Why book?
Nestled in a beautiful valley on the edge of an oak forest, Masseria Pistola is a hidden sancturary in Italy boasting trulli houses, multiple pools, vineyards as well as enchanting gardens. The ancient masseria is a short drive from Bari airport, the gateway to Puglia and easily accessible from the UK and the rest of the world. Discreet and attentive staff, freshly made feasts on tap by local house chef Luciano (ex Bocca di Lupo, London) and plenty of varied activities to enjoy in the vicinity adds to it being the perfect venue not just for the special day but a few days beforehand and afterwards to recover from all the excitement of the day.
Venue style:
Masseria Pistola is the perfect Italian estate that will cater for all needs. It is laid-back country chic with the guarantee of balmy weather, phenomenal local food and drink, and a top professional bilingual team with an eye for detail.
Set the scene:
Set in the Canale di Pirro, Masseria Pistola is a magnificent and beautifully restored large cummersa style farmhouse which was built around an even earlier single storey farmhouse with trulli, chapel and other outbuilding additions over the years. Boasting interiors by James Thurstan Waterworth (former European Design Director at Soho House) the 50 hectare Apulian country estate includes the main house, long barn, trulli cottage, pools, a 5 hectare private garden for total privacy, as well as kitchen gardens.
The long drive to the main house sets the scene surrounded by strawberry fields, vineyards and the Giardino Pistola leading to the stunning whitewashed masseria with its authentic converted trulli cottages.
Giardini Pistola designed by Chelsea Flower Show winning designers Urquhart Hunt includes 6 beautifully designed terraces – this part is open to the public and is another area that can be privatised and used for a part of the wedding ceremony.
Event spaces:
Masseria Pistola is the ideal venue for an intimate wedding or a larger one with a maximum capacity of 200 guests. Giardino Pistola is the obvious choice with its different terraces and variety of flora and the tinkling fountain. There is even a natural amphitheatre that lends itself perfectly to ceremonies as a spectacular setting. There are large flat areas that are also ideal for a marquee, should that be requested. The professional team are on hand working with a local wedding planner who will magically make the wildest wishes come to life – the options are practically endless and the weather is 99% guaranteed.
Food and drink:
Top Chef Luciano (aka Lucio) and bread maestro Lucrezia spoil guests throughout their stay with a daily selection of warm bread at breakfast with most produce grown or sourced from the estate including honey, olive oil, wine, vegetable and fruit from the garden. Freshly caught fish and seafood as well as meat are sourced regularly from suppliers in nearby town Monopoli and its surrounds. Daily menus are adapted to guests’ tastes and requirements based on the freshest and highest quality ingredients available and Chef Lucio also incorporates some of his grandmother’s recipes which he is so proud of – a true gem.
Accommodation:
Masseria Pistola offers 11 bedrooms (including two stunning master bedrooms) in the main masseria and the separate trullo two-bedroom house with its own plunge pool, outdoor and indoor baths, and dressing room which is ideal for the bride and groom.
Wedding guests can be recommended an extensive choice of top of the range villas or hotels in the vicinity including Trullo Petrarolo and Masseria Petrarolo.
The story:
Hong Kong based Constant Tedder is an impressive Swiss-British serial entrepreneur, investor, and environmental action campaigner. Since 2021, Tedder serves as Founder and CEO of insect farming agritech company FlyFarm and is also Founder of climate action NGO Earth.Org
Tedder has been coming to Puglia for more than 15 years and acquired Masseria Pistola in 2017 having already launched his first local stunning restoration project, Masseria Petrarolo which opened in 2014. Since 2018, he has renovated the property with the help of long term collaborators James Thurstan Waterworth, ex-European Design Director for Soho House and owner of London based Thurstan Design together with Puglia-based English architect, Anthony Filmer.
Eco-friendly:
The estate has its own water purification system. The tap water comes from a traditional well which is then filtered through a water softener and UV treated as well as an additional reverse osmosis filter.
Amenities are made from the Estate’s own home-grown lavender and honey which are also sold in the farm shop.
Lavender bags are left on the pillows at turn down time which is a lovely touch and would also make wonderful wedding favours.
@martinmorrell
The need-to-know:
Budget: Prices start from EUR11,400 (rising to EUR 33,750 in peak season) for the villa hire for 7 days for 22 guests including a Chef, full time concierge service and full housekeeping staff – F&B is additional. Wedding venue hire fee is an additional EUR1,000 – EUR3,500 depending on numbers. Additional hire charge for Giardini Pistola EUR 5,000
Recommended months: April, May, September.
Capacity: From 22 to 200 guests.
Location: Masseria Pistola, Canale di Pirro, Puglia
For more info: https://masseriapistola.com/
Masseria Pistola comes with Chef, and full housekeeping staff, and starts from €11,400 per week in low season or in peak season from €33,750 per week.
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