Villa Cappelli sits majestically on the ancient Via Appia in the town of Terlizzi, just northwest of Bari in the region of Puglia.  It is just 20 minutes from the Bari Palese airport and approximately 7 miles from the Adriatic Sea. 

No one is quite sure when the villa first sprung up but some historians believe the garden to have begun as
a 13th century monastic garden.  The “farm” buildings
on the property probably date to the 14th and 15th centuries.  While the newest additons were probably built in the 17th or 18th centuries, one peculiar location in the villa is believed to be pre-Christian. This is a very odd shaped grotto under the garden, we’ve been told it was probably an Ipogeum, used for rituals. 

Since the property sits directly alongside the Appian Way we know for a fact that Roman legions, Crusaders, saints and pilgrims have been traversing it since it was built circa 115 AD.  In fact, we discovered an ancient stone cross that is believed to be from Knights Templar. 

The land, filled with fossils from 10 million years ago, is covered by ancient olive groves, vineyards and fruit trees. The entire villa is completely enclosed by an 18 ft wall and features a formal half-acre garden planted almost exclusively with citrus trees, roses and lavender. The beautiful, gated stone courtyard can also accommodate parking.