My husband has long dreamed of spending time living inside a small Italian town. Spongano and Patrizia's villa was the perfect place to plan a surprise birthday for him. Our kids converged from different countries to surprise him, quite a feat to arrange. Patrizia was very helpful to our group of 11, arranging reservations for a special lunch and dinner the Saturday we arrived, ordering a birthday cake and arranging for a cook to make a dinner for us, many suggestions about activities and arranging a wonderful farewell lunch at Le Stanzie, Some of the sprawling layout of the property was unclear to me from the description. In particular, the room with double beds is actually part of a suite, sharing a bathroom with the canopied bedroom. This layout was fine for our son, his wife and their two teenagers but wouldn't be a good fit for 2 couples. Also, the 6th bedroom (green walls) is separate from the rest of the house, on the roof and accessed outdoors by a steep flight of stone stairs. Because of its isolation, we did not use the bedroom. Also, be aware that WiFi is very unreliable and even cellular data is a challenge to use. We enjoyed wandering around Spongano, coming to know Ricardo, the young owner of the local Coop market and some of the other residents of this lived-in town. Patrizia's villa is a good choice for a large group to come together. We had a ball!

La villa a beaucoup de charme et un caractère très authentique. Le jardin est très agréable avec sa piscine, ses plantes et ses arbres fruitiers. Il y a énormément de choses à faire dans la région et la propriétaire Patrizia nous a accompagné à tous moments de ses conseils fort pratiques et excellents. Bref un séjour de rêve!

We stayed as a family. We love the villa. Even though it may be centuries old, it has the comforts of a modern home. The town of Spongano is charming. Groceries and bakeries are located nearby. Seaside villages of Castro, Santa Maria de Leuca and Otranto are minutes away by car. It is a fantastic base for exploring the Salento Peninsula. The owner Patrizia is very helpful. She made restaurant and beach reservations. Patrizia’s recommendations were spot on. She was a text and phone call away for any questions we have. We felt taken care of the whole week. The villa. Yes the villa. It is tastefully restored with modern amenities. It is a short walk to the main town square. There are couple of excellent restaurants nearby Picalo in the main town square and La Bersagliera in nearby Surano.

We had the best week in this house, great location for all type of beaches, charming but yet modern and very comfortable!

The owners Patrizia & Robbie were fabulous The property amazing

We had a great holiday. We were 8 adults, 3 couples and 2 singles, so the house was plenty big enough with 5 double bedrooms. Although worth noting that one of the bedrooms is up some fairly steep stairs so anyone with mobility issues may struggle. Lovely view though. Check in was really easy, Patrizia arranged a pick up from the airport and to hire two small cars for us to charge around in during our stay. The drop off at the villa and picking up the cars all worked really smoothly. We did contemplate hiring a van for us all, but the streets are so narrow it was easier to have two small cars. Saying that, there is a well equipped supermarket within 5 mins walk, so you could be self-sufficient without transport. We really enjoyed being able to drive ourselves to local beaches and towns. The villa was in great condition, the kitchen had everything we could ever need. Big fridge, adequate freezer and a wine fridge for overflow. The pool was lovely, really nice to lounge in the shade or sun. Plenty of space to eat outside in the evening. Patrizia also arranged for a local lady chef to come to the villa and cook on a couple of occasions. She didn't speak any English and we pretty much no Italian, but we got on fine, and her cooking was delicious. I'd really recommend her. Thank you to Patrizia and everyone who made our holiday wonderful.

Excellent villa with loads of character. There were 8 of us including adults, a teenager and 2 nine year olds. Everyone enjoyed the stay from swimming or lounging around the pool or sitting quietly in other shady areas. Two supermarkets are in walking distance and a larger one is a drive away, so it is very easy to eat at the villa. We ate outside in the great little walled courtyard outside the kitchen door. It is all very private and enclosed. Wonderful place. We ate out at brilliant restaurants a car drive away and had a couple of excellent meals in the local square and at the pizzeria. Patrizia gives excellent advice and arranges wonderful tables in restaurants or where to go for a beach or day out. She is kind and helpful and always at the end of a phone to assist. In all a wonderful place. Now we are home we miss it all.

