A holiday home that hovers 70 ft above the Mediterranean might sound precarious, but the height adds to the drama at this retreat in Puglia.

‘You feel as if you are on your own island with nothing but the wide ocean in front of you,’ says owner Pernille.

Renovation works on the previously abandoned townhouse took three years to complete and presented quite a challenge. ‘We didn’t have much experience, so we had to find the right team to help us,’ Pernille says. ‘Its sensitive position on top of cliffs and the narrow street required most things to be done by hand.’

The restoration of the Italian holiday home was undertaken using traditional techniques and local materials. Inside the Italian holiday home, the decoration is a blend of traditional Puglian style, Scandinavian influences and African crafts and colour.

Stone floors throughout and a cellar full of sea water ensures that the Italian holiday home stays cool in the hot summer months.

Cliff House – which you can rent via Welcome Beyond – spans three floors, sleeping eight, with a ground floor dining terrace and a rooftop terrace complete with sun loungers and a small dipping pool. The quiet hideaway is a good base camp for exploring Puglia’s medieval towns and stunning white beaches.

See Europe’s best holiday homes to rent.