Agriturismo Serragambetta - Agriturismo biologico

Serragambetta lies on the south eastern hills of the Murge* and is located between Castellana, noted for its caves, and Conversano, the City of the Counts. It is the land of Trulli houses, dry stone walls, ancient olive groves and red earth, of Masserias (traditional manor farms) and holiday homes.

Built  around 1880, Serragambetta has been evolving constantly to meet present day demands whilst conserving the inspiration and aims of its beginnings - respect for its original architecture and the maintenance of its gastronomic traditions and authentic hospitality. Hence, baking bread and pizza is carried out using the energy from flames kindled in the wood-fired oven whilst the electricity powering the wireless connection to the internet is produced by newly installed solar panels.

The main body of the villa, built around 1880 by the doctor Domenico Lanera, overlooks a large courtyard, paved with chianche, the local stone. The other buildings are the pre-existing tower, the small stable and the former wine factory.
The courtyard leads to the small garden below, and from there to the small wood of oaks and other essences of the Mediterranean.
These structures, recovered in full respect of the original architecture, are divided into seven accomodations for the agriturismo. The furniture is from the late nineteenth or early twentieth century.

Each accommodation is equipped with its own private bathroom.

Camera a Sud used to be 'Don Minguccio's' bedroom (Domenico's great grandfather). Its south facing french windows lead on to a small balcony and the other east facing window looks out over the courtyard. It is the biggest and the lightest of all the rooms in the house with beautiful star shaped vaulting. The small closet where 'il monsignore' used to ensconce himself, previous to its use as a WC, now doubles as a combined shower cubicle and toilet. The room is equipped with a double bed and a single bed.

Susasuso is at the top of the house. From here guests can enjoy sweeping views and when the Tramontana (north wind) is blowing they can even catch a glimpse of the sea. The room is equipped with a double bed and a single bed. There is a kitchenette, including refrigerator.

Bosco has a private entrance reached through the garden. The apartment includes a large bedroom which looks directly out over oak wood and heathland. It is equipped with a double bed and two single beds, a refrigerator and a private terrace.

Stalla is a renovated apartment, formerly the stables belonging to the house. It is perfect for a family of up to four. It sits on the ground floor, with private entrance, and offers views of the garden. It is equipped with a kitchenette, including refrigerator.

Sottobosco is located off of the garden and has a large bedroom for one double and two single beds, as well as a smaller room where an additional single bed may be used. There is a comfortable private bathroom, sitting area, and private patio. It is equipped with a kitchenette, including refrigerator.

La Torre (built in 1850) predates the construction of the family's summer residence. It used to serve as a shelter for workers when it rained, and it was here that they used to eat. In the evening they would pull out the racks of drying figs and cook bread and focaccia in the adjoining wood fired oven. La Torre is equipped with kitchenette, including refrigerator, and an alcove with a fireplace. The windows look out over the garden. Located on the ground floor and with private entrance, La Torre is ideal for a couple with a child.

Terrazzo is a large apartment on the top floor of the house from where guests have private access to the terrace. It consists of three adjoining bedrooms and one bathroom. It includes a kitchenette with refrigerator.

Dinner is the most important time of day for socialising and enjoying good food. Around a large table guests exchange their impressions of the day's activities and plans for excursions for the following day are discussed... perhaps scanning maps for roads suitable for bike riding or the most sheltered coastal coves if the following day's forecast promises to be windy. And when the first pizzas start to come out of the wood oven, often musician friends appear who with the sounds of tambourine, guitar and piano accordion create just the right atmosphere for those who want to try out the local folk dancing - Pizzica or Tarantella.

Without doubt one of the best ways to experience the culture of a country is to get to know the secrets of its gastronomy. Serragambetta's cookery courses are based on traditional Puglian cuisine and are devised with this aim in mind. And don't be shy to ask for our recipes for jams, liqueurs and conserves or any of our other home made specialties.

Following the agricultural activities, you can learn the introductory notions of Organic Farming, in many ways related to the local peasant tradition of which there are endless testimonies scattered throughout the surrounding area.
Here the spontaneous architecture of the dry stone buildings evolves into the much more complex, but still sober and linear, of the white farms and holiday homes, which from the mid-nineteenth century were spreading on the hills of the area.
This allows you to make all kinds of excursions, both on foot and by bicycle. For this purpose, bicycles are available on site.

The countryside is typical of trulli and olive trees, dry stone walls and oak trees: surrounded by this landscape, there is a swimming pool, at the complete disposal of guests.

Serragambetta's organic crops are: olives, cherries, almonds, fruit trees and all sorts of vegetables. In the farm you can buy the "fruits" of the land or products transformed into oil, jams and preserves.
Domenico will know how to make vegetarians and any guests with particular dietary needs happy!

In the immediate vicinity there are many destinations of tourist, cultural and naturalistic interest. Starting from the Grotte di Castellana and the next historical centres of Conversano and Putignano, and continuing towards Polignano a mare with its houses overlooking the water, the beaches and coves of Monopoli, Alberobello with its trulli, the archaeological excavations of Egnazia, a pre-Roman city, and the millenary olive trees of Savelletri, and finally Locorotondo and Martina Franca overlooking the Valle d'Itria.

A few more kilometres away you can reach the white city of Ostuni 40 km, the marine nature reserve of Torre Guaceto 60 km, Matera, dug into the tuff and inhabited since prehistoric times, 60 km. Or the ravines of Mottola, Gravina di Puglia, Laterza, Ginosa, 35-60 km, the itinerary of the cathedrals of the Romanesque Apulian (Bari, Giovinazzo, Molfetta, Trani, Barletta, Ruvo, Bitonto) and Castel del Monte, 80 km. Lecce, baroque city is 120 km away.