Villa Di Noi

Villa Di Noi is in open countryside along via dei Monti, just outside the built up area of Arnesano, the small town in the Lecce belt from which the baroque centre of Lecce is about ten minutes away by car. The house stands inside a walled park of 3.7 hectares planted with citrus trees and with more than one hundred and fifty olive trees, and its position makes it convenient for both the Adriatic and the Ionian coast. It has a history worth knowing: at the end of the nineteen forties a summer residence was built here surrounded by a park of about four hectares, the design of which was entrusted to the architect and landscape designer Pietro Porcinai. The restoration has preserved the original layout of the swimming pool, the water basin and the gardens.

There are seven rooms, divided between two buildings that look onto the same park. Villa Di Noi has three of them on the ground floor, two Deluxe and one Superior, all with a terrace onto the garden. Tenuta Di Noi, created from the restoration of an early nineteenth century palazzo and opened in 2023, adds four more on the first floor with a king bed and a private terrace, two looking onto the Italian style maze garden and two onto the pool; the Deluxe King with pool view measures forty-five square metres. In the room there are air conditioning, wifi, a minibar, a safe, a television and a hairdryer, and daily cleaning is included in the rate. Breakfast, which the house presents as a luxury breakfast, is taken in the room with the large arched glass opening that gives onto the paved courtyard.

On water it is worth being precise, because it is the only wellness chapter of the house. There is one pool, outdoors, in the park, open from 8.00 to 19.00 and reserved for those staying and for the owners; outside those hours use is not advised because of the cleaning operations. The property publishes a set of rules, a compulsory shower before entering, no swimming immediately after applying sun creams or oils, no noisy games, and it provides pool and beach towels in every room. The property does not declare an indoor pool, nor a sauna, steam bath or hot tub: anyone looking for a circuit of water and steam will not find it here, and this is a house of quiet and garden, not a spa.

On age the two sources do not agree, and the difference needs saying. The booking portal writes that children are not allowed, without giving a figure. The property's website, in its general conditions, is more explicit: it explains that guests come here for peace and quiet and declares a policy of sixteen years and over, unless arrangements are made in advance. This page keeps the figure from the website, which is the primary source: stays are from sixteen years, with the possibility of asking in writing for an exception before booking. The booking must in any case be in the name of an adult. Pets are not allowed, and the reason is stated: two dogs already live in the house. There is no smoking inside the building. Check-in is between 14.00 and 19.00, check-out at 10.00, parking inside is free with one space per room, and cooking or using a barbecue in the park is not permitted.

It suits those who want Lecce within reach by car without sleeping in the city, those who put silence and greenery before the services of a large hotel, and those happy with a pool by day. It suits less those looking for a real wellness area, those travelling with a dog and those who want to swim late in the evening.