Casa Soleto

A Serene 17th-Century Residence, Authentically Restored

Harking back to times of gentler domesticity, Casa Soleto’s serene charms have been lovingly coaxed back to life at the hands of Studio Andrew Trotter, the designers behind some of our most-loved restorations. The first personal hosting project from creative duo Andrew Trotter and Marcelo Martínez, this classic palazzotto’s timeless makeover would bring a smile to any nonna’s doting face.

The celebrated designers behind Casa Soleto kept this home’s old-world flavor alive, restoring original floors, preserving the simple, homestyle kitchen, and carefully polishing the well-patinaed, 300-year-old wooden interior doors. A monastic quality pervades the graceful residence—a pure natural space that focuses on soft simplicity over stark, modern minimalism. 

Arched doorways and majestic vaulted volumes have been reimagined with traditional lime plasters in warm hues. Ornamental wall niches and decorative arcades now hold spotlit works created expressly for the home by artist friends, including one-of-a-kind soil paintings from ancient dirt found under the floorboards. A chapel-turned-media room, spacious ensuite bath with a clawfoot tub, and views over the neighboring church belfry add to the residence’s antique charms. More modern outdoor living spaces—a new dining terrace and plunge pool—meld harmoniously with the historical bones.

Around

Like an Italian neorealist film set, the southern Italian village of Soleto sits in the southernmost part of Puglia, Salento, in the country’s coastal boot heel. The Salento peninsula is a spit of land extending between the Ionian and Adriatic Seas and a coastal region of lesser known charms than its neighbors. The area is often referred to as the “Greek” part of Italy, given that many small towns in the area trace their histories back thousands of years to Hellenic roots. Olive oils, robust wines such as Salice Salentino and Primitivo, and agricultural products (grains, cereals) are grown inland, but the region’s coastline is its biggest draw. Rocky, rugged and less traveled than Italy’s better known beach destinations, the Salento peninsula is bordered by golden sands and bleached outcroppings, picturesque Karst grottos and secluded coves. 

Cliff-backed lagoons rival the open sea’s turquoise waters, and beautiful old towns echo easier times. Villages of Salento are generally small and simple, with child-filled streets, elder-occupied piazzas, and pedestrian nonnas returning from the local market or rolling pasta and chattering across the open windows of the towns’ narrow streets. Many buildings in Salento date from the Baroque era, and both regional coasts are less than a half hour’s drive from the home. Soleto’s Greek influence means some locals still speak the ancient Griko dialect, and the region’s economy counts both bronze and stone working among its earlier influences. Soleto’s prime attraction today is its rather unassuming Lecce stone church, Santo Stefano, where ancient frescoes reveal Romanesque, Byzantine, and Moorish styling. A five-minute drive from the home leads to Galatina, a slightly larger town of Baroque architecture with a selection of family run cafes, boutiques, and restaurants.

Location

Soleto, Puglia, Italy. Nearest airport: Brindisi (1 hour)

Best time to visit

May to September

Photography: Salva López @salvalopez