Holiday home Casa Via Santa Croce

Taviano is not a hotspot. And that is precisely its appeal. An espresso on the piazza in the morning, an afternoon excursion into the vastness of Salento or to the nearest beach, where the sand is light-coloured and the water turquoise.

Many say that you can discover the ‘real Italy’ in Puglia. Uli Hürland and Bernhard Vogler fell in love with the spirit and bought a simple townhouse dating back to 1900 in the historic centre of Taviano: Casa Via Santa Croce. When they found out that there was another building in the neighbourhood that was around a hundred years older, they bought it too. The remains of the small old farmer’s hut became today’s Casetta.

During the renovation and reconstruction of the ensemble, the two worked together with local artist Mino Specolizzi. They took their lead from the building culture of the region and historical models: The architecture should speak for itself. The Casa, simple and restrained on the outside, consists of two large rooms, dominated by an imposing star vault with a room height of 5.50 metres. This vault shape – in which the vault ribs are arranged in a star shape – is typical of the region and was created in sandstone. It lends the rooms’ expanse, lightness and a calm monumentality.

The walls are painted with lime paint in a warm off-white, the floors are made of colour-coordinated microcement. The old wooden doors were restored and left untreated. A so-called soppalco was created in the living room of the casa – a recessed level that serves as a sleeping gallery and at the same time creates storage space so that wardrobes were not needed throughout the house. The kitchen stands as a monolithic block in the room like a sculpture. The understated, handleless fronts emphasise the natural stone worktop. All the furnishings are carefully curated – design classics, hand-picked pieces or furniture specially made by local craftsmen.

The Casa is a quiet retreat with a secluded garden, pergola, outdoor shower and a small basin. The roof terraces offer views over the old town. If you need more space, you can book the neighbouring casetta.

What to do

Discover the historic centre of Taviano - with its narrow alleyways, whitewashed façades and baroque architecture. Plus excursions to the Ionian coast (beaches just 7 km away), the Adriatic Sea and the heart of Salento: for example to Gallipoli, Lecce or all the way down to the southernmost point, Santa Maria di Leuca.

Why we like this house

An authentic place that impresses with its attitude and simplicity

This house is great for

The casa offers space for four guests. The 35 square metre Casetta can accommodate two more people, has a separate entrance and direct access to the garden. Together, the two houses are ideal for families with older children, couples or small groups of up to six people.

Sustainability

Taviano has a small railway station. In the summer months, a free shuttle bus runs to Mancaversa beach. Charging facilities for electric vehicles are available in the village.

Owner

Uli and Bernhard were born in Munich. The engineer and advertising agency owner currently live in Giesing. They feel at home there, but unfortunately the Bavarian summer is far too short. That's why they decided to extend the warm season: In the south of Italy. Many say that you can discover the ‘real Italy’ here. What the two of them particularly like in Puglia: the people, their fabulous language, the delicious food, the culture, architecture and, of course, the sea.

Details

Availability calendar

The calendar shows the current availability of the accommodation. On days with white background the accommodation is still available. On days with dark gray background the accommodation is not available.

Request/Booking