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Masseria Brusca (“Masseria” means “a large farm”) is one of the most interesting examples of XVIII century rural architecture around the city of Otranto.

When this farm was sold by the Carignani family to the Dell’Abates, the whole estate was turned into a residential abode with a series of closed gardens of different sizes and features. For instance, there’s one green area, accessible through an elaborate portal, reserved to the bees and adjacent to the chapel – it’s the “bee garden”.
On the opposite side, there is an “en plein air” area with four entrances which acts as a “hinge” between the other green “rooms”. Not to mention the orchard, the almond grove (with square dovecote tower) and, above all, the “Garden of Statues”.

A portal-triumphal arch leads into this enclosure with two main axes and a well in the centre. The areas inside the flower beds are characterized by paths bordered by irregularly shaped stones: this late XIX century arrangement is the result of the garden renovation by the Zuccaro family and must have taken place along with the replacement of the XVIII century fruit trees with a botanical “repertoire” of remarkable ornamental value.

The mixed selection of plants features many tree species: conifers and exotic ones, acanthus and pines, Canna indica and palm trees.

The two main avenues end with three niches with multilinear arches and seats on their sides; the one to the west leads to a square room that connects to the orchard; in the one at the bottom of the main avenue, there’s an image of the Holy Mary.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)