LUXURIOUS TOWER PENTHOUSE IN OSTUNI OLD TOWN

INTRODUCTION
Torretta Alchimia is a penthouse in an 18th-century Apulian tower. It is the highest house in the lively historic centre of the famous Ostuni, the “white city”. It is the dream apartment for those who, on the one hand, want to enjoy their holiday amidst the cheerfulness and joie de vivre typical of Southern Italy but, on the other hand, are looking for the peace and privacy of the spacious living/bedroom and of the spectacular roof terrace.
The Torretta Alchimia was wholly renovated in 2017 as an investment property for holiday lets. The returns are unmatched.
The access to the apartment is from the street level. If you conquer the steep staircase with 42 steps, you will be rewarded with an overwhelming spatial experience and a unique view: three-star vaulted ceilings that merge into one another form the impressive space in which the kitchenette- the combined living area and dining, and generous bedroom. The window view reaches the sea, surpassing the breathtaking panoramic view from the roof terrace. A romantic holiday apartment for couples to experience an unforgettable stay and the ideal starting point to explore the urban life of Ostuni and the surrounding region.
Coming up the stairs, you enter the living area with a modern kitchenette and dining area. The spacious bedroom with the window facing the sea has a bathtub outside the ensuite bathroom.
A staircase leads up to the magnificent roof terrace, with a stone bench and table, perfect for morning coffee or aperitivo. The views are stunning, overlooking the old town’s rooftops and magnificent cathedral with 360-degree views over the valley and the Adriatic Sea.

Design
The rooms, in white, with high vaults and niches in the Apulian tradition, have a unique atmosphere of their own. Selected design objects support this feeling. Lamps such as the GOLDEN BELL by Alvar Aalto or the DE MARSEILLE by Le Corbusier provide light and emphasise the architectural structures-overarched white niches impressively frame photographs that harmonise with the landscape. Even the fish leaning against the fireplace on the roof terrace is delighted by its beautiful surroundings – a place to linger immersed in beauty in the heart of Apulia.

Ostuni- “Citta Bianca”
The famous White City in the Itria Valley is trendy with young people. The streets are lined with cafés, ice cream parlours and restaurants, and the pedestrian zone leading from Piazza San Oronzo to the cathedral is lined with souvenir shops, small boutiques and trattoiras. Passing the church of Le Monacelle, you reach the magnificent cathedral. You can enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view from the old town’s upper part. At its highest point is our Torretta Alchimia. The apartment is just a stone’s throw from the house with the blue door (la casa con la porta blu) a popular spot for Instagram photos from the città bianca.

The Adriatic coast, with many sandy beaches and sleek beach clubs, is easily reached in just 10 minutes.
The gorgeous coastal villages of Santa Sabina and Villanova, both full of seafront restaurants, are also only 15 minutes away.

The lovely town of Carovigno is 7 km away, boasting many great restaurants from local trattorie to Michelin star. A beautiful piazza and centro storico, complete with a Norman castle, perfect for an evening passeggiata!
Brindisi airport is an easy drive of just 35 km. To Bari airport 116 km (80 minutes)

WHAT MORE TO SEE:
The penthouse has the advantage of being within easy reach of many areas of world interest, such as the amazing mile-long caves of Castellana; the archaeological excavations of the Roman Egnatia by the Adriatic coastline; the Trulli 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 can be reached in 40 minutes and has countless medieval churches and a great richness of architecture. In town, the famous Roman amphibian theatre is also used for music and drama performances in the open during the summer season. Lecce is a beautiful town for long walks, enjoying the fantastic atmosphere, bars, outside restaurants and great shops.

Further to the south, inland Salento has several charming villages with ancient history. The advantage of staying in a town is to socialise with Italian neighbours, walk to the cafe and buy a newspaper and a cup of coffee in the morning and have all amenities within reach during daytime and nighttime. The townhouses often come with a garden and roof terrace. And its fascination to open the simple door from the street – and inside, almost like a little palace with a garden!
In Sternatina and Martignano to the south of Lecce, the villagers still speak antique Greek.
Maglie is like a mini Lecce and has many fine buildings. Muro Leccese is smaller and represents a small town/village with an exciting 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 nice antique facilities for sale. Spongano is a small village surrounded by olive groves. Here you can see secluded grand 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 there is room for beach life, pizzerias, restaurants, and disco music in summertime.
Santa Catarina is well known also for its many fine villas in the area, some antique.
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: Bari in the north by car on the motorway in approximately 1 hour 15 minutes and nearby Brindisi in the south in about 25 minutes.
There is a train station at Brindisi, and it is possible to take the train from Bari airport via Bari Central in 1 hour and 25 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 13th 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 breakfasts, and the Italians go out for enjoyment and dining. There is so much you can experience, like early morning markets in the small towns, music festivals, religious carnivals, the beach life, historical tours in the main towns, cooking classes, learning a bit of Italian at language schools in Lecce, dining at the many country and sea side restaurants, night clubbing 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. Scuba diving and fishing are available in Santa Sabina. Torre Guaceto nature reserve also extends to the sea, so the coastline presents a heaven of sea life, ideal for snorkelling.
Golf has five good courses, and San Domenico is world-class (PGA 2014 Challenge Final). Tennis, horseback riding, hiking and bicycle tours are other options for the active-minded. Squash clubs are located in Bari, Bitonto and other places.

THE WEATHER:
Southern Italy is warm and friendly, and the temperature in Ostuni is temperate all year round. Even in the cold of January, it doesn’t drop much below 10c. Ostuni, as it is at high elevation, has a microclimate.
The temperature in Apulia is very temperate. The summer months can get to 40, ideal for those sun lovers. May, June, July and September tend to be 25 to 30. March, April and October in the 20c.

Winter temperatures: November to February ranges from 8c to 20c, depending on the sun. We have had weeks of endless sunshine during the “Winter”. Places like Ostuni, Fasano and Cisternino are very hilly and can even have occasional snowfalls.
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 in June-August, 10-11 sun hours per day! This means you can enjoy a long season of nice weather in Apulia. When you plan to buy a holiday home in Apulia, think that you will spend a lot more time outside than on the inside compared to at home. Therefore you will need plenty of terrace space, pergolas etc. at your Apulian property and also, cooking facilities outdoors 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 common 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, from northern Italians, Apulia has become the most popular holiday destination for Italians. But rest assured, no tourist villages will ever be built because the coastline 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 to buy 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 – 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 act as your local representative and manage any renovation or refurbishment project. 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.
We look forward to hearing from you soon!