Palazzo Piccinno

A Salentino Palace Artfully Transformed into a Modern, Slow-Living Retreat

A noble palace from the early 1900s, this boutique hotel showcases the best of authentic, historic Salento styling—star vaults, patterned cement tiles, swirling frescoes, phoenix emblems from the family crest, neo-Gothic architecture—paired with modern comforts and sustainable practices.

The architectural duo from Studio Lagna, along with interior designers Sabrina Panizza and Aude Laure from London’s PL Studio, have transformed the four-room, hilltop space into a design-forward guesthouse with a courtyard pool and interior garden. A large gallery foyer offers panoramic views over the Parabita countryside, and contemporary elements (such as the large, Vertigo 2MT chandelier by Petit Friture and Mineral Round tables by Ferm Living) are standouts alongside the original, sinuously curving staircase from the early 1900s.

Each of the palace's four suites is distinctive, themed to a landscape element, with art and color references in tribute to these natural regional highlights. Think: the DOC vineyards or olive groves that encircle the town. And, a focus on sustainability means rainwater is collected for the garden, the palace is staffed by locals, and foods for breakfast are seasonal as well as ethically and locally sourced.

Please note: The palace's four double rooms can be rented individually, or the entire property can be privatized.

Oliveto Suite A suite in green, emblematic of Puglia’s olive groves, this fresco-embellished space is brightened by floor-to-ceiling windows. Its monumental bathroom is inspired by Roman baths and features a round masonry bathtub in green enamel as well as a cascade shower on original cement tiles. There’s a private balcony and coffee/tea prep space.

Magna Grecia Premium Under soaring vaulted ceilings arching over original artisanal cement tile floors, this graphic room is at once ancient and sleekly modern. It has a natural stone fireplace and oversized window with a pretty view, and it’s dedicated to the region’s Grecian roots, warm and classic. Extras include a bidet, and a coffee/tea station.

Primitivo Terrace Specifically designed to evoke the deep red tones of Puglia’s most celebrated wines such as Salice Salentino and Primitivo di Manduria, this room is ideal for those who value outdoor spaces, given its 25-square-meter balcony overlooking the pool and garden. The russet-hued space is warm and intimate, with a captivating bathroom (with bidet), a coffee/tea station, and lounge furnishings on the terrace.

Terra Rossa Cozy A tribute to the region’s crimson-colored soil that spreads underfoot in its olive groves, this space offers whitewashed vaulted ceilings, authentic patterned floor tiles and a bathroom cloaked in reddish earthen tones. The 21-square-meter space is spare and minimalist, yet warmed by its rich color palette, offering a tea/coffee prep area and original, colorful floors.

Breakfast is included in all bookings. An around-the-clock concierge is available to assist with bookings, reservations, guided tours and local stylists, practitioners, and pet companions. Daily housekeeping is provided.

Around

This noble palace is located in the heart of Parabita, a town ideally situated between the Ionian and Adriatic Seas in Italy’s southern Salento region. Parabita covers a gentle rise that’s been inhabited since ancient times, with the town as seen today constructed during the Norman period, surrounded by fortified walls and four giant city gates. The town’s Church of San Giovanni Battista dates from the 13th century, the 16th- and 17th-century Church of the Immaculate Conception features Baroque frescos and stuccos, and there are numerous historic palaces of architectural quality, including the Palazzo d’Alfonso or Castriota, the Palazzo dei Veneziani, and the Palazzo Ferrari. The town's fortress castle dates from the 14th century, and Parabita is famed for its Venuses, kept in the National Archaeological Museum in Taranto, that reveal important prehistoric details of the region.

A slow-living spot for history buffs and low-key travelers alike, the town is bordered by olive and citrus groves, and the surrounding countryside is blanketed by vineyards, all offering opportunities for roaming. This part of Italy’s boot heel is also ideal for exploring the beaches along both the Adriatic and Ionian Sea coasts. Further afield, the Baroque city of Lecce makes for a great day trip, as does Gallipoli, with its one-of-a-kind harbor, beach-lined coast and neighboring community of Monopoli.

Location

Parabita, Salento, Lecce, Italy. Nearest airport: Brinidisi (1 hour)

Best time to visit

March to November