Tenuta Centoporte Otranto

Tenuta Centoporte Resort Hotel is a charming residence situated in the countryside of Otranto. Dry stone walls, the same typical stones and local materials, the sobriety and the elegant furnishings and the beautiful setting of the outdoor spaces enriched by the countryside vegetation, evoke the magical atmosphere of an ancient Mediterranean dwelling. 10 years of experience in the charm and elegance.

The countryside of Lecce is the ideal setting for a charming holiday. The right backdrop for an unforgettable experience in dressy environments that makes a holiday special. Centoporte Abbey from which the resort takes its name is intimately linked to the history of the hydruntino monastery of St Nicola de Casulis, an important center of Greek Italian culture known for its important library, one of the richest in Europe.

Dedicated to SS. Martyrs Cosma and Damiano, the abbey was called “Delle Centoporte” because of the large number of windows owned by the building. The abbey was never fully completed and was reused as the nucleus of a probably monastic complex from the VII century onwards.

Otranto, the ancient Hydrontus (by the rivulet Idro – Hydruntum which flows into the harbor) is the extreme eastern tip of Italy. Bathed by a fruitful and generous sea, the city offers visitors beautiful landscapes, from the bay of Alimini to Porto Badisco, the legendary landing of Aeneas.

Among Byzantine crypts and Moorish palaces, between impregnable fortresses and cannon balls ( become by now ornaments of ancient houses courtyards), it consumes the memory of ancient vestiges unforgotten torments, all under the beautiful setting of a cobalt blue sea and a warm light, strong like the sirocco, brother of Otranto, which erodes the towers and smells avenues.

Comprising several churches and monuments, the city is divided between the ancient village, surrounded by fortified walls, and the new city. Giurdignano is a beautiful town of ancient origins. An elective place of the Italian-Greek monks who left here valuable evidence of their living, it had already been a Roman colony, as evidenced by the remains of a imperial age necropolis from the II – III century a.C.

A place rich of folk traditions, it is also one of the most important sites where Megalithic findings were discovered; in fact many are the dolmens and menhirs in the area especially in the one called : “megalithic yard”.

ROOMS
The Resort Hotel Tenuta Centoporte offers different kinds of rooms and suites, decorated with sobriety and elegance, with furnishings and accessories that evoke the magical atmosphere of ancient Mediterranean mansions, this is the essence of Tenuta Centoporte Resort.

All rooms have a private entry from the outside and are equipped with LCD-TV, minibar, telephone, hairdryer, in-room Internet-enabled service (on request). The Internet Services Wi-Fi is free in all rooms and throughout the hotel.

LA RESERVE
La Reserve, furnished in a classic and refined style, is equipped with all comforts. Adjacent to the central body of the structure, La Reserve is an ideal solution for a stay in total relaxation, immersed in the tranquility of the Salento countryside.

La Reserve consists of: 1 double bedroom, 1 bathroom with shower, Equipped kitchen., Living room, Private garden, Private heated pool. The large garden is full of silence and Mediterranean fragrances with olive trees, rosemary, lavender and lemons.

THE RESTAURANT
You will breathe in a unique atmosphere at the restaurant and the internal and external rooms of the Resort. Selected environments enhance the exclusivity of Salento cuisine flavors made ​​of tastes and intonations that belong to this beautiful area.

THE BREAKFAST
In the morning you wake up wrapped by a unique quiet, served breakfast in our restaurant will welcome you. Every day the table is laden with local delicacies, all genuine and natural, including a lot of delicious just harvested fruit. Surrounded by an exclusive peace, a breakfast is served on the terrace overlooking the garden, outdoors surrounded by green countryside or in the internal rooms.

Breakfast will be served at your table, where you can choose what you like best among the local delicacies, all genuine and natural, including freshly picked fruit, homemade cakes and donuts and pies, the Leccese pasticciotto, Apiulian focaccia, cold cuts and cheeses, our croissants, local jams. Breakfast can be booked at the time you prefer in those indicated by us to guarantee the security and privacy you are looking for.

