Agriturismo Masseria Santa Lucia Alessano - Farm Holidays Lecce Puglia

Location: Outskirts, Countryside

Services: Restaurant, Parking, Pets allowed, Internet services, Luggage Storage, Concession with Private Beach, Meeting/Banquet Facilities, Garden, Amusement park for children, Bicycle hire, Airport shuttle, Fax/Photocopying, Laundry, Beach shuttle, Dry Cleaning, Packed lunches, Rooms/facilities for disabled

Masseria Santa Lucia is situated deep in the Macurano archeological park, at the foot of Borgo Montesardo. The town of Alessano, a gem of baroque architecture, is nearby. Macurano, an important archeological find preserves the site of an ancient Greek/Byzantine settlement, later transformed into underground oil presses. Also in the park adjacent to the Masseria it is possible to visit three sites that testify to the history of the area.
The masseria is renovated and offers seven guest rooms, a restaurant, a wine cellar, a large meeting room for groups or displays and the owners’ private living quarters.
The farm is ideal for family get-aways, strolling in the park, visiting the animals or visiting the attractions in the vicinity. Older people will enjoy the pure fresh air, the relaxing atmosphere and the nearby thermal baths, Santa Cesarea Terme. Scolastic groups are welcome also.

The delicious flavours of traditional Salento cooking is enhanced by the wholesome products of our farm, all rigorously grown by organic method of cultivation. The restaurant menu is completed with a few carefully selected local products.
In our kitchen you may also learn the secrets of preparing typical traditional dishes, such as homemade pasta, “pucce”, “pitte” and “pittule”. Just reserve the cooking course you like.

The rural fortified settlements, the masserie (farmhouses), are representative of farm life in the Salento area during the fifteenth to the seventeenth century. The Salento territory, with its open plains lacking in natural defenses, was constantly being invaded by the Turks, Saracens and pirates. The masserie, often situated in strategic positions along important routes of communication and as warehouses for quantities of grain and oil, were in great danger. Their particular architecture, thick walls built around the farmhouse and the outbuildings with towers, retractable stairs and secret hiding places were a logical development.
In this historical context, small churches, underground cave dwellings and masserie, among which, Masseria Santa Lucia, grew up around the crossroads known as Contrada Macurano. Macurano, situated along the ancient Appia-Traiana Way was an important route for pilgrims going to Jerusalemme.
Since ancient times people have inhabited this area, first the Messapi, then around the fifth century B.C. the Basiliani Greek monks fleeing from political persecution. Following their cultural tradition the monks built refuge/cell dwellings conducive to the ascetic life. In the eleventh century A.D.the Benedictine monks began arriving and due to the growing importance of olive oil, the ascetic refuge/cell dwellings gave way to underground oil presses. About this time the church of Santa Lucia and a fortified farm, Masseria Macurano, were erected.
The Benedictine organization greatly stimulated economic growth and Contrada Macurano flourished for several centuries. A monastery, Masseria Santa Lucia, and the church of Santo Stefano were built during this era.
During the sixteenth century, continued raids by the Turks and pirates caused the slow, relentless deterioration of the area until the 1700’s when the buildings were transformed into farms, giving rise once again to an important market place as well as a respite for travellers. Farming continued in the area well into the nineteenth century with the main crops, vegetables, grains and especially tobacco.

We are in Montesardo, nearby Alessano(Le),in Contrada Macurano n. 28.
Take S.S. n.16 from Lecce to Maglie, then S.S. 275 Maglie/Santa Maria di Leuca to Alessano. Follow brown turistic signs to Macurano.
Brindisi Airport is located at a 60 minutes drive from Alessano