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There are roughly 580 properties in the world that bear the Relais & Châteaux designation. Each one is selected not simply for the quality of its rooms or the refinement of its table, but for something considerably harder to define: a sense of place, a genuine expression of the territory it inhabits, and an approach to hospitality that feels irreplaceable rather than replicable. The recent admission of Masseria Auraterrae to this roster is, by any measure, a significant moment for the region. Tucked into the Polignano a Mare countryside, Masseria Auraterrae has long been regarded by those who know Puglia well as one of its most quietly exceptional properties, a masseria that wears its beauty without announcement and offers its guests an experience rooted entirely in the land around it. As a partner property we have had the privilege of working with closely over the years, sending guests through its doors and hosting events within its walls, we could not be prouder to see it receive this recognition.

The property joins La Sommità Relais in Ostuni as the second property in Puglia to earn this distinction, and together they make something of a statement: that Puglia's finest properties are no longer simply well-kept secrets shared among those in the know. They are being recognized, formally and internationally, as some of the most compelling places to stay in Europe. For a region that has spent years earning its place on the world hospitality map, this is a moment worth marking.