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The
“masseria” is a traditional
farmhouse to be found in the countryside of Puglia.
It is generally built in “tufo”, a local
sandstone, around a courtyard, and is surrounded by
high walls designed to protect its residents since Turkish
pirates occupied Otranto in 1480, and destroyed Castro
and Marittima in 1537.
Most masserias were built between the 16th and the 18th
century (1500 to 1700).
Although some masserias were real castles, hosting up
to 300 people, most of these buildings were designed
to host two or three families of peasants on the ground
floor, and the landlord’s family on the first
floor.
In the past 500 years the masseria has been the center
of production of apulian agricultural economy where
most people lived and worked in the countryside producing
wheat, almonds, wine, olive oil, milk and cheese.
After world war II most people moved to towns leaving
most masserias abandoned. In the past 5 or 6 years masserias
have found new life as country hotels, museums and private
residences..
