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“Borgo Gallana is, in many ways, the materialization of my dreams,” shares Borgo Gallana owner Giuseppe De Vanna. “I left this land 24 years ago to chase my dreams, but over time, I’ve felt a growing need to reconnect more deeply with my homeland,” the Pugliese native states. “The light, the traditions, and the stories of Puglia have always been a part of me.”

Borgo Gallana is the physical manifestation of a return to his roots in more than one way. In the countryside of the hilltop city Oria, in the heart of the Salento region, this property started as two rural ruins. Giuseppe took inspiration from traditional Pugliese masserias, creating three individual guesthouses that reflect the Puglia of his childhood—the sounds of chirping cicadas, lingering summertime sunsets, long days by the sea with his mom and grandmother. 

To bring this dream to life, he collaborated with renowned architect Andrew Trotter, whose studio is celebrated for its soulful, minimalist interpretation of vernacular Mediterranean architecture. Trotter’s touch is evident in the striking simplicity of the self-contained houses (or casali), where traditional elements like neutral tuff (local sandstone) and vaulted ceilings are highlighted, resulting in interiors that are airy, calming, and refreshing. Each features their own living area, kitchen, double bedroom, bathroom, and private outdoor space with a BBQ and shower, seamlessly connecting indoor and outdoor living. Plus, there’s one large shared garden with ancient olive trees and a pool. The project, which took over a year just for the research and sourcing of local master artisans, masterfully blends high design and indigenous craftsmanship.

Every detail works to create a welcoming environment where natural light is a core feature. For Giuseppe, hospitality is about “making people feel at home, but in a special place that isn’t quite home.” It’s a space where guests find comfort, warmth, and familiarity, but also experience the “magic and uniqueness of being somewhere different.” This balance is created through careful attention to detail—from bespoke locally made sinks to vintage and design furnishings that furnish the minimal, bone-colored interiors.

However you want to spend your day, it will certainly begin with “preparing and savoring authentic Italian coffee, followed by a slow breakfast in our garden.” Then, Giuseppe is filled with ideas: “We know this land well, and we love recommending real places: family-run restaurants, local producers, hidden beaches, and villages.” Located right in the center of Italy’s heel, Borgo Gallana is famously in the “land between two seas,” meaning it’s about equidistant from both the Ionian and Adriatic seas: swimming, hiking, coasting, and pranzo al mare are all on the docket, though the inland offers its own charms, including nearby villages like Oria, Latiano, and Francavilla Fontana, filled to the brim with Baroque architecture, churches, and castles. 

While you’re out and about, pick up some of the local specialites—taralli and frisella, fresh fava beans, caciocavallo cheese, and wines like Negroamaro or Primitivo—to bring back to the borgo and make a little aperitivo as the sun sets. Giuseppe’s best advice is to spend some time outside, because the ever-present light in this part of Puglia is “truly magical, glowing softly through every hour and deepening the feeling of being intimately connected to this beautiful land.” 

Borgo Gallana is, as Giuseppe describes it, “the manifestation of my memories, my happy place, my mother’s unique Puglia, and my grandmother’s simple one, Puglia as I lived it before and as I live it now.” And with more than three generations distilled into its foundation, the borgo offers not just a stay, but a chance to live out a personal, curated interpretation of the region. 

A few segreti (secrets) from Giuseppe:

Oria – An ancient village that offers a glimpse into Puglian history, crowned by the imposing, triangular Swabian Castle, commissioned by Emperor Frederick II in the 13th century. You can also visit the Basilica Cathedral, known for its magnificent dome covered in polychrome tiles.

Grottaglie – A city famous for its vibrant ceramics district (Quartiere delle Ceramiche), where over 50 artisan workshops are carved directly into the soft tuff stone of the ravines. Visit the Episcopal Castle which houses the Museum of Ceramics, or seek out the local specialty, the pumo, a bud-shaped ceramic finial said to bring good luck.

Ostuni – Known as the Città Bianca (White City), this breathtaking coastal town is perched high on a hill, its whitewashed architecture—traditionally painted with lime to fend off heat and disease—creating a dazzling contrast against the blue sky. At its peak stands the 15th-century Cathedral, notable for its unique Romanesque-Gothic style and one of the largest rose windows in Europe.