A heavenly stay at Puglia’s Villa Fenicia, Italy

Jul 18

Finding a hidden gem in terms of holiday accommodation is a thrill I love to chase, and Villa Fenicia is perhaps my all-time favourite find. Trawling the internet for a (late to be planned) trip to Puglia I came across Villa Fenicia and hit the book-now button immediately.

30 minutes outside of Puglia’s capital Bari, Villa Fenicia is nestled in lush grounds with orange and oleander trees — the squawking parrots and buzzing cicadas being the only sounds you can hear when you arrive. With only four rooms in the villa, it feels like having the house to yourself (during our stay we only saw one other couple briefly by the pool) which made our visit feel all the more special.

The restaurant on site uses only foraged ingredients from the national parks nearby, or produce that is grown on the property. Walking by the sun-dried tomatoes (in progress!) was the perfect ‘when in Italy’ moment, and the private breakfast served with juice, fruit, jams, bread and special dishes of fresh figs and kefir-drizzled peaches was one of the most incredible experiences.