Palazzo Daniele

This spare nine-suite, design-focused property, located near the southern tip of Puglia’s Salento region, is ideal for art and design lovers and those looking for longer stays or a unique experience with low-key service in an under-the-radar southern Apulian town.

A Design Hotel conceived by Gabriele Salini, this unusual nine-suite property is a stylish addition to Puglia’s southern coast. The sister property to Salini's G-Rough in Rome and part of the GS Hotel Collection, it’s a 19th-century palazzo retreat that has been turned into a spare, bohemian showcase for art and Italian style. Stepping inside the unmarked entry of Palazzo Daniele in the sleepy village of Gagliano al Capo is like entering another world. where history and authenticity are palpable. Communal spaces—a spectacular courtyard (open to a cerulean sky), intimate pool area and an upstairs bar/lounge area—reveal themselves as you meander through the palazzo. And the rooms, with original frescoes and mosaic floors, are all one-of-a-kind. While there is no official restaurant yet, cooking classes happen in the kitchen with a local chef, who also creates meals and picnics for guests upon request. The staff is friendly and the service, low-key. There is a 2,100-square-foot apartment suite with three bedrooms that is available for longer stays. Takeovers can be arranged, when booked well in advance.

Compared to some of the region's other hotels, Palazzo Daniele will seem low-touch, but it will definitely appeal to those looking for an unexpected discovery. There are plenty of beaches to explore nearby and Capo d’Arte, an annual art show run by Francesco Petrucci, the co-owner of the palazzo and founder of a local non-profit devoted to promoting contemporary art and artist residencies in Puglia, has brought more attention to the area. Helen Mirren’s husband, Taylor Hackford, is behind a restaurant nearby in Tricase. Leuca, site of the Basilica Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Leuca, is also close, as is Lo Scalo, a perfect spot for lunch or dinner and a swim. 

Art lovers and those in search of on-the-cusp, undiscovered places

Early June through mid-July. August is peak holiday season for Italians and other Europeans in Puglia and Salento and the area can be extremely crowded.

Fly into Bari or Brindisi airports and drive south. The drive is 2.5 hours to Bari, 1.5 hours to Brindisi. A rental car is necessary to explore the southern coast.