Masseria Sant'Agapitoin Lucera

Why it’s on the Edit

Masseria Sant’Agapito is a rural hamlet of several farm buildings on the SP117 near Lucera, in the hills of the Capitanata. Many of the buildings are historic and some are ruined. The masseria itself dates from the 1500s, according to its hosts, who say you can still feel the air of farm life in the early 1900s.

It is on the Edit as a lived-in hamlet. Angelica and Emilio have run it for more than twenty years, and spent the first months living in a camper while they repaired it.

It is a bed and breakfast on a farm that runs concerts and weddings, set in olive and wheat country, and it is not a luxury masseria.

The rooms

The rooms are in a former rural school, which now sits next to the outdoor pool and the hamlet’s small church. The hosts describe a feeling of home, with rural simplicity and the comforts of an agriturismo.

The official site lists single-use, double and triple rooms, plus a cot or camping bed and an extra bed for guests over 15. Rooms have a TV and air conditioning. The number of rooms and their sizes are not confirmed here.

The rate includes breakfast, ample parking, flexible dinner hours and the use of a smart-working room. Wi-Fi covers the whole property.

Eating and drinking

Breakfast is home-made: the masseria serves its own products and jams made from the fruit of the farm.

The restaurant is a locanda, set on the lower level in the old woodshed. The chef is Giulio Parola, who spent many years abroad and now experiments with local products and Mediterranean recipes, with an eye on international cuisine. The hosts describe the kitchen as rural and contemporary, simple and sophisticated, and their tagline puts cooking next to music.

You can book a table, and the rate’s flexible dinner hours suit guests who arrive late.

The masseria also produces its own olive oil, La Buona Terra, which you can take home. It is an organic extra virgin blend of Coratina, Peranzana and Leccino olives from the centuries-old trees, certified by ICEA, and cold-pressed without air. The trees are pruned the traditional way and not treated with chemicals, the masseria says.

The setting

The setting is farm country: hills planted with olive trees and wheat fields, with a hamlet of buildings at the center. The old stable of the 1800s and a cellar from the 1600s are used for events and training courses.

The pool is outdoors and surrounded by green. The masseria says it has been a location for shows and events for more than twenty years, from a Brazilian choro orchestra to theater. Fixtures include the Cortelli short-film review and the Pasquetta Folk party on Easter Monday.

Weddings are part of the offer, with live music, jugglers and diffuse banquets. Parties by the pool run in summer, and in the winter move to the indoor halls.

Good to know

• The masseria hosts concerts, weddings and parties, so ask whether an event falls on your dates.
• Pets are welcome, bicycles have their own parking and Wi-Fi covers the whole property.
• Rates differ between low season (October to May) and high season (June to September).
• A 30% advance payment is not refunded if you cancel less than five days before arrival.
• The number of rooms and children’s policies are not confirmed here.
• Price band: 1 of 5 (estimated: the official list is undated).

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

It suits couples, friends and families who like a farm hamlet with a pool and a social streak, and groups planning a wedding or a party with a folk spirit. Music lovers will find a calendar worth checking.

Look elsewhere for quiet, and ask first if a spa or a gym matters. For a quieter farm stay, compare Masseria Salecchia or Masseria Casacapanna, or see the Foggia and the Monti Dauni hub.

Getting there

Masseria Sant’Agapito is on the SP117 near Lucera, in the Foggia and the Monti Dauni area. For an international flight, Bari is the nearer airport.

A car is needed. The masseria stands in open countryside, with ample parking for any type of vehicle. For cyclists, the site lists bicycle parking and says there are fine tours to make in the hills.