About Us

The ancient residential building in the quaint historic center of Matino came back to a new life. The facilities added for the comfort of the guests, after the refurbishment, left unchanged the identity of this typical Salentinian house. The different type of cement tiles , used in the rooms, were preserved to confer a peculiar personality to every single area; the vaulted arches were not modified ; the stable and the original working rooms were assigned with a different destination of use . Not to mention the underground olive- oil mill, a treasure enclosed in this historical residential building, which houses the Bed and Breakfast managed by Protopapa, that , being the coolest place in the hottest season, is occasionally converted into a meeting place: a cool hall where the guests can join events and enjoy drinks . Furthermore its temperature makes it the best location for “A Locanda tu Marchese” wine-cellar.

The ultimate meeting place of the historical residential building in Matino is the inner courtyard, which is the room where breakfast is served. Traditions can be breathed since early morning at “ La Locanda tu Marchese”: Pasticciotti, Fruttoni and Pastarelle , made by Luisa, will give our gests a special morning greet. Such a delicious breakfast is what you need to start a full- day immersion in the so many Salentinian villages, rich in culture, art and scenery.

Matino is a town in the lower Salento, standing 75 m above the sea level. Superbly located on a hilly area, known as “ Serre Salentine” , Matino is one of the few towns overlooking the neighboring villages. The history of Matino covers a span of over ten thousand years: findings of the first human settlement , discovered in the countryside, date back the Neolithic period , while stable settlements began only in 1000 a.c., after the establishment of a community of monks belonging to St. Basil order .The historic center of Matino, remained unchanged after many reworks, is of particular interest for its medieval town-plan and traditional courtyard houses ( case a corte). A huge number of churches, chapels and aristocratic buildings , Palazzo dei Marchesi del Tufo, (the local noble family), the Holy Mother Church, are the inheritance of the energy and cultural activity the town experienced in the past and especially in 5th century . “ A Locanda tu Marchese “ is a strategic starting point for excursions and sightseeing leading to the backcountry and along the Salentinian coasts, whose seaside towns are yearly awarded for their crystal-clear seawater.