Tenuta Negroamaro Hotel: Idyllic slow-living hotel in rural Italy

With spaces designed by Olga Ashby Interiors to enjoy la dolce vita, this new boutique hotel is a hidden gem in Italy’s dream region of Puglia.

A peaceful hideaway for seamless indoor-outdoor living is the concept behind Tenuta Negroamaro.

Slow-living hotel in a quiet rural Italian town

Created as a home away from home, the hotel is located in Puglia, Italy, and situated in a rural setting just a short 10-minute drive from the charming towns of Gallipoli and Lecce.

Here, the slow life prevails, and the ambience invites you to reconnect with nature.

Olga Ashby – founder of London-based eponymous studio Olga Ashby Interiors – took care of the hotel’s decor, which was inspired by the local cactus (fico d’indio or prickly pear in Italian), which is often used to produce alcohol popular for many cocktails.

Passionate about creating relaxing places all over the world, the interior designer has founded City Sanctuary by Olga Ashby Interiors, a collection of hospitality properties designed to give the vibe of a close friend’s house rather than a hotel.

Approx. $1,360 per night, available for weddings and yoga retreats

Also available for private family vacations, weddings and yoga retreats, among other events, Tenuta Negroamaro is the first boutique establishment launched in collaboration with the brand.

Having lived in London since he was 16 years old, the owner of Tenuta Negroamaro, originally from Puglia, felt it was time to return. He didn’t hesitate to purchase this property to build his dream hospitality project.

Hotel features traditional Apulian dry stone huts

The hotel comprises several areas, each hosted in a trullo – traditional Apulian dry stone hut with a conical roof.

With its vaulted ceilings, the main house now includes the breakfast area and a sitting area for drinks and board games, while the lobby occupies a separate building for more privacy and tranquillity.

With their different shapes and sizes, the 10 rooms – five of which have their own private pool – all give the feeling of a sanctuary connected to the outside.

Picturesque swimming pool with bamboo gazebo

A bamboo gazebo provides shade for guests to enjoy the pool and garden views.

The estate has its own farm, vineyard and vegetable garden from which the F&B produce is sourced.

The bar is a perfect entertaining space adorned with a mural by a local artist depicting various types of cacti.

Neutral, earth colours throughout the hotel

Olga opted for a neutral and earthy colour scheme to blend inside and outside softly.

Natural and traditional materials – including local soft stones such as Pietra Leccese and travertine for the floors and furniture, bamboo for gazebos and walls separating the rooms, and jute for rugs and lighting fixtures – provide textures throughout the interiors that translate into a multisensorial experience.

To give it authenticity, Olga worked hand-in-hand with artisans from the area and sourced unique items for the interiors. These include the handmade ceramic shelving unit around the kitchen door, the blankets and cushions in the rooms that the interior designer found during a yoga retreat in Morocco, the vintage African bench in the living area, the collection of 19th-century books, and the bespoke Merino wool tapestry above the sofa in each room.

Already hosting vegetable and fruit gardens, plus a little farm with ducks, chickens and pigs, the hotel will soon be home to a yoga gazebo, a guided meditation space, a massage room and a private dining space for two.

Tenuta Negroamaro is located at Yuri, SP52 Contrada, 73017 Sannicola LE, Italy. Tel: +39 350 196 1997.