An Ancient Farm in the Italian Countryside

Every summer for two whole months, an Italian architect from Bologne takes himself and his family to the haven he created out in the countryside of the Pugliese peninsula (Italy's "boot") in a peaceful setting in harmony with nature. Can you imagine a simpler, more elemental escape than this renovated 17th C. farm situated among the olive groves, cactus and red earth?

Now, I know that this is not Provence, however it is spiritually very close & I think I could happily spend a summer month or two here..how about you? I mean, Nice is only a few hours drive northwest!

a rustic old table inherited from a grandmother, and

wooden chairs found at a brocante and painted in a khaki-brown color that

harmonizes perfectly with the colors of nature; the stairs

leading up to the vaulted loft give the feeling of

folded paper and the built in banquette is covered in striped linen

in the living room, limed plaster walls are one of the only

concessions to modern techniques in this otherwise authentically

traditional renovation; old hollow tree sections hold logs

for the fireplace, an old leather chair found at a flea market,

and a wooden stool found in a consignment shop furnish

this room with a serene and minimalist atmosphere

in the guest bedroom, the same limed plaster walls; a giant tableau made from

a light garland used in the local village in the form of a star is mounted on

white fabric and framed; it now functions not only as art, but take s the place

of lamps by infusing the room with a soft light; a large fish trap and small taboret

are used for bedside tables in this elegantly spare and simple room

keeping the renovations as simple as possible, the architect

opted for an Italian, or "walk in" shower with no other

partitions except the small wall separating

it from the bedroom; a Sicilian basket and an old

wooden ladder store bath products and hang towels

a monumental concrete table was placed outside

to create a convivial and welcoming atmosphere for friends and neighbors;

for dinners that continue late into the night, old strings of

light bulbs were made into these suspended pendants; in the spirit of

"recoup", the old wooden chairs are painted each a different color

ok, check out this "outdoor kitchen".. built into the stone walls,

it features a sink made from an ancient olive mill found nearby, as well

as two burners from an industrial site .. can you imagine the dinners

you could cook here? there's also a wood-burning oven nearby just to

round out the fabulousness of this amazing kitchen in "plein nature"

not to be overlooked is the outdoor shower built in the shadow

of an ancient olive tree near the aromatic herb garden

planted with rosemary; the shower is copper and

the water is warm...heaven!

extending the master bedroom outdoors is the terrace

built over the ancient ovens; a small stone wall makes

this the perfect place to spend time taking in

the magnificent countryside

***

from Marie Claire; translated from French by me

(in case you couldn't tell!)

***

Pugliese flag

the farmhouse is located out on Lecce between the

Adriatic and the Ionian Seas

Rustici Leccese

donut-sized concoctions of mozzarella,

bechamel and chopped tomatoes baked

inside phyllo dough

Yum!

(I can't find the recipe, anyone know how

to make these?)