Contrada Dogana, Montescaglioso, Montescaglioso, Basilicata 75024

This unique 10.6 ha Country Estate is located at 20 kilometers away from Matera, near the border of Basilicata and Puglia. 1 hour drive from the nearest international airport of Bari. The property includes: 7.6 hectares of land cultivated with vegetables and olive groves - 3 hectares of English style lawn, five homes divided in 11 apartments all with front patio surrounded by green, a swimming pool, a Bbque area, a former stable used as a reception, a children's play area, a five-a-side football pitch, a restaurant surrounded by olive trees and a large building - originally used as stables - with a surface of 1.200sqm and a front yard of 1.500sqm, turned into a laboratory for organic vegetables preservation. The property have hosted the renowned Agriturismo LORTO DI LUCANIA, which was picked by Alastair Sawday of Sawday's guides, among 15 places to stay in Italy where the food is as wonderful as the surroundings , and described it on the Guardian as ..a place where you can enjoy food grown on the spot and as honestly as is possible organic too, the final arbiter of high quality. And what value! Rare red aubergines are a treat in store at this organic family farm. The owners grow produce using time-honoured methods and serve farm-fresh meals by the fire, or out among gnarled olive trees. Apartments have full kitchens, terrace doors and open fires. Opt for breakfast and it's a homemade, homegrown feast. Swim up an appetite in the large parasol-ringed pool, borrow a bike or arrange horse riding. This area of Basilicata, on the Puglian border, is an undiscovered delight with heaps to see and do . The Times included L'Orto di Lucania among the Five of the top Italian farm stays: In the little-visited deep south in the arch of the boot of Italy, LOrto (which means kitchen garden) grows artichokes, aubergines, tomatoes and peppers. Work up an appetite for dinner in the restaurant (or cook your own from farm produce) by cycling or walking to picturesque villages and archaeological sites .