Escape to the charming Masseria Giulio, a historic walled farmhouse turned holiday apartments in rural Italy. Unwind in your spacious two-bedroom apartment with air conditioning, private en-suite bedrooms and access to both an internal courtyard garden and rear terrace overlooking the olive grove.
Reviews
9.89.8 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire apartment
2 bedroomsSleeps 4
Popular amenities
Pool
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free Wi-Fi
Air-conditioning
Add dates for prices
About this property
Gelso Masseria Giulio
Spacious two bedroom apartment perfect for either a family holiday or two couples who are looking to share an apartment. The apartment has been converted from the old storage barn adjoining the stable block. The spacious living area has a dual aspect that provides a bright and airy central space with beautiful views from the kitchen, dining and sitting areas. The en-suite bedrooms lie to either side of the living area, providing two separate, private areas in which to retreat for some quiet time. There is air conditioning in both bedrooms (providing either cold or warm air depending on the weather). The apartment has access to both the main internal courtyard garden and the rear terrace overlooking our grove of approximately 35 olive trees. Masseria Giulio is listed as a regionally important building dating from the early seventeenth century. It started life as a chapel serving the local farm workers before being used as a convent and then a monastery. During the eighteenth century it was converted into a masseria (walled farmhouse). It remained a working farm producing olives, olive oil, vegetables and fresh milk, cheese and meat from the animals (cows, sheep, goats and pigs) homed in the stable block until the late 1980s when it fell into disrepair. We have completed a full restoration of the property using local artisan builders and craftsmen and have converted the old stables and farm buildings into holiday apartments. We have five self-contained apartments (1 one bedroom and 4 two bedrooms) which have their own well equipped kitchen, inside dining and living areas and outside patio areas. The apartments have been designed to provide stylish, high quality accommodation with designer furnishings to allow you to relax, unwind and enjoy this fabulous corner of Italy. Links to each of the individual apartments are provided from this page. The farmhouse garden (approx. 600 square metres) is surrounded by a high dry stone wall and has been fully landscaped with an array of beautiful plants including roses, birds of paradise, cannas, bouganvillia and cacti. We have an orchard containing apricot, lemon, orange, nectarine, pomegranate, plum, cherry, kiwi, mulberry, pear, apple, fig and cedra trees. We also grow a wide variety of our own organic vegetables. Guests are welcome to use our produce during their stay. Adjoining the masseria and garden we also have a small olive grove featuring around 35 olive trees. These produce two types of olives; one primarily for eating (please note that they need to be prepared and are not suitable for eating fresh from the tree!); the other type is used for making oil. We make approximately 45 litres of organic extra virgin olive oil from our crop harvested in the late autumn.
Property amenities
Beach
Beach loungers
Beach towels
Pool/Spa
Communal pool
Fenced private pool
Outdoor pool
Internet
Available in the apartment: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Parking on site
Kitchen
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Electric kettle
Hob
Oven
Refrigerator
Spices
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
2 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
Bidet
Hair dryer
Shower
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Living room
Entertainment
Books
DVD player
Games
TV
Video library
Outdoor areas
Barbecue grill
Fenced yard
Garden
Outdoor furniture
Patio
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
In-room accessibility
Smoke-free property
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Phone
Location highlights
In a rural location
Things to do
Table tennis
Birdwatching nearby
Cycling nearby
Horseback riding nearby
Swimming nearby
Winery tours nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
Property Registration Number BR07400891000013639, IT074008B400048955
We should mention
All guests, including children, must be present at check-in and show their government-issued photo ID card or passport
Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed GBP 5000, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using the information in the booking confirmation
About the area
Located in Francavilla Fontana, this apartment is in a rural area. Underground Museum and Ribezzi Petrosillo House Museum are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Cantine Soloperto and Vinicola Savese. Travelling with kids? Consider Sanctuary of San Cosimo alla Macchia and Riserve Naturali Litorale Tarantino Orientale. Swimming offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and horse riding nearby. Visit our Francavilla Fontana travel guide
Located in a rural location, this family-friendly apartment building is within 6 mi (10 km) of Underground Museum, Ribezzi Petrosillo House Museum, and Sanctuary of S.S. Maria di Cotrino. Oria Cathedral and Gate of the Jews are also within 6 miles (10 km).
