This 18th century Castello, with turrets and columns, is set in 37 acres of olive and citrus groves. It looks like something out of a story book.

The golf course has 18 holes with sea views, and the Thalasso Spa is the pride of the facility.

The Salento region is always surprising.

After falling in love with the angels in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Lecce, you come here to see if Castle Elvira is real.

Elvira was a little girl whose parents gave her a beautiful castle (today Castle Elvira). She cooked mushrooms to thank them, including a poisonous one that led to her death. Since then, the castle has been abandoned for over 100 years.

Castle Elvira now has family-style dining, a private cinema, a heated infinity pool, 37 hectares of gardens with olive and citrus groves that you can explore by riding rickshaw pedal-bikes.

The property's eclectic style is the vision of its British owners, the artist and filmmaker Harvey B-Brown and his husband Steve Riseley, two cheerful and friendly guys whose personalities are reflected in the hotel's decor.

The lounge area feels like a cabinet of curiosities, with its Beckstein grand piano and vintage cinema signage.

The six exclusive suites have colourful interiors with art covering every wall--a perfect balance of nods to history with sensitive restoration and contemporary amenities.

There's also a cottage with two nice bedrooms, with their own bathrooms, and a living area. The private garden has a sunken jacuzzi and direct access to the pool area.

Castle Elvira's sister residence, Tower Elvira, can accommodate eight guests. It's located close to the Castle and has the same luxury in four suites, with private gardens or rooftops, and a heated 40 square meter swimming pool, surrounded by olive and citrus groves.

The restaurant is a one-story building surrounded by palm trees and decorated with old-timey ads.

The dining room is fancy and has a big round table in the middle, but you can also enjoy drinks and the sunset on the rooftop between the turrets of the building.

Castle Elvira is surrounded by olive trees and oaks that are centuries old, between the towns of Trepuzzi and Squinzano. Lecce is 14km away.

All of the towns in Salento, including Trepuzzi and Sqinzano, have experienced the historical events of the area - a history full of conquests and colonisations that have left their mark on local tradition, language, and customs. It's an area rich in art and monuments that are fascinating because of their great historical and cultural value.

Only 14km away is the Casalabate Marina, located on the Adriatic Sea.

There are some small bathing establishments, but essentially it is a tiny village populated above all by fishermen, which does not reach five hundred inhabitants. During the summer months, it comes alive more thanks to the presence of the inhabitants of the neighbouring villages and the organisation of the weekly market. On the seafront, there are some small clubs and bars, and it houses a small port.

A few more minutes and from Castle Elvira, you can also reach the beaches on the Ionian Sea, such as the towns of Porto Cesareo and Torre Lapillo.