COUNTRY COTTAGE – IN PARADISE SETTING- NEEDS TLC

This property is within 25 minutes of the international airport at Brindisi and the beaches.
Just south of San Vito dei Normanni you can find this 2-bedroom country cottage on the 5000 sq m, with mature olive, figs, almond trees, and prickly pears.
The cottage has two entrances from the terraced area. The left door leads into the spacious primary bedroom, interconnecting to the second, a bathroom and the kitchen/living room. The right door leads into the kitchen. The cottage can be extended, making extra living space or a guest room/bathroom.
The terrace is south facing, and the idea of making a pergola and al fresco dining area is here.The property is connected to mains electricity. There is an above-ground water cistern collecting rainwater from the roof, a standard system in the countryside. Alternatively, lorry transport can manage fresh water; it usually costs around 40 euros for 8000 litres and same-day delivery service. The property has an old-fashioned septic tack that needs replacing with a modern Imhoff-type system. A heating system can be installed, and a solar panel generating hot water with roof installation is recommended. A staircase can be installed for the roof terrace access, offering extra summer living space and a breeze during hot summer days.

For any work to be undertaken, CasaPuglia offers professional project management and can supervise builder’s work from start to finish, and contracts are always at fixed prices.

LOCATION: 8 minutes (4,5 km south of) to San Vito dei Normanni and LIDL supermarket) on the road to Mesagne (14 km)

WHAT TO SEE:
There is the beautiful nature reserve Torre Gauceto by the sea. It offers an attractive escape from beach resorts as you find unspoiled beaches and no cars allowed here. From the property, the shores of the Adriatic Sea are easily reached in approximately 20-25 minutes (20 km). The parking is at the visitor’s centre, and there are organised nature walks, cycle trekking and snorkelling trips.
Further north along the coast, you find Torre Santa Sabina and Specchiolla, two seaside places with many beaches, restaurants and cafes.The property has the advantage of being not far from central areas of world interest, such as the mile-long caves of Castellana; the archaeological excavations of the Roman Egnatia by the Adriatic coastline; the Trullo houses of Alberobello- a UNESCO World Heritage site: the beautiful white town of Ostuni, located on top of a hill with fantastic sea views; the medieval town of Oria; the wealthy baroque town of Martina Franca; the petite and charming Cisternino, the Zoo Safari Park of Fasano (lots of fun for children and adults alike); the caves of Polignano a Mare, well known also for its tasty ice cream; Grottaglie famous for its ceramics and old stone carvings; and last but not least the famous baroque city of Lecce which is called the Florence of the South. Lecce is a beautiful town for long walks, enjoying the fantastic atmosphere, bars, outside restaurants and great shops. Lecce can be reached in 15 -20 minutes and has countless medical churches and a great richness of architecture. The famous Roman amphibian theatre is also used in town for music and drama performances in the open during summer.

Further to the south, inland Salento has several charming historical villages with ancient history. The townhouses often come with a garden and roof terrace, and it’s fascinating to open the simple door from the street – and inside, almost like a little palace with a garden! The advantages of staying in a town are socialising with Italian neighbours, walking to the cafe, buying a newspaper and a cup of coffee in the morning, and having all the amenities within reach during the daytime and nighttime.
In Sternatina and Martignano to the south of Lecce, antique Greek is still spoken by the villagers.
Maglie is like a mini Lecce with many fine buildings. Muro Leccese is more diminutive and represents a small town/village with an excellent architectural history. Cutrofiano is famous for French holiday home ownership. Ruffano has many fine old buildings for sale, waiting to find new owners and to be restored. Surano has a small town centre with very excellent antique facilities for sale. Spongano, again is a small village surrounded by olive groves. Here you can see grand secluded villas and country retreats owned by foreigners and families from North Italy who come to relax in rural Salento.
The east coast of Salento is rougher than the southwest and for people who enjoy the sea and fishing. Somewhat more elegant than the east coast. Castro is beautiful with its location on top of the cliff by the sea and many villas with direct access to the sea. Santa Cesarea Terme is a spa resort, very popular with a beautiful setting and bay.
The cost from Santa Maria di Leuca to Gallipoli has many fine sandy beaches. The villages are perhaps not the prettiest but room for beach life, pizzerias, restaurants and disco music in the summertime.
Santa Catarina is also known for its many fine villas, some antique, in the area.
The sea outside Porto Cesareo, further up the coast, is probably the most beautiful and fantastic sunset.

