Puglian palazzo turned boutique hotel filled with modern art and the best service imaginable

Palazzo Daniele / Gagliano del Capo / Puglia / Italy

Small is best. When it comes to hotels, small is by far the best. Yes, of course there are large hotels that still do it well but with size comes additional challenges when it comes to creating attractive spaces and unique design. But with that said, just because a hotel is small it isn’t easy. The opposite actually. Every single detail is visible and you can’t really hide anything. Everything is on display. So when a small hotel nails it, the result is often magical. Like this one, Palazzo Daniele at the southern tip of the heel of Italy.

This palazzo used to be a private Summer residence and has been under the same family’s ownership since it was first built in the 19th century. The current owner and the fourth generation of the family, Francesco Petrucci teamed up with renowned Roman hotelier Gabriele Salini and decided to turn this magnificent building into an exclusive hotel. In order to do so, the commissioned Milan design firm Ludovica + Roberto Palomba and what they created is nothing short of amazing.

From the outside, the palazzo looks fairly discreet. But once you step through the (small door in the) giant door you immediately become embraced in the exquisite design, ceiling frescoes and tasteful art. There are nine rooms and they all look different. What they have in common is a rustic but still polished look. Our room was facing the courtyard in the back and dark tiled pool.

One thing that is unique with this hotel is that it almost like staying in an art museum. There is a lot of modern art placed around the hotel and it was such a treat to walk around taking it all in. Another unique element is that they really wanted us to feel at home while staying here, to use the space, to relax, They encouraged (or almost forced us) to walk trough the kitchen when going to the pool in order to chat with the lovely ladies working there, to stop for a coffee and hang out for a bit, like you would have if you were staying with your own family. I love this sense of connection and friendliness. And not the least, it was such a treat to see them in action preparing the food for the dinner.

There is so much to see and do in this region but this is one of those hotels that you want to cherish every minute of your stay, so we always hurried back ”home” to make the most of our stay at this gorgeous, rustic and affable palazzo.

Welcome to Palazzo Daniele! On the outside. the palazzo is fairly discreet looking.

You enter through a smaller door in this giant blue door…

…and when inside the palazzo opens up to you, revealing one courtyard after another.

I love these original tiles in our room.

After check-in, a welcome drink in the lounge.

There is so much space at the palazzo. One room is more beautiful than the next.

And the hotel is filled with contemporary art.

This must be the best looking and the cheekiest honesty bar ever.

These little buggers live in the inner courtyard.

It is so clever how these lamps have been installed as if they are hanging from thin air.

This is my kind of afternoon hang, with an Aperol together with dear friends by the pool at an Italian palazzo, laying in the Spring sun.

And if the Puglian sun isn’t warm enough, there is both a sauna and a steam room in the hotel.

…a run along the Adriatic coast together with Tanja.

Every great run ends with a dip. This is the Il Ciolo cove, a short run/drive from the hotel.

The steep climb back to the village and the hotel.

There are several great places for a dip along the coast. This is the Cala dell’Acquaviva, a bit further north along the Adriatic. There is a cure little café where you can get some refreshments.

During our visit to Lecce we had a baked goods sample session at Cafe Alvino. In the front the famous local *pasticciotto*. In the background a classic *krapfen*, which stems from the northern part of the country, and an in the back the equally classic Roman *maritozzi*.

Another excellent place for a dip is Spiaggia di Punta della Suina. This is the forest you walk through to get to the beach.

The water at Spiaggia di Punta della Suina is crystal clear. This beach is to be found in the Gulf of Taranto, on the west coast of Puglia.

M and Jack are getting ready to go into the water

RG inside info

Date of RG stay:

May 2025

This place is perfect if you…

…are looking for a secluded historic hotel off the beaten track in Puglia, where there is a very exclusive but at the same time warm, relaxed and welcoming feel. If you love art, great food and heartfelt, Southern Italian hospitality, you will want to check in at Palazzo Daniele.

My favorite thing about this place…

…was the ambition to make us guests feel like we belonged at the palazzo. Almost like it was our own luxury Summer retreat. They encouraged us to pass through the kitchen when going to the pool, to use all the spaces and to really make ourselves comfortable. And we did.

What not to miss when staying here…

…is a tricky balancing act. You will want to make the most of your time at the hotel to really get to enjoy the facilities to the max. But with that said, there is so much to do and see in the southern part of Puglia. There are some amazing beaches (see some of my favorites above) and also some great towns, where Lecce stands out to me. A cream colored town full of history where you can sample the famous pasticciotto, a shortcrust pastry filled with creamy custard.

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Maison Ceronne / Mortagne-au-Perche, Normandy, France

Villa Arnica / Lana, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

Masseria Moroseta / Ostuni, Puglia, Italy