In one of Puglia’s most enchanting areas, Villa Diadema is a spectacular villa surrounded by extensive private woodlands and mesmerising views of olive groves. In an elevated position, this contemporary home has been beautifully designed across several levels and includes many amazing features such as the indoor rain-waterfall, a sauna in one of the bedrooms as well as interesting artefacts and original artwork. The villa was fully refurbished in 2019 yet there’s still an overall ambience of authenticity with traditional materials juxtaposed with appealing modern design. On the lower floor the main split-level living space is full of light from the vast windows and allows ample space for relaxation, fine-dining and creating feasts in the incredibly smart and spacious kitchen. Six welcoming bedrooms can be found across the two floors, four of which are especially sumptuous with their own fireplaces and showers or bathrooms. High-end facilities include air-conditioning in the bedrooms, Wi-Fi throughout, Smart TVs across the three living areas dotted around this unique villa. The spectacular features continue outside with rocky gardens full of summer colour, white-washed tranquil terraces for al-fresco dining, meandering stone paths and even steps leading down to a natural underground grotto, a wonderful spot to escape the summer sun. Play in the woods and discover Mediterranean plants and local flowers – the natural surroundings of Villa Diadema are glorious! Appreciate the tranquillity of this special place from the exquisite swimming pool, surrounded by trees and rocks, as you swim up to the rather splendid 'sunken' pool bar. There’s an excellent restaurant for evenings out within walking distance (you can even hire the Michelin starred chef from a nearby restaurant!) or drive into Ceglie Messapica, just 2km away, for more gastronomic delights. Wander along the narrow lanes in this historic town, discover delightful shops selling wonderful local produce and a number of authentic restaurants serving Puglian fare. Slightly away from the more touristy trails, Ceglie Messapica is a charming place to explore. This setting also offers some of Puglia’s most visited towns such as Ostuni, Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its magical trulli and Cisternino, classified as one of Italy’s most beautiful towns. Of course, the crystal-clear Adriatic sea is also so close with small sandy bays, rocky ledges and pretty lidos or head west to the Ionian with its beaches of fine white sand and gently shelving water. Staying at Villa Diadema immerses you into a true Italian experience of wonderful cuisine, beautiful beaches, historic towns and outstanding natural beauty surrounding this exceptional home. Features: Villa Interiors Lower Ground Floor (split level) - Main living area with fireplace, indoor rock-garden with cacti, sofas, chairs and Smart TV - Open-plan dining area - Well-equipped kitchen including dishwasher, microwave, oven, fridge-freezer and coffee machine - Additional living area - Bedroom One with double bed, fireplace, air-conditioning and bathroom - Bedroom Two with double bed, fireplace, air-conditioning and bathroom Upper Ground Floor (via partially open-sided stairs) - Bedroom Three with double bed, fireplace, air-conditioning and bathroom - Bedroom Four with double bed, fireplace, air-conditioning, sauna and bathroom - Bedroom Five with double bed and air-conditioning - Bedroom Six with double bed and air-conditioning - 2 x Bathrooms - Reading area with design lounger Outside Grounds - Swimming pool ("L" shaped, 10x10m, depth: 0.9-2.5m), open approximately from May to October - Pool bar with swim-up bar - Poolside terrace with sunloungers - Al-fresco dining area - Gas BBQ - Roof terrace - Underground grotto (50m deep) - Woodlands - Rock gardens - Fenced grounds - Parking Facilities - Wi-Fi - Air-conditioning in the bedrooms only - Heating - Working fireplaces - Smart TVs (Infinity Italia) - Indoor-rain waterfall - Sauna - Wine cellar - Integrated CCTV security - Washing machine - Ironing facilities Location: In an elevated position, set in wonderful grounds including private woodland, Villa Diadema is only a 2km drive from the town of Ceglie Messapica located in the northern part of Salento, Puglia. The beautiful Adriatic sea is just a 20-minute drive away whilst the Ionian coastline can also be easily reached in around 45 minutes by car. The nearest restaurant is just a walk away where they serve excellent Italian cuisine as well as offering catering and exceptional cooking classes. A Michelin starred chef can also be booked to cook for you in the villa with ample advance notice. The restaurant is usually open every evening as well as Sunday lunchtime and you'll need to book ahead. The local town, Ceglie Messapica, has a great reputation for fine Puglian cuisine with a number of highly regarded restaurants including the highly regarded “Al Fornello da Ricci” with a Michelin star. You'll also find delightful shops selling wonderful local produce as well as food and drink festivities throughout the year. The white-washed town has a beautiful historic centre dating back to medieval times where you can explore the narrow lanes, discover old churches and admire the town’s handsome castle. There's a relaxed and authentic ambience across Ceglie Messapica with less tourists than some of the more famous villages and towns in the region. The stunning Adriatic coastline is only 20km away where you will find crystal clear waters, rocky ledges, sandy bays and some idyllic beachside summer restaurants and bars. There are some wonderful coastal walks as well as pretty seaside resorts and impressive lidos. Hire bikes and explore the nature reserve at Torre Guaceto with its sand dunes, lagoons and utter beauty. The Ionian side of Salento also offers magnificent beaches and incredible scenery such as Campomarino, one of Puglia’s most scenic beaches with fine white sand and turquoise waters. It’s also near protected areas such as the Dune di Campomarino and the forests of Pineta d'Ayala. This region is home to some of Puglia’s most enchanting towns. Start off in the hilltop town of Ostuni with yet more excellent restaurants, historic architecture and amazing views from the labyrinth of narrow lanes. Picturesque Martina Franca is also full of charm, en route to the famous town of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can visit many of the impressive trulli that this region is so well-known for. Cisternino is another characterful place to visit, known to be one of Italy’s most beautiful towns with magical views down to the Valle d’Itria whilst Locorotondo is worthy of a visit due to its fascinating architecture and lovely wines.   Other highlights of this area include its many caves, both inland and along the coast including the Grotte di Montevicoli just a short drive away as well as the interesting history of the area which can be seen at Scavi D'Egnazia with its wonderful excavations. Activities include horse-riding, a variety of watersports along both the Adriatic and Ionian coasts, tennis, mountain biking and golf within a short drive. Not to mention both olive oil and wine-tasting across this spectacular part of Puglia. Terms & Conditions: Security deposit? €500 paid in cash to the owner upon arrival and refunded upon departure, subject to full inspection. Arrival time? From 4 pm. Departure time? By 10 am. Energy costs included? Up to 300kWh, extra paid locally on consumption. Linen & towels included? Yes, changed weekly. Pets welcome? Not allowed. Changeover day? Saturday and Sunday. End of stay cleaning included? Yes. However, guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. Any extra cleaning, laundry, maintenance and/or rubbish disposal required will be charged against the security deposit. Smoking Allowed? No. Insurance? Guests are required to be in possession of a valid insurance policy, which covers them for cancellations, personal belongings, public liability and any accidental damage caused during their stay. Minimum stay? 6 nights. Heating costs included? Yes. Internet access? Wi-Fi connection included. Pool towels included? Yes, changed weekly. Pool opening dates? The pool is open approximately May to October. Please note that pool opening dates are subject to local weather conditions and pool maintenance requirements and that cooler months may not be suitable for swimming. Other Ts and Cs? Air-conditioning is featured in the bedrooms only. Smoking - not allowed