Masseria San Domenico was once a watchtower used to defend this outpost of Christendom against the supposedly heathen Turks. Now, this former bastion of brutality stands at the heart of a fabulous modern resort.

There are two restaurants, The San Domenico serves local cuisine under vaulted ceilings that once housed an olive press; or try the fine dining restaurant, La Nassa which serves up the catch of the day by the secretive waters of the Adriatic. Take a walk around the grounds through ancient olive groves past white-walled farmhouses to the large swimming pool.

Inside, your room has a tiled bathroom, marble floors, and a luxury bed, simple and elegant. There are tennis courts and a golf course which has 18 holes and more views of the sea. The spa uses a technique known as “thalassotherapy”. It uses concentrated seawater in order to extract the minerals of the ocean for their health-giving effects. To get this water, the spa draws in seawater from a stratum 400 meters beneath sea level. They also use seaweed because it has vast concentrations of vitamins and minerals which invigorate and detoxify the body.