A farmhouse steeped in nine centuries of history, just a stone’s throw from Torre Guaceto, is up for sale

The farmhouse belonging to the family that once hosted a king is now on the market: nine centuries of history, just one kilometre from the sea at Torre Guaceto. It is a 12th-century fortified residence covering over 2,400 square metres, set within a 50-hectare estate, which could be extended to 100 hectares. The entire complex is regarded as one of the largest and rarest historic properties currently on the market in Puglia.

“The white stone façade, the crenellated tower, the centuries-old cypress trees, the inner courtyard with round arches and a small deconsecrated church with a bell gable,” emphasise Lionard Luxury Real Estate, the agency handling the sale, “come together to form a property with a strong sense of identity. From the tower’s top terrace, the view stretches across the countryside to the blue of the Adriatic and the Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve.” The farmhouse, which boasts almost a thousand years of history, is linked to the story of a family which, during the 20th century, hosted European monarchs in their residences, and is considered one of the oldest examples of a fortified farmhouse still standing in Puglia.

In 1107, the Norman duchess Sichelgaita donated the estates to the Benedictine Monastery of Brindisi, which retained exclusive ownership of them for almost five centuries. The estate then passed to Princess Eleonora Caraccioli and subsequently to the Dentice family, a house whose origins date back to the Maritime Republic of Amalfi and which for centuries ruled the territory of Carovigno from the castles of Carovigno and San Vito dei Normanni. In 1943, the family welcomed King Victor Emmanuel III and Queen Elena. The estate has continued to do so, even in more recent times. Among its most recent guests were Queen Paola of Belgium and King Albert II, as well as members of the national and international nobility

The historic residence has a floor area of over 2,400 square metres, spread across the main building, the annexe and a Renaissance tower. ‘The sale includes a plot of approximately 50 hectares, ensuring the property a high level of privacy and a special relationship with the surrounding landscape,’ explains the property group. The scope of the transaction may also be extended by a further 50 hectares, bringing the estate’s total area to around 100 hectares.” The complex could also be developed for hospitality purposes, “in a way that respects the historic character of the architecture, the privacy of the estate and the delicate balance of the coastal landscape”.