Masseria Palombara

It’s a pleasant, quiet place, and the staff are friendly. The rooms are ordinary, nothing special, though the cleanliness is excellent. You’ll need a car to get to town or the sea. Dinner is only offered on certain days when the owner and cook is available, despite the listing saying it could be arranged on site if needed.

The owner and her two daughters were genuinely kind, but I wouldn’t return. At €160 with breakfast, I think you can find better. We spent a week here, with buffet breakfast and dinner available at our discretion. The setting is very quiet and peaceful, which is ideal if, like my wife and me, you want to fully relax. Our superior room seemed to qualify because of an extra bidet, but little else stood out. The TV was tiny, and some channels were hard to watch because of poor digital reception. Breakfast tasted good, but the savory selection was almost nonexistent: one slice of cheese on Sunday and focaccia on Friday. You also had to ask the woman for everything, even water, instead of helping yourself at the buffet. I found that embarrassing. Dinner was good on the two nights we ate there, but there was no choice, you got whatever the owner had prepared. A proper buffet with local savory items, plus two choices each for first and second courses at dinner, would make staying in more appealing. Housekeeping was another issue. They seemed to clean only where my mother-in-law saw them. My wife’s skirt slipped under the bed and stayed there, the bathroom was only superficially cleaned, and dust was never taken away. Though we had a superior room for a week, the sheets weren’t changed midweek, and the mosquito net was broken.

We arrived late on our first day, but since we’d let them know ahead of time, we were able to eat there. Dinner was delicious, with generous servings and a lovely family atmosphere. The rooms were clean, and the mosquito screens meant we didn’t have to worry about bugs despite being in the countryside. This is a peaceful place in a handy spot for reaching the beaches. Our bathroom was large and had no window, but the ventilation was adequate. I spent five nights in this little haven. Recommended!

The sea was beautiful and easy to get to, and the Masseria made a welcome cool retreat after hot days at the beach. We’re a mature couple who know Salento, but had never stayed in a Masseria before. The individual rooms were spacious and very clean, and it turned out to be a lovely place for families with children too. It’s run by a family, and their courtesy and hospitality were excellent. The owner made all the breakfast items, which were delicious. Whenever dinner was served outdoors in the lovely setting, we joined in. The local dishes were different each time and clearly made with a lot of passion. Best wishes to the family and all the staff, and thanks for looking after us. Have a lovely summer!