SNACK BAR
Pool Bar open every day for lunch, to enjoy cold dishes and our snacks, cocktails and aperitifs. Friselle, bruschetta and many local delicacies prepared for you.

DINNER
In the evening at the restaurant La Terrazza, which overlooks the garden, our Chef will delight you with authentic but innovative flavours. This is a chance to know the traditional dishes of Salento.

The restaurant will be open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the months of April, May, September and October. Our pool bar will always be open from Monday to Friday with lunch service, snack bar and aperitifs. The restaurant will be open every day in the months of June, July and August.

WELLNESS
You can choose to feel good giving your body and mind a time to rest and relax, taking advantage of the small cottage near the pool. A cozy space to enjoy a simple relaxing aesthetic, shiatsu massage in the chalet or out of doors, in a natural environment, in a bath of Mediterranean flavors.

PERSONAL SPA
You can choose to feel good giving your body and mind a time to rest and relax, taking advantage of the small cottage near the pool. A cozy space to enjoy a simple relaxing aesthetic, shiatsu massage in the chalet or out of doors, in a natural environment, in a bath of Mediterranean flavors.

APULIAN EVENING
Tenuta Centoporte periodically organizes the typical Apulian evening in the “Piazzetta of the pool bar”. A special dinner served outdoors with open kitchen and barbecue, just like in the tradition of Puglia.

The menu will consist of dishes of the Apulian cuisine. Some specialties such as orecchiette and pittule will be prepared and cooked on sight by our chefs. The evening is accompanied by traditional folk songs.

WEDDINGS IN PUGLIA
Tenuta Centoporte signs exclusive receptions. A wedding takes a sophisticated and precious atmosphere in a location so elegant. The delicate cuisine goes well with the tone of the party, while the elegant decorations are designed to enhance the event and its protagonists. And when the lights switch off for the newlyweds and their guests, staying in this charming residence is an unforgettable experience.

SEIMMING POOL & BAR
Give yourself wonderful moments for a relaxing bath in the spacious swimming pool surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation and equipped with a special whirlpool corner. For poolside moments, a bar with plenty of space to enjoy lunch, fancies, cocktails and aperitifs. In addition, the resort has a small bar in the reception area.

EXPERIENCES
A holiday at the Resort Hotel Tenuta Centoporte is completed by services dedicated to enriching the vacation of every little detail. The swimming pool with bar, the wellness area, the leisure time services can not miss in the cradle of relaxation and fun for excellence. The Internet Services Wi-Fi is free in all rooms and throughout the hotel; you can also use the internet point in a quiet corner of the hall / reception.

COOKING CLASS
An authentic experience not to be missed at Tenuta Centoporte, a concept designed for those who love food, travel and cultural exchange between people of different languages ​​and cultures. In the preparation of our dishes, inspiration is found in the fresh ingredients that each season offers, making full use of “zero-kilometre” ingredients wherever possible.

If you love vegetarian cooking, you can count on traditional Salento, essentially peasant, cuisine, where legumes, cereals, vegetable and, of course, pasta and bread play an essential role. In producing the latter, we only use native local flours.

The time spent together is not only a simple “cooking lesson”, but a memory, an experience to pack away and take home with you. The service includes: Preparation of typical handmade pasta.

OTRANTO BOAT EXPERIENCE
The dream of those who live in the wonderful Salento peninsula has always been to convey to all its guests all the beauty that this peninsula has to offer: history, culture, traditions, folklore, gastronomy, hospitality and nature.

All this is enclosed by a frame that dresses the reason of so much “sex appeal” that the Salento and especially OTRANTO have: His Majesty “THE SEA”. Crystal clear, clean, transparent.

ITINERARIES
We imagined a series of itineraries that will help tourists to fully know and understand the charm of Otranto land. From the Resort Hotel Tenuta Centoporte along the most beautiful places of the culture and tradition of Salento.

