The Best Hotels in Puglia to Book for an Idyllic Italian Escape

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Courtesy of Masseria Calderisi

It’s hard to imagine that as little as 20 years ago, if Puglia was known to those outside of Italy at all, it was simply for being the heel on the peninsula’s boot. Fast forward two decades later, and the best hotels in Puglia have not only firmly cracked the code for a perfect Mediterranean vacation, they rank among the most desirable destinations for Italophiles who want to venture beyond the well-established tourist hotspots of Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast

It’s not difficult to see why. The relatively flat landscape features some of the most gorgeous towns in Italy—from the bleached walls of Ostuni to the quaint domed roofs of Alberobello’s traditional trulli—most of which are packed with knotty medieval streets, gleaming white Baroque churches, and bustling markets. Around its lengthy coastlines you’ll find some of Italy’s most pristine beaches, from soft white sand to rocky plunge pools with crystal clear water. Then, of course, there’s the food. Puglia’s specialty, given it spans both the Adriatic and Ionian seas, is the freshest fish imaginable, with sea urchins and octopus serving as a particularly delectable highlight. It’s the birthplace of burrata, too; and don’t forget to try some orecchiette, handmade by a nonna on the winding streets of Bari’s old town.

It also helps that there is now a burgeoning scene of luxury hotels, all offering a surprisingly diverse mix of experiences. There are the traditional masserias, or farm complexes, with their whitewashed walls, rustling olive groves, and dusty pink sunsets, which have played no small part in it being nicknamed by some as “the new Tuscany,” even if comparing it to other Italian regions feels like underselling Puglia’s specific charms. Meanwhile, in Salento, the southern part of the region—the stiletto on the heel of the boot, if you like—a number of small-scale boutique hotels are offering a more eclectic range of genuinely unique stays. 

All of which is to say, there’s never been a better time to visit the region. Here, Vogue rounds up seven of the best hotels in Puglia to visit this summer—and return to, again and again.

A pool area at Borgo Egnazia. Photo: Aldo Ricci

Borgo Egnazia

Walking through the cobbled streets that comprise Borgo Egnazia as the evening light casts a golden glow over the clocktower, you wouldn’t guess for a moment that this sprawling, breathtakingly beautiful property was only built in 2010. That’s right: Every one of Borgo Egnazia’s meticulously designed rooms, suites, and villas—183 in total—might appear centuries-old on the surface, but they reach a world standard in luxury mod cons. (Rumor has it that architect Pino Brescia, a native Puglian who was hired for his knowledge of the quirks of the region’s traditional building techniques, even went around chipping at the walls with a chisel to ensure the creamy local sandstone looked as authentically weathered as possible.) When you find yourself getting pleasantly lost in Borgo Egnazia’s alleyways, it’s clear that was part of the plan.

Two of the pools in the heart of Borgo Egnazia at dusk. Photo: Jacob Sjöman
Borgo Egnazia’s piazza is lit up in the evening for dinner. Photo: Aldo Ricci

While Borgo Egnazia is very much the brainchild of couple Aldo Melpignano and Camilla Vender—the latter also runs an exquisitely curated boutique, Bottega Egnazia, as part of the hotel complex—the story actually runs a generation further back; specifically, to Melpignano’s parents. After establishing Masseria San Domenico, the first luxury hotel in the region in 1996, Sergio and Marisa Melpignano played a crucial role in establishing Puglia as the growing tourist hotspot it is today by making a conscious effort to market the region abroad. With Melpignano and Vender’s willingness to both take up the mantle and push that vision to the next level, the wildly ambitious Borgo Egnazia project came to be. 

One of Borgo Egnazia’s winding alleyways. Photo: Aldo Ricci

There are almost too many experiences available at Borgo Egnazia to list: two beach clubs, a golf course, an atmospheric spa inspired by Roman baths, vintage car tours, cooking classes, oil and wine tastings, and trekking. But despite the enormous scale of the complex and the near-overwhelming number of things to do, there’s an innate sense of calm that radiates from the property’s white stone walls, as well as a sense of total privacy within each of the bedrooms or casette suites, named quite literally after “little houses.” (This feeling of seclusion is undoubtedly a reason why it’s become a particular celebrity favorite, most famously hosting Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel’s 2012 wedding. Recent guests have included Victoria and David Beckham.) Borgo Egnazia’s tagline is “nowhere else”—after a few days in paradise there, you’ll find it impossible to disagree.