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Gelso Masseria Giulio Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
What an amazing place to Holiday!!! Everything about it was perfect....the setting, the hosts, the accommodation, the pool, the location......Ian and Lucy have built a paradise in the middle of a wonderful part of Italy. Ostuni and Alberobello are stunning the beaches east or west are fantastic. We were very lucky to find such an amazing place 😍😍😍😍😍😍
Michael M.
Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2019
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Kate N.
4 Nov 2016
Stunning apartments, garden and pool.
Beautiful apartments set amongst the olive groves in the Puglian countryside. The apartments are modern, clean and perfectly equipped with everything you might need. The large walled garden is stunning with a large pool, fruit trees and lots of outside seating areas.
It is essential to have a car as there are many beautiful towns to visit within 40 min drive and a choice of 2 coasts with glorious beaches and seafood restaurants. Eating out is very reasonable and the locally sourced food and drink is delicious throughout the area.
Cant wait to come back again.
Kate N.
Verified
10/10 Excellent
GARY F.
9 June 2019
Heaven Under the Puglese Sun
Ian and Lucy were the most gracious and helpful hosts you could hope for and their 2 daughters were adorable and charming to chat with. Ian advised us a day before our arrival that the compound had been hit by lightning and there would likely be a lack of electricity for some or all of our stay and offered to refund and cancel our reservation. Based on all the positive reviews, and my gut instinct, I decided to keep our reservation and take our chances. I’m glad we did, while there were some minor inconveniences waiting for the local electrical department (it’s Italy after all) they did not dampen the beauty off the setting and the graciousness of our hosts. We even stayed for a few hours on our departure day to watch the arrival off 150 antique Italian motorinos. We would return in a heartbeat
Nous avons passé une excellente semaine dans la masseria de Ian et Lucy, qui nous ont très chaleureusement accueillis. Bien situé pour visiter les villages de la vallée d'Itria, et doté d'une piscine dans laquelle se délasser ou s'amuser! Nous y reviendrons avec plaisir si l'occasion se présente !
Masseria Giulio is a beautiful, peaceful setting from which to explore the towns and villages in the Puglia region and also a place to relax in the gardens and by the pool. Ian and Lucy are great hosts and made our stay memorable. A perfect get away from it all retreat.
When booking the holiday, the process couldn't be smoother. Communication with Ian and Lucy, excellent and were very accommodating when we had to change our plans slightly.
We had a fantastic stay in beautiful surroundings, with great accommodation too. The property was to a very high standard, very child friendly and superb facilities including a wonderful pool to while away the days. A good base with plenty to see and do but a car is essential. We would highly recommend and would love to return!
Ian and Lucy are a lovely couple along with wonderful children who made us feel very welcome for the entire stay, thank you!
From the Morris'
Superbe propriété accueil sympathique. Difficile à atteindre mais on est gentiment nous recuper à Francavilla Fontana.
ROBERT F.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2019
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Bozena S.
17 July 2017
Guaranteed well-spent holidays
Great enclave to relax, great base for exploring Apulia, two seas nearby and extremely friendly owners always ready to help. I recommend!
Bozena S.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Heather S.
13 Jan 2017
A great stay in a beautifully restored masseria
The apartment was well euipped and decorated, with comfortable beds, good showers and an excellent hairdryer. The welcome pack was much appreciated as were the freshly cooked croissants.
The gardens and pool looked lovely, unfortunately it was too cold to fully appreciate them in December. However the local wines are just as delicious in the cold weather amd there are plenty to sample. It was also good to visit the stunning towns and cities without the crowds of tourists (particularly Alberobello).
We look forward to visiting again.
Heather S.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Zara F.
3 Sept 2016
Beauty and luxury in the Olive Groves
Beautifully restored Masseria with luxurious and thoughtfully appointed apartments all set in relaxing gardens with fabulous pool.
Arriving at night to a tastefully lit oasis in the olives we were immediately impressed with the surroundings and the friendly helpful welcome of our well informed hosts.
We spent a lot of time at the Masseria, in the pool, but equally had some days out to diverse cultural sites and also beautiful beaches. I would thoroughly recommend this place to anyone getting away from it all or families wanting to enjoy the Italian sunshine.
We were all sad to leave and have agreed to try to get back there one day soon.