We flew from Bristol to Bari via Rome. Brindisi is closer but flights were much more expensive. Car hire is essential. It's quite difficult to find the first time round. It's between Neviano and Tuglie but signposts are intermittant. Once you find Neviano ask. (It helps if you speak some Italian).

The apartment is fine and the kitchen well-equipped. If you enjoy cooking for yourself, this is a good place to be. There is a supermarket and shops in Neviano where you can buy whatever you need. Probably not best suited for those who like to dine out. It is quite a drive.

The sea is at some distance and the public beaches packed in August. The Residence has a pleasant pool which was rarely busy. We had it to ourselves very often, even though the accommodation was full.

There are places to visit around and about, and a number of markets. If you want to relax, and enjoy being in Italy, but away from the usual tourist crowds, this is a good place to come.

If you are looking for beaches and nightlife, this is not the place for you.

My wife and I stayed here 9th -13th June.Villaparadiso consists of 5 self catering Villas and 5 B&B rooms within a large walled property among an old Olive grove.All include breakfast and half board is available on request -Luisa wife of owner Paolo will cook a traditional local meal. We dined there twice during our stay -very good meal and we also used the barbicue on one occasion.The rest of the time we dined out in Sannicola [the nearest place where we could find any restaurants] which was a few kilometers from Villaparadiso.The restaurants we used were Pizzeria Ragno,Villa Excelsia,Giardini Raimondi and Vecchio Camino.We also dined at a fish restaurant Quintana in Gallipoli.
Villaparadiso is situated just outside the small town of Tuglie which is approx 10 kilometers from the coast .There are many lovely beaches in the area some private where you have to pay but there are also many free [clean] beaches you can use.We purchased a beach umbrella and saved a fortune.
The beaches we went to were;
Baia Verde Gallipoli private beach nice but 10 Euros to use and up to 6 Euros to park in peak season [16/6-9/9]
Torre Giovanni Lovely long stretch of beach south of Gallipoli backed by sand dunes.Many private and free sections-we went to Malibu beach where you could park for free under the trees in the shade,
Lida Pizzo Lovely beach but will cost 16.5 Euros for two inc parking.
San Isadoro North of Gallipoli lovely beach private beach costs 12 euros inc parking but drive past to the free area which is just as good.
Torre Lapillo Great beaches -the free ones were in the town .One minus point swarming with hawkers.However if you say no they go away and don't pester you.
Santa Maria al Bagno our favourite.A local public beach in a small town north of Gallipoli.Good for swimming as it is sheltered by a breakwater.Busy in the mornings -dont the kids go to school here?
Overall a very Italian experience -one useful tip is that very few people here speak English so get yourself a good phrase book.
For example only one restaurant [Villa Excelsa] had a copy of the menu in English.