The description and photos of this lovely house are very accurate and so we knew what to expect. This is a lovely old property, well maintained, and beautifully decorated and furnished with antiques and quirky pieces. The property is a good size for a large family or group and the layout means there is space to be private if it's needed. It's location in the centre of town means you can easily stroll out to local bars or restaurants for breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks or dinner. There are several small supermarkets within walking distance as well as traditional bakers, a butcher etc so self catering is easy. The charming owners are very helpful and really wanted to make sure that we had a wonderful stay; Patrizia organised a transfer from Brindisi for some members of our party, and made many helpful suggestions for restaurants and good places to visit. This is a fascinating area with delightful old towns and a great coastline - you can spend time on well maintained private beaches or find a tiny cove away from the masses (we loved Tricasse Porto). The nearby town of Castro has an interesting castle on the hill to visit, lovely bars and restaurants, and a harbour where you can rent a boat to explore the coast. A magical location for a holiday; we have fallen in love with Salento.

The villa was more than we could've hoped for! We were 8 adults and 2 young toddlers. Bedrooms were all ensuing and very comfortable, kitchen was well equipped and a comfortable lounge for the children to sit in when it was too hot outside. The annex was perfect for the young family. Plenty of outdoor space the gardens and pool were well maintained and provided plenty of shade with nice patio furniture and sun beds. Spongano was a delightful village with supermarket, bakery, cafes and a couple of restaurants and pizzerias all within walking distance. Patrizia the owner was so helpful and text each day to make sure we were ok and booked up anything we needed restaurants, a boat trip in Castro Marina and recommended the best beaches in the around. Salento is a beautiful area, we were sad that we only had one week to explore. We hired cars which were essential for the beaches.we recommend Otranto, a boat trip to the caves at Castro Marina, Coco Loco for a 'Caribbean ' Beach experience, Bagno Lucia for a wonderful lunch and beach. Just remember to budget for utilities that are added on at the end of your holiday. The meters were read together at the beginning and end of our stay. Thank you Patrizia for a wonderful stay and looking after us and we would recommend a stay here to family groups of all ages. We look forward to visiting again one day.

We had a lovely time in  Patrizia's beautiful villa in Spongano which she has refurbished to very high standards. We want to leave a note to thank Pat and Robi for their warm welcome. Even though it was 'only' April the children enjoyed the pool and we were able to eat out in the wonderful garden a few times. Thanks again for all the good advice so we could make the most of our stay. I would not hesitate to recommend this villa for a holiday - spacious, beautifully decorated and furnished, well equipped. A great location too, a short walk to the caffeteria and the shops. We also enjoyed the beautiful cities of Castro (a few kms away), Galipolli, Lecce and Otranto. Wish we had had more time to see them all! Thanks again and arrivederci!

Il Giardino degli Aranci is a charming villa, tucked away at the end of an alley, located centrally in the small town of Spongano. The villa is spacious; the accommodation is of a high-standard as described; and it is well furnished both inside and out. There are two internal courtyard gardens, one of which extends on another level to a pool area, both containing mature citrus trees. The bedroom accommodation is in three separated parts: two bedrooms in the main building, another two separated by the courtyard, and another on the rooftop above the main building. Altogether, it is spacious and functional. The owners have renovated the property to a high-standard, and maintain it very well. It retains its attributes as a charming old stone villa equipped with modern conveniences, such as hi-speed wifi, dishwasher, washing machine, two fridges and numerous lights. As occupants are responsible for utilities which are expensive in this part of Italy, we were vigilant in ensuring that all lights and appliances were turned off overnight. The kitchen area is very well equipped with appliances, crockery and cutlery, suitable for self –catering for part or all of the time. We spent much of the time dining alfresco using the large table in the main courtyard. This is also a pleasant area for pre-dinner drinks. From time to time, we had a few mosquitoes but, with the use of repellent, these were not too much of a problem. We stayed there as a group of friends, consisting of three couples and three singles from Australia and the UK. We made numerous day trips to the nearby towns of Maglie, Castro, Tricase, Lecce, Otranto, and Galipoli. A car is essential. Navigating around the local roads and towns, and for that matter through the one-way systems of Spongano, is not easy without a smart phone. This part of Puglia is very authentic and not frequented by hordes of tourists. Although not overly scenic, it is an interesting destination with its own history, architecture and interlocking rural areas, two coastlines, and closely separated small towns. There are numerous pizzerias and small restaurants nearby, all with delicious food and good local wine. Our host and hostess, Roberto and Patrizia, were very helpful. They are readily accessible and keen to help. For example, we arrived on a public holiday when all the local supermarkets were closed. To help us get started, Patrizia arranged for one of the nearby small supermarkets to open just for us.

