Nestled in the evocative landscape of the Murgia, on the border between the regions of Apulia and Basilicata, stands Torre Spagnola, one of the most emblematic farm estates in the area. Its name comes from the imposing tower, built at a time when this territory was under the domination of the Spanish Crown, represented locally by the viceroy Gusman. The tower played a strategic role in controlling the routes connecting Matera with Apulia and southern Italy.
The tower was built between 1560 and 1600 on the initiative of Captain Giuseppe Trullos, nephew of Bishop Giovanni Trullos of Castellammare, who settled in Matera in 1560. In 1603, Giuseppe obtained the right to collect the gabelle (taxes), turning the tower into a local tax office. Later, the Trullos family intermarried with the Ulmo family of Matera. The last descendant, having lost the family fortune due to a disorderly lifestyle, donated the property to the Dominican monks as an act of penance.
Under the Dominicans, who retained ownership until the end of the 18th century, Torre Spagnola was transformed into a productive agricultural farm, with the construction of new buildings for livestock breeding. After the Napoleonic expropriation laws of 1806, the property passed in the early 19th century to Marquis Ferrante Ruffano.
In 1840, the farm was purchased by Duke Malvezzi, who turned it into a fully operational agricultural estate specializing in crops and horse breeding, with horses sold to the Bourbon army. Frequent attacks by bandits led the owners to fortify the farm, which continued to serve both as a defensive structure and a productive agricultural estate until the early 20th century.
In 1935, Torre Spagnola was sold to Michele Paradiso of Matera, and later in 1968 to the Dimauro family of Santeramo in Colle (Apulia). After a careful restoration completed in 2001, the estate was transformed into a charming rural hospitality venue, ideal for relaxing holidays or an intimate wedding.
The masseria features a spacious internal courtyard with a rectangular layout, where the historic tower forms the central element. Originally used as a service residence, it housed the estate manager and the farm staff. A large gateway, surmounted by a small shrine that once contained a statue of Saint Dominic of Guzmán, leads into the main courtyard.
The tower remains the original and most emblematic element of the property, a symbol of centuries of agricultural production, defense, and hospitality. Today, Torre Spagnola invites visitors to step back in time while enjoying the warmth, rustic elegance, and natural beauty that have defined this exceptional place for more than four centuries.