Indulge in luxurious seclusion at this lavishly styled five-star resort on the Puglian coast, deep in Italy’s heel. The dazzling white, fifteenth-century masseria is a restored farmhouse with an ancient watchtower where Knights of Malta once defended themselves against Ottoman attack.

There is a magical feel to it all. The thirty-two rooms and sixteen suites have wrought-iron beds and luxurious soft furnishings. French doors open straight onto the olive groves and breathtaking views look out across the lush estate to the dazzling Adriatic. In the centre of the grounds, surrounded by olive trees, sits a magnificent free-form saltwater swimming pool fringed with rocks. Fifteen minutes away is a stretch of private beach with chic cabanas – just a short hop on the free golf cart shuttle.

The spa offers thalassotherapy to detoxify and cleanse the body and soul, using seawater and mineral-packed seaweed from the Adriatic. There are tennis courts, a water gym, and an eighteen-hole golf course as well as windsufing and diving. Meanwhile around Puglia there are caves, stalactites, and rock formations at Castellana Grotte, near Bari, to explore.

Dress up for dinner at the San Domenico restaurant with its dramatic columns and arched stone ceiling. Once used as an olive press, the dining room now serves ingredients straight from the resort’s farm. Location: Puglia, Italy