To be honest I stayed at the Masseria Montelauro last year but unfortunately never got around to writing a review so I believe the fact that I went again this year at roughly the same time of year is in itself a positive endorsement of this hotel.

First the location. Situated conveniently on the main road from Uggiano la Chiesa to Otranto, means that by car you can reach Otranto in approximately 10 miniutes and the main beaches at Laghi Alimini in around 20. All this and you have the advantage of being in the middle of the countryside with all the peace and tranquility this implies.

Once you’ve parked your car in the gated car park and walk the few metres up the drive to the main building you are already entering another world, one dedicated not only to your primary senses of sound sense and smell but also to the intellect.

Before you reach the rececption you are not only aware of space and tranquility all around you but also of the vegitation and its mediterranean browns and greens; the vegtable garden which supplies the chef with fresh produce, and the buildings, white and cool reflecting the ardent sunshine of a cloudless Pugliese sky. Happily your senses countinue to be pampered in the reception area, covered by vaulted arches built out of Pietra Leccese ( Lecce stone ) whose mellow golden colour adds to the airyness of the surroundings.

Beyond this lies a large lawn, with on one side a huge gazebo and next to it a rectangular swimming pool the surface of the water looking like a wafer of light in the middle of a green herbacious sea. You are led to our room which also faces the lawn and and with its traditional decor mimics the elegant minimalism of the whole complex .

Strictly speaking the Montelauro is not a Masseria, as this word usuallly refers to a fortified farmhouse ( see my review on Masseria Carrignani ), it’s origins are a convent so it was more suited to a monastic life than an agricultural one, that said it doesn’t mean you can’t indulge your taste buds. In another building, converted from the old stables to become the breakfast and dining area, you can have dinner, inside or under the stars. Delicious four course meals are served by the resident chef, with menus biased towards fish and sea food. Of the five days we spent there, three we dined in. If you really can’t bear to tear yourself away, no problem, at lunch time sumptuous buffet lunches are served on the terrace.

To conclude I’d like to thank the owner Elizabeth Massaro and her daughters for their love and dedication in making the Montelauro such a great place to visit, and also thank Renato the Director, Alessandra, Louisa, Danilo the chef, Daniela and all the others who made our stay a happy and memorable holiday.

Masseria Montelauro is lovely, relaxing and peaceful. The rooms are beautifully decorated but simple; the surroundings are verdant - full of olive, citrus, fruit and eucalyptus trees and bourgainvilla; and a swimming pool nestles in the centre of it all. The food here is lovely whether its dinnfer (5 courses), breakfast (buffet) or lunch: fresh, local produce; wonderful Puglian cooking; full bodied red wines from the surrounding towns. Staff were infallibly helpful and we were very well looked after throughout our stay. Although the Montelauro might be a little more pricey I would definitely say it's worth the money and that its good value. There are some nice touches as well, like the antipasto laid out for all guests for free before dinner. We stayed here for about 5 or 6 nights and we couldn't have chosen better. Most of the people staying here were Italian, which, to my mind can only be a bonus as I'd take it as a good indication that the food, wine and location is good. It's also an easy place from which to explore this part of Puglia. One final note: I haven't rated the Spa and Fitness Centre as we didn't use them.

This was my 2nd stay at Montelauro (previous stay 2 years ago) and overall I still love the property. It is elegant and simple and overall very comfortable. Service is friendly and efficient (especially the guys that help with the bags who are super nice). The breakfast selection and quality is excellent and the pool area relaxing and serene despite there being a number of families with children. The Masseria is located 5 mins from the center of Otranto and near beautiful beaches. The landscaping / gardens / plants are amazing - some of the best I have seen in a hotel. The property is even featured in an artcle in this months Italian Elle magazine. The rooms are cleaned to a very high standard. A small area for improvement - some of the commucal loungers outside were getting rather stained / covered in dog hair and more attention needs to be paid to keeping them clean constantly. The evening complimentary canapes are a nice touch. Overall, still a beautiful place and one we have many fond memories of.

Stayed here for 8 nights in May. We have been to other Masseria further north and enjoyed those, so decided to do the same again. At 160Eur per-night, this was reasonable value compared to other Masseria.

We had the standard room, though it looked like ours (#5) was slightly larger that the other standards. The rooms are clean/Spartan with a touch of Moroccan. Although they are not large, there was plenty of drawers/wardrobe space in which to place our cloths & bags, so we did not trip up over our stuff. The bathroom was large with a good shower. The bed was huge, (which makes the room in photos look smaller than it actually is). There was no air-conditioning, as we were told that it isn't switched on till June, -- However, they did supply us with fans.

The hotel is surrounded by its own extensive gardens, and grows it own veg. It has a medium-sized pool and a shaded area to relax under. The grounds where a big plus for us, as there were lots a seating areas where you could wander off an relax. They have free Wi-Fi, but you have to be near the Reception and even then it is weak. Staff where friendly and courteous. There are a few dogs and horses around, which have the place a nice farm-feel.

The breakfast was on par for a hotel of this standard, with lovely home-made cakes. We had lunch and dinner here a few times. Dinner is a set menu of several courses, and it was generally good, though sometimes hit & miss. Lunch was a buffet, but at 30Eur per-person seemed a tad expensive.

The nearest town is Ortranto which is only a 10min drive away. This is a nice little town, though the choice of good restaurants/bars was a bit limited.

Overall, I would recommend this hotel if I were to visit this part of Puglia for a relaxing holiday (though there is far more to do/see further north around Ostuni).