We drove 2500 km to get there and it worthed it! Never thought that holidays in a small Italian town can be so fantastic! Enchanting villa always in blossoms was what we really seeked for. Perfect location for those who would like to devote their time to their soul. Beautiful surroundings and friendly smiling people everywhere... It is essential to take a car - it gives a lot of opportunities to discover the beauty of the region ;) The seaside is marvellous - both Ionian and Adriatic. Spend days swimming! Many thanks and kisses to Patrizia!!! Beautiful woman, the kindest host and a truthful guide. Ask her to show the best places. Great thanks from the team of Animation studio Vipline! P.S. The wine is delicious!

We really had great time staying in Patrizia's house. Location is beautiful. The property is very well maintained. Patrizia is very responsive and helpful, supporting in everything. To summarize --- we had an excellent vacation. Thanks.

A beautifully presented house, just as described by the owner, Patrizia. The accommodation was excellent and layout of the gardens and pool perfect for two families sharing. Patrizia was extremely helpful both before we arrived and during our stay, including advice on where to go locally (markets, boats, beaches, restaurants even the best route for a local run in the olive groves) - nothing was too much trouble. We enjoyed Castro (both beach side and the old town up the hill), Gallipolli (a must visit), Lecce, Magli, Otranto and Poggiardo where we went for the market on Wednesday - do it first Wednesday and stock up on nice food. The boat trip was excellent including a lovely lunch (as good as any restaurant) and worth following up with a self drive trip on a motor boat (same owners - Patrizia can arrange. Fresh pasta is available round the corner, fresh bread and pastries five minutes in the opposite direction and best supermarket five minutes drive away (where you can get local lemon sausages. All in all a great place to stay.

We were 13 People in the house. From the one year old baby, to grandmother of 71. Five children and eight adults stayed togheter for one week in the villa. The house were perfect for our extended Family. Spacious bathrooms and bedrooms, and lovely gardens. Deliciouse colours and Furnitures. We loved it. Some days we went to the Beach, one day we took a boat from Castro and visited all the Caves at sea. But some days we just stayed in the villa, sunbathing, swimming in the pool and just relaxing. Spongano is a small village, but with all you need. Gocery shop, beauty saloon and small bars. Just outside the village, there are beautiful olive groves, an excellent place for exercise. Our hosts, Patricia and Roberto were helpful and friendly. In this part of Italy, almost nobody can speak English.But Patricia were most helpful, booking boats, restaurants etc. The only minus were the relatively small refrigiator, hence the amounth of people who stayed in the house. We needed to cool down water, beer, wine and coke. And it practically filled the frigde. No Space for Food left. But this were the only minus for a wonderful house, in a wonderful part of Italy with wonderful hosts. We will really recomend the Spongano villa.

Lovely house, tucked away right in the middle of a sizeable but very quiet village with butcher, baker, greengrocer, fish shop etc. (although it was fun trying to find them all at first) plus supermarkets and cafes. The layout of the house, with its two courtyards plus swimming pool area, meant that it was always easy to find a place to sit in the sun or the shade as appropriate. Patrizia and Roberto were extremely helpful owners, with many suggestions on the local sights and very responsive to any requests for assistance.

The house is decorated with great care and offers a really high standard. The patio with a pool is a highlight, you can eat fruit straight from the trees. There's a cafeteria 50 m from the house, perfect for morning cafe and cornetto. Owners were very hospitable and helpful, gave us a lot of information about what to see and where to go. Having a dinner at Masseria Le Stanzie near Supersano is a must, for typical everyday meal I'd recommend an old style restaurant & pizzeria close to the railway station in Spongano. Unfortunately there's no sandy beach nearby, but it's worth to take a 30-40 km drive to beaches at Ionian sea or Laghi Alimini. I hope to be back in Salento someday!

Ett smakfullt renoverat hus mitt i den lilla byn Spongano. Huset har allt; vackra sovrum med tillh?rande badrum, bra utrustat k?k, underbar pool och m?jlighet att ?ta m?ltider under citrontr?den. Om man vill se mer ?n byn ?r bil n?dv?ndigt. D? har man n?ra till b?de sandstr?nder och klippor med grottor. V?rdinnan servar med bra tips p? restauranger och sev?rdheter som man annars hade haft sv?rt att hitta p? egen hand.