OTRANTO
Otranto, the ancient Hydrontus (from the small river Idro – Hydruntum flowing into the dock), is the most eastern part of Italy; and the fact of being a bond between different people is explicited in the use of dialects, in the architecture and in the landscapes.

That is to say in the essence itself of this splendid town. Touched by a prolific and generous sea, it provides our visitors with enchanting views, from the bay of Alimini to Porto Badisco, important destination of Enea.

Amongst Byzantine crypts and Moorish palaces, between impregnable fortresses and cannon balls (become by now ornamental articles for ancient buildings courtyards), the memories of ancient remnants and unforgettable ruins come up; but all of it happens within a nice frame of a cobalt blue sea and the warm wind, that genltly erodes the towers and spread its perfume on the paths. Comprising several churches and monuments, the town is divided between the old part, surrounded by fortified walls, and the new town.

This land does not just distinguished for its sea places. Otranto is also nature: amongst the thyme and the ginepro we discover the orchids and the garrigue as well as other typical plants that designate the whole coastal section between Alimini and Badisco. Besides, the fauna is the queen of this places.

Several are the species of animals that can be found in thi area: from the peregrine falcon to the falcon of the queen or the buzzard that lays here; but also herons, the garzetta and the coot, the alzavola and the fischione or some reptiles and amphibians like the cervone, the colubro or the tortoises.

Otranto has very old origins. In the third century b.C. the city was already a Roman port, used for Eastern trade. Subsequently, during the centuries, due to the important and strategic position of the city, Otranto was subjected to several different dominations that left their unique signs in the culture and dialects: Normans, Byzantine, Saracen, Aragons succeded one another throughout the centuries.

The monuments that characterise the town are many: The Cathedral of the Annunciation in a gothic-romanic style testimonial, sacred in 1088, enshrines the spectacular mosaic floor, real treasure of the Cathedral representing the “tree of life” held by two elephants and engaging the whole central nave.

It is also very important to notice the Byzantine tabernacle of Saint Peter, outcome of the italian-greek monks activities who also left their espressions in many underground crypts finely frescoed (San Giovanni or Monte Sant’Angelo).

GIURDIGNANO
Giurdignano is a beautiful town that belongs to very ancient roots. An elective place where Italian-Greek monks left precious evidence of their living, it had already been a Roman settlement, as remnants witness an imperial necropolis from the II – III century a.C..

A place rich of ancient folklore and traditions, it is also one of the most important sites where Megalithic findings were discovered; in fact, many are the dolmen and menhir existing around the area especially in the one called: “Megalithic garden”.

Centoporte Abbey is closely tied to the hydruntino monastery of San Nicola de Casulis, it is an important centre of the Greek Italian culture, known for its enriched library, amongst the most valuable in Europe.

Dedicated to SS. Martiri Cosma e Damiano, the Abbey was said of “Centoporte” because the several numbers of windows the building used to have. The Abbey had never completely finished but it was used as the unit of an ensemble likely to be monastic, run from the VII century.

The tables of Saint Joseph are an ancient tradition of Giurdignano. They date back to the middle age and show the influences of the Greek ritual church which, in the town of Giurdignano, had taken place for a long time.

They also distinguish themselves by depicting and showing Byzantine -baroque influences that easily charm the visitors. On the occasion of the celebration of Saint Joseph, during the evening of the 18th of March, some tables are arranged and traditional food is placed on them.

The performance of the cerimony is very interesting; three big breads are made: one with three spheres, the baby Jesus symbol, one with a rosary to symbolise the Virgin Mary and one with a stick in the honour of Saint Joseph.

The breads are offered to the guests amongst which there is the Virgin Mary, played by a young girl, and the character of Saint Joseph who, by hitting the table with the fork for three times, makes the guests stopping eating and starting to say several prayers; in the mean time, the landlord introduces a new meal.

Eventually thirteen meals will be served for each Saint taking part to the ceremony. This is one of the most evocative traditions in Salento, becoming through the years a sign of peace and unity between the people of the Mediterranean.

Rooms: 32

Price: from 172 EUR per night

Source: www.tenutacentoporte.it