Salmone Bianco

Architect B. Paolo Torsello Creates a Modern Tribute to Family on the Salento Coast

Named for a homecoming of sorts, this holiday home in Italy was dubbed for the fish that always returns to its birthplace. Designed by architect B. Paolo Torsello in the 1970s, this visionary project is part of a family legacy that endures to this day.

Located at "lands end" in the bay of the Capo Santa Maria di Leuca just steps from the sea, this striking villa was built by Torsello for his older brother as a tribute to their birthplace and is still owned by the family. A rare example of the post-modernist period, it's one of the most important structures in the region.
Tracing his roots through mid-century principles and academia, Torsello became a professor in mid-life and an avid restoration and conservationist of antiquity prior to creating this modernist installation by the sea.

To read a conversation with the owner of this property, visit our Stories section here.

Backed by pine forest and facing the aquamarine waters of the Ionian, its staggered levels create a unique relationship where nature and architecture meet.
Blanched completely in white inside and out, the interiors are all angles and light, with large expanses of glass facing the sea, eliminating the boundaries between environments.

The downstairs living spaces have interrelated connections with three independent sitting rooms, lounge and dining areas that open out to the terraces, and a fully equipped kitchen.
There are five bedrooms (two doubles and three singles) and four bathrooms, with room for ten guests.
The interior design recalls the 70's era without feeling dated, with a modern "Fratino" table from designer Carlo Scarpa, red lacquer chairs by Kazuhide Takahama, and alternating pieces that complement the architecture with a relaxed beachy vibe.

The outdoor terraces and gardens are the spot for breezy relaxing meals by the sea, with a solarium, outdoor showers, and hammocks for dozing off to the sounds of the waves where you're are just steps from the turquoise waters, and where an ancient Roman anchor marks its landing spot.


SALENTO

Just a few minutes drive away is the lively village of Santa Maria di Leuca, known as the “end of the lands” it's the last bit of land where the Ionian and Adriatic seas meet at the very tip of the country where the shoreline alternates between sandy beaches, picturesque grottos and cliffs, and flat rocky bays.

The small village of Gagliano del Capo, is ten minutes north and sits at the southernmost part of Italy’s heel on the Salento Peninsula. Initially settled in the 4th century by Greeks and then medieval noblemen, its strategic position atop a hill kept it safe from invaders. The central Corso Umberto with its tree-lined plaza is the town's hub with good cafes, shops, and pizzerias.

To the north, the village of Torre Vado (Posto Vecchio) has long sandy beaches, a little harbor, and a scattering of markets, cafes and a nice pedestrian promenade to explore. Along the cape is one of the most beautiful areas of Puglia, characterized by a high rocky coast with impressive panoramas, hidden bays, and small caves to explore. The stunning Baroque city of Lecce, known as the Florence of the South, lies an hour north, and the lovely UNESCO port town of Otranto on the Adriatic side of the peninsula is a 45-minute drive.

The Adriatic coast features some of Salento’s best beaches including Torre Del Orso Santa Andrea and Alimini as well as those of the Ionian coast. The luxurious seaside resorts of Leuca and Santa Cesarea Terme are 15 minutes south.

The port town of Brindisi is just over ninety minutes away.

 

LOCATION

Santa Maria di Leuca, Puglia, Italy. Nearest Airport: Brindisi Airport (130km)

 

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring through Fall