The bedroom of the master suite at Castello di Ugento. Courtesy of Castello di Ugento

Castello di Ugento

In the region of Salento, 15 minutes or so inland from the white sandy beaches that line the peninsula’s southern tip, lies the tranquil town of Ugento. And at its heart sits Castello di Ugento, the impressive castle at the town’s highest point. Most of what is visible today was constructed in the 17th century, but it also features the foundations of an 11th-century Norman tower, rediscovered while the building was being lovingly refurbished half a decade ago, and that can now be seen through glass floors in the dining area.

It’s the kind of attention to detail—and instinct for preservation—that characterizes the property’s restoration at the hands of Massimo d’Amore and his partner, Diana Bianchi. (The d’Amore family’s ownership of the castle dates all the way back to its 17th-century splendor.) Nine individually decorated rooms are complemented by an orchard garden as well as a sister property a few minutes down the road, Masseria Le Mandorle, that features a swimming pool and slick sports facilities. 

The garden at Castello di Ugento. Courtesy of Castello di Ugento
Il Tempo Nuovo restaurant—with glass floors looking to the remains of the Norman tower underneath—at Castello di Ugento. Courtesy of Castello di Ugento

A major highlight here is the food: The hotel restaurant, Il Tempo Nuovo, sees chef Tommaso Sanguedolce put an impressively fresh and unfussy twist on traditional Puglian cuisine, while the now well-established Puglia Culinary Centre offers cooking courses and classes for everyone from beginners to Michelin-star chefs wanting to learn more about Italian cuisine. Finally, there’s an impressive series of rooms on the building’s piano nobile featuring Baroque frescoes that have been recently restored, within which Bianchi is gearing up to stage a series of exhibitions featuring contemporary artists both local and from further afield. When it comes to offering opportunities for Puglian cultural immersion, Castello di Ugento is hard to beat.

Looking through to the bar of Masseria Torre Maizza from its Carosello restaurant. Photo: Tyso Sadlo

Masseria Torre Maizza

Masseria Torre Maizza, found in the cluster of luxurious masserias that have sprung up between the towns of Fasano and Savelletri, was established as one of the first high-end stays in the region back in the 2000s. Since being taken over and refurbished by Rocco Forte Hotels in 2019, however, the property has found a new lease on life. In many ways, it’s the quintessential vision of a relaxed masseria holiday with all of the rustic details of a typical farm stay: a sparkling blue pool, fresh fruit, bicycles to ride through the olive groves. But it’s the details found in its interiors and dining that elevates it, largely thanks to the aesthetic vision realized by Olga Polizzi, Rocco Forte’s sister and the chain’s design director. The hotel’s gorgeous restaurant, for example, sits within a pergola draped with ivy and roses overlooking the property’s orchard. 

The pool and bar area at Masseria Torre Maizza. Courtesy of Rocco Forte Hotels
The interior dining area of Carosello restaurant at Masseria Torre Maizza. Courtesy of Rocco Forte Hotels

There’s a sense, when at Masseria Torre Maizza, that time has stopped. The large pool area features a bar offering crisp local wines and creative riffs on Italian aperitivi. The spa is stocked with products by Forte’s daughter, Irene, with scrubs and oils directly inspired by the Mediterranean botanicals of southern Italy. (Despite being a hotel group, Rocco Forte’s relatively modest size ensures much of its most welcoming details are those which have been kept within the family.) It’s a small slice of heaven that feels almost specifically designed for you to laze away a summer’s afternoon under an orange tree, book in hand, as a cool sea breeze rustles through the trees. 

