Residences of some importance built in rural Apulia from the Middle Ages until the late 1700s were designed around a large central interior courtyard or masseria as protections from invasions of Saracens and other Arab inveders. Actually they were small self-sufficent villages with hundreds of people living inside their walls. (In Sicily these residences were known as baglio.) The practicality of the arrangement is quickly apparent. Within the courtyard was all that was needed to be self-sufficient: stables, warehouses, animal shelters, storage buildings, wood oven, olive oil mill, winery, and living quarters for the property owner and hired help. At night, a large gate secured the property from unwanted visitors. The buildings and furnishings were of a straightforward, simple rustic design. In reality they were small villages self-suffiecent Today, baglio and masseria are being restored throughout Southern Italy as guest quarters with modern amenities such as satellite television and air conditioning. Many offer dining facilities that feature locally grown foods. These guest facilities can be compared to the villas and farmhouses in Tuscany and Umbria.

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