When you go and visit a stately home museum, sometimes you wonder what it would be like to live in one. Well, staying at Villa Carenza is like fulfilling the fantasy of living in a historic stately home but with the added modern touches like the bathrooms and an incredible pool. The house is magnificent, inside and out. The 4 bedrooms are large with good storage space in each. The 4 bathrooms are also spacious and clean. The grounds are spectacular and the swimming pool is massive, immaculately clean and has plenty loungers, chairs and tables.
The location, a 10 minute drive from the buzzing town of Monopoli, is perfect (you do need a car). It's very close to the main Puglian highway so easy access for day trips to all areas. And the villa is a few minutes east of a small village with a small but very convenient mini market (Rosa's). (Definitely get Rosa's home made pasticcioti, the to die for Puglian cream filled pastry).
Michele was very helpful and delightful to deal with. He also gave us a fascinating history of the house.
If you have the opportunity to stay at the main house in Villa Carenza, don't pass up on it. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity.