“Pleasant stay, but not perfect”
We stayed at Masseria La Fica and found the lodging cozy with solid facilities; the room had ample wardrobe and storage, a TV, and a fairly sized bathroom. The pool and play park stood out with a large, clean pool and a well‑maintained play area. Being a working farm gave it an authentic vibe, though the dogs, donkey, chickens, and workers could be noisy during the day. A military airport nearby let us watch fighter jets on their daily training flights, and the dogs and cats we met were friendly—one dog greeted us warmly on day one, while another barked a bit, making us slightly uneasy but still approachable. Breakfast was delicious, featuring a fabulous array of pastries, cheese products, and other treats, and the lady who hosted it was always lovely. Plenty of parking was available on site, and the location was convenient for visiting Lecce, Gallipoli, Otranto, and the rest of Salento. Our room was refreshed after three nights with new bedding, towels, and toiletries, which we appreciated. However, the room wasn’t as clean as other reviews had suggested; surfaces were clean but the floor felt gritty upon arrival, and a tissue used to wipe up spilled suncream came up very dirty. The kitchen facilities were underwhelming, offering only a sink, an electric hob, and some equipment, but lacking basic items like glasses, cups, salt, oil, and other provisions that other properties we stayed at provided. The remote location was known beforehand, yet the farm roads leading to the property were narrow and poorly maintained, making the place feel isolated. Without a car, getting anywhere was difficult, and most restaurants or shops were at least 10 minutes’ drive away. The farm’s activity could be noisy, and one day we were awakened by power tools at 7 am. Our room was one of the few without a bench or dedicated seating area outside, and there was nowhere to dry clothes. Communal seats existed but were dusty. A welcome pack or guest information in the room would have been helpful; we received some details on arrival, but not speaking fluent Italian made it hard to catch everything, so we had to guess things like breakfast times and pool opening hours.
JackA month ago