Brindisi, Apulia 72021

Set in the gentle countryside between Francavilla Fontana and Oria, in the heart of Puglia, this stone farmhouse is a rare survivor of southern Italian rural architecture. It was once a working winery, and the original pressing room - the *palmento* - is still there, untouched, beneath the quiet elegance of the manor floor above. The property offers around 300 sqm of usable space across two independent levels. The ground floor is the old winery: rooms under star-vaulted ceilings, natural stone floors, and a large stone vat, perfectly preserved, where the grapes were once poured for pressing. It lends itself to an artist's studio, a wine room, a shaded summer living space or a generous rustic lounge. Upstairs, the historic manor floor extends over roughly 130 sqm on a single level, with well-proportioned rooms opening onto a 76 sqm terrace - outdoor living, in every season. A staircase leads on to the rooftop terraces, where the view runs across olive groves to the skyline of Oria. The two floors currently have separate entrances; an internal staircase can be opened to connect them into one home. Around the house lie approximately 5,000 sqm of land, partly planted with fruit and ornamental trees. The building is structurally sound and requires renovation. Bedrooms and bathrooms are not yet defined, so the entire layout is yours to design - how many bedrooms, where the kitchen goes, how many bathrooms. Electricity is already connected and a natural spring well supplies water. Current EPC rating is G, the pre-renovation figure, and the works are the natural moment to bring insulation and systems up to standard. Francavilla Fontana, with its baroque palazzi, cafés and everyday services, is minutes away. Brindisi airport is about 30 minutes' drive; the Ionian and Adriatic beaches, along with Ostuni, Ceglie Messapica, Martina Franca and Lecce, all sit within 30 to 40 minutes. Sold freehold, as is standard in Italy. A property of real character for private use - and, given the two independent levels and the tourist appeal of this part of Puglia, a credible base for a holiday home or small country retreat.