Masseria – Contrada Ferrara, Taranto (Taranto)

ANTICA MASSERIA named “Ferrara”, located in Taranto, in the district of Ferrara, near Grottaglie, tells the city of ceramics through the fertile clay soil from which it is surrounded. On the first floor there are two houses, the first consists of entrance – living room, three bedrooms, study, two bathrooms, kitchen, corridors and another large living room with vaulted ceiling with exposed stone. The second is composed of entrance – hallway, living room, habitable kitchen, two bedrooms and bathroom. On the ground floor there are 12 rooms in total. The original structure of the manor house dates back to the 1600s and overlooks the two bays of the Mar Piccolo in the distance. During the following century it was fortified for defensive purposes and expanded. So the house of the caretaker and a guesthouse were built. It was also enriched with an oil mill and other working environments where cheese was made and, depending on the historical periods, other raw materials from the surrounding fields were worked, such as cereals, vegetables, tobacco, giving a job and an all-encompassing ‘huge crowd of families that animated every corner. It was probably the dowry of a girl of good family, given, together with the farm, to the cloistered nuns, which remained  of their property until 1870. After a few decades it was bought by Antonio Cavallo and is still owned by his descendants. Surrounded by beautiful and productive olive trees for a total area of around 19 hectares. The farm is located a short distance from important road and motorway junctions, so it is ideal for the creation of a tourist accommodation facility. Suggestions of a long history that smells of sacred and profane, of solitary reflection and noises of family life, sea and land. Harmonious contrasts that characterize the wonderful land of Puglia.