Trulli Eutopia

The house is lovely to look at, but getting there is difficult. It's isolated, with everything more than half an hour away, and you really need to have a car. There is just one air conditioner in the Trullo, in the hallway, and it doesn't cool the whole house, so sleeping at night was hard. The owner restricts its temperature and keeps the remote, so we couldn't adjust it. He also controls the Jacuzzi temperature, leaving us to use it at whatever temperature he chose. At first the house seemed clean, but closer inspection turned up cobwebs and animals in the kitchen utensils. While we were running the washing machine, the water was shut off and it went through the whole cycle dry, which could have caused a fire. We only noticed when we went to collect the clothes, which were dry and smelled bad. The bathroom also had no water at night, for no apparent reason. The owner keeps a very close eye on everyone's movements and comings and goings. There are cameras everywhere, which seriously cuts into your privacy, especially around the outdoor jacuzzi and nearby area. We felt watched the whole time.

The owners were courteous and helpful, and the TV, Wi-Fi, and air conditioning all worked well. Our studio was simply furnished but had all the utensils and cutlery we needed. It's a great base, easy to get to from Ostuni and Cisternino, with the last stretch winding through lovely Apulian countryside. The village itself is a wonderful place to unwind: walk among the olive trees, relax in the hammock, or fire up the grill for a BBQ. We came away with a very positive impression.

Trullo Malvarosa is an enchanting place, but the people running it were the complete opposite of welcoming. Mr. Aurelio was cold and lectured us like children about what we could and couldn't do, both inside and out. When we arrived, he scolded us because he'd forgotten there were 7 of us, not 6, even though it was all written down. He never apologized. At checkout he turned up like a policeman, inspected the whole house without even saying goodbye, and accused us of breaking a deckchair that was already like that when we arrived. He didn't seem to notice that we left the trullo spotless, unlike how we found it. No thanks, no goodbye. Unbelievable. These people don't deserve to be working there, even with such a treasure in their hands.

What makes Eutopia special is its peaceful setting in a valley between Ostuni and Cisternino, surrounded by olive trees and an area rich in history and culture, with many trulli, several of them renovated. The property brings together trulli and lamie, carefully restored using conservative methods while still providing modern conveniences. Aurelio and Antonia are kind hosts, and the quiet location makes for a restful stay with beautiful surroundings and all of Salento to enjoy.