Historic masseria in the heart of Salento

Strategically located and with great housing potential suitable for different uses, Masseria Farnese is a typical agricultural building located in the heart of Salento with a living area of about 1,000 square meters and a park of about 5 hectares. It is a very old but well-preserved estate belonging to an ancient salentinian family, feudal lords of Surano and Poggiardo since 1400. The main building is made of stone with beautiful star and barrel vaults, its spacious rooms have majestic dimensions and are well connected between outdoor and indoor spaces. The Masseria's gardens are versatile and surrounded by a dry-stone boundary wall while one part had a tile roofing that has now collapsed but can be redeveloped with ordinary interventions. Still in operation until 1970, the Masseria had numerous livestock, as can be seen from the numerous stables with stone troughs. Called Masseria because it was historically given in concession to a "ammassaro" who held the usufruct with the condition of cultivating and earning income from a discrete plot of farmland with cattle breeding. The residential part starting from the room with the fireplace and the large oven, still in perfect condition, gives us an idea that the Masseria was frequented not only by its inhabitants but by those who lived in the small farmhouses in the surrounding area. The park, with land of about 5,000sm surrounding the Masseria is partly arable land where wheat, barley and oats are still grown. The soils on which the Masseria sits are typical of Salento and have the characteristic of having rock outcrops. This natural feature, rocky soils with little vegetation, served to maintain dry and cool environments, also ideal for the sheep's feet, which are very sensitive to moisture. This made it possible to exploit those marginal soils that were not suitable for growing olive trees and vines. Its east/west exposure favors its exceptional brightness.