GETTING THERE:
By air, there is a choice of two international airports, served by Ryanair, Easyjet, BA and others, both easily reached; nearby Brindisi in approximately 20-25 minutes and
Bari in the north by car on the motorway in about 1 hour 15 minutes.

MORE TO SEE IN APULIA:
Bari, the commercial capital city with 250 000 inhabitants, offers the best shopping, a grand opera house called the Petruzzelli teatro and a large medical city centre with many museums. Just north of Bari lies a little town called Giovinazzo, a true gem right by the sea. Further north is Molfetta Outlet, a famous shopping galleria and 20 minutes further is Traini, a sophisticated town with a beautiful half-moon bay & marina. Continue north to Castel del Monte, the mystical castle Frederic II built in the 14th Century.
Within a 2,5 hour drive to the North of Bari lies Gargano, the peninsula called the spur of the Italian boot. Gargano forms a significant nature and wildlife Reserve and offers hiking and scenic trips around the peninsula. From here, there are daily boat trips to the small Tremiti islands.

LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE:
The Italian lifestyle means many things, especially socialising; the home is used for sleeping and breakfast, and the Italians go out for enjoyment and dining. You can experience much, like early morning markets in small towns. Music festivals, religious carnivals, beach life, historical tours in the main towns, cooking classes, learning Italian at language schools in Lecce, dining at the many country and seaside restaurants, and nightclubs at the beach clubs of Capitolo.

SPORTS:
As Apulia is a peninsula surrounded by two seas- the Adriatic in the north and the Ionic in the south – water sports dominate in the area; sailing, yachting, water skiing, kite-surfing, swimming & beach life. Golf has five good courses, and San Domenico is world-class (PGA 2014 Challenge Final). Squash clubs are located in Bari, Bitonto and other places. Tennis, horseback riding, hiking and bicycle tours are other options for the active-minded.

THE WEATHER:
Being south, Apulia has warmer weather than Northern Italy; even in the “winter months” of December to February, the average number of sun hours per day is four and 10-11 sun hours per day in June-August! This means you can enjoy a long season of nice weather in Apulia. When you plan to buy a holiday home in Apulia, think you will spend much more time outside than inside and at home. Therefore you will need plenty of terrace space, pergolas etc., at your Apulian property, and cooking facilities outside are convenient.

The water temperature at the beginning of May is, on average, 19 degrees, up to 27 degrees in August/September and 19 degrees in November. This means you & family will spend time at the beach. Wherever you are in Apulia, you can reach the shores within 30 minutes!

WHY BUY IN APULIA?
Apulia has until recently been called the hidden treasure of Italy, unknown to most tourists who come & stay in Rome, Florence, Venice and the Italian Riviera. However, all this is rapidly changing because of massive investments in the infrastructure, such as the improved motorways, enlarged airports and the introduction of low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet. The property prices are low in Apulia and inadequate means value for money at bargain prices for international buyers. We see more and more foreign visitors coming to Apulia, and in our opinion, investments will show good growth in value because of the increased demand. Also, for northern Italians, Apulia has become the most popular holiday destination for Italians. But rest assured, no tourist villages will ever be built because the cost line is protected in Apulia, and people are against modern developments that do not fit into this historical landscape. Therefore, prices are bound to rise with increased demand for a fixed and limited number of properties,

WHY BUY FROM CASAPUGLIA?
Firstly we are an English-speaking agency based in the middle of Apulia with local experience and can guide you to get the right property at the right price.
Secondly, we have personally inspected every property we recommend buying and do not list hundreds of properties but a smaller selection of properties that offer good value to the buyer. In Apulia, many properties are offered at unrealistic prices, but we say no to sellers who want us to list properties for sale at silly prices.
We have many years of international property experience, including ten years in London, and we see investments in Apulia from a global perspective. We have been active in several EU property markets and specialise in property management to ensure well-maintained property for growth in property value.
We have a comprehensive range of local services:
– acting for the buyer – and not for the seller – by searching the market for the right property, negotiating the price and giving advice through the buying process leading to the completion of the purchase
– property management; we look after your property when you are away and ensure it is in perfect condition when you arrive. We will prepare a maintenance plan for annual maintenance and repairs of your property, which is essential to maintain and increase the property’s value
– project management; we can be your local representative and manage any renovation or refurbishment. We will advise on value-added measures to further enhance your property’s capital growth.
– lettings- we can assist you in letting your property and checking in your tenants, deposit taking, checking out & inventory control.

Refer also to our website casapuglia.com for additional information.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!