spacious and airy, with a bathroom that felt both modern and authentic. My mother-in-law’s room was in a newer part of the building and was just as modern and clean. We visited in early April, just before the busy season. It was still a bit chilly for sunbathing and swimming, so the pool wasn’t warm enough for a dip, though that didn’t stop the girls from getting in. The views from the pool were breathtaking. Waking up among the olive trees, with citrus in the air, was wonderful. The grounds felt rustic and quiet, almost like a holistic retreat. The friendly staff made us feel like part of a Puglian family. I’m sure we’ll return.

I had a very disappointing stay, the only bad accommodation experience I had in Italy. The room itself was clean and basic, and the restaurant staff were doing their best. The young waiters seemed to know things weren’t great and did try to engage with us. The rest was hard to overlook. The place felt like an abandoned theme park, dusty and poorly maintained, with no atmosphere and no service. I tried to cancel several days ahead, but after one very rude message refusing the request, I followed up every day and got no reply. I ended up using the booking even though it no longer suited me. When I arrived, the man at the front desk barely acknowledged me, as did the other staff. I got a grunt and a key. Breakfast was very average, and the rooms aren’t soundproof. I could hear the person next door snoring. If you want a traditional Masseria experience in Italy, this wasn’t it, and I don’t think it deserves a 4-star rating. I’d advise against staying here.

The fresh breakfast had a huge range of options, and the staff were warm and personable. Our room was clean and comfortable, and the hotel was lovely and well kept. We spent six nights at Masseria Santa Teresa over Christmas and felt very comfortable and well looked after. It’s in a quiet area, about 15 minutes from the centre of Monopoli, and other Puglia cities are an easy drive away. We can’t speak highly enough of everyone there and hope to return in summer to enjoy the pool and warm Italian weather. Thank you to all the staff. We hope to see you again soon. Amy, Renan and Nina