Once Upon a Time in Matino
It all started in 2002 with a pizzeria. An ancient palazzo, 18th-century stone, a wood-fired oven that had been burning long before any of us were born. From pizzeria to urban farmhouse, the path was long but natural — dictated by the red soil of this Salento that never stops asking you to come back.
Today A Locanda Tu Marchese is far more than a place to sleep or eat. It is a place to slow down, to learn, to taste. Where the kitchen is not a service but a daily ritual.
Our Philosophy
We believe the best way to understand a territory is through its food and the hands of those who work it. This is why every stay with us includes the possibility of taking part in what happens at the masseria every day:
- Harvesting from the vegetable garden in the morning
- Making pasta by hand
- Working the cheese
- Lighting the oven in the evening
We are not tour guides — we are a family that has opened the front door of its home.
The 18th-Century Palazzo
Via Del Tufo 38, Matino. The palazzo has original stonework, high ceilings, thick walls that hold the cool in summer and the warmth in winter. We have restored every room with respect for the building's history, adding modern comfort without stripping away its soul.
"Roots in the fields, hospitality at home" — this is the motto that guides everything we do.
We Are Waiting for You
If you are curious to meet us, to taste, to learn something real — write to us. The farmhouse is open all year and every season has its own flavour.
See you soon, among the stones of Matino.
The Protopapa Family