A common room at Palazzo Daniele with the hotel’s honesty bar. Photo: Renee Kemps

Palazzo Daniele

Another option in the Salento region is Palazzo Daniele, found in the small but inviting town of Gagliano del Capo that is merely five minutes drive from some of the region’s most spectacular beaches. Yet the real delights of Palazzo Daniele lie within its own 19th-century walls, which, despite being smack in the center of town, include peaceful gardens and a beautifully outfitted swimming pool. The hotel’s playful but tastefully realized decor is partly the result of its previous life hosting artist residencies. Its owner, former lawyer and art collector Francesco Petrucci, decided to collaborate with his friend Gabriele Salini—who also owns the modish G-Rough hotel in Rome—to convert the property into a 10-room boutique stay that opened in the spring of 2019. 

The courtyard at Palazzo Daniele. Photo: Serena Eller

The result is a charming mish-mash of ceiling frescoes with cutting-edge contemporary art, sympathetically reconciled by the Milanese architects and designers Ludovica and Roberto Palomba. The monastic plaster walls have been left largely untouched, their weathered surfaces and cracks kept intact, with any interventions largely offered by artist-designed light fittings and the occasional piece of carefully placed modernist furniture. Each room contains its own unexpected details. The bathroom might be accessed by a narrow staircase that once included a secret passageway that extended all the way to the nearby beaches, while even a more conventional en suite features a rain shower in the middle of the room with a shell-like basin, so you can live out your best Birth of Venus fantasy. 

The courtyard at Palazzo Daniele.Photo: Renee Kemps
The royal junior suite at Palazzo Daniele. Photo: Renee Kemps
Looking into the kitchen of Palazzo Daniele from the pool area.Photo: Serena Eller

Again, the culinary offering is a major highlight here. An open kitchen means you can help yourself to pastries or request eggs your way in the morning with the help of local cooks whose families have lived in the town for generations; at lunch, they’ll prepare a meal of however many courses you can handle in the shaded area by the pool, all sourced from local farmers. At night, the outdoor area transforms once again, with string lights sparkling in the trees and an on-site bartender ready to whip up one of their signature inventive cocktails. The hotel’s motto is “questa casa non è un albergo,” or “this house is not a hotel,” a fact that is reflected in the generously proportioned shared living areas and the open bar built around a former religious shrine. Petrucci, who previously kept an apartment within the complex that was recently converted into the hotel’s newest accommodation, the Black Suite—demonstrates it’s more than just a tagline. After a few hours within Palazzo Daniele, you’ll feel like the place is yours too.

The main courtyard of Masseria Calderisi.Photo: Andreas Kusy

Masseria Calderisi

A relative newcomer to the scene—and all the more energetic for it—Masseria Calderisi was established last year by its charismatic German owners, Max and Jutta von Braunmühl, who fell in love with Puglia in the 2000s and married in the region a decade ago. (The pair, and their children, can often be found mingling with guests, whether escorting them to the sea in a four-wheel drive or stopping by their dinner tables for a digestivo.) There’s an exuberant feeling about this property, evident in the range of activities on offer—an afternoon at their private strip of beach, a boat trip along the Adriatic, or a body scrub at the spa with honey, salt, and lemon from the masseria’s gardens—as well as in its lovely boutique which stocks local ceramics, jams, and olive oils alongside casual pieces and beachwear from the likes of Etro, Max Mara, and Missoni.

The outdoor dining area at Masseria Calderisi’s La Corte restaurant. Courtesy of Masseria Calderisi
A bedroom at Masseria Calderisi. Courtesy of Masseria Calderisi

This sense of warmth and liveliness extends to the impeccable hospitality, which manages to be friendly and keenly attentive without ever feeling overbearing. So too is it visible in the organic conviviality between guests, many of whom are clearly satisfied to chat about finding this undiscovered gem within the region’s ever-growing number of luxury masserias. If you’re looking to strike up conversation with those on the sun lounger next to you, there’s no awkwardness here; you might even bump into them again while participating in a morning bread-baking session in the hotel’s restored wood-fire oven, or at the pizza party in the large courtyard that takes place twice a week. Masseria Calderisi is a slice of classic Puglian paradise with a fresh, youthful-feeling twist.

The bedroom of the flagship Paragon suite at Paragon 700. Photo: Gregory Venere

Paragon 700 Boutique Hotel & Spa

Even from the outside, Paragon 700 is no ordinary Italian palazzo. Its striking facade of red rusticated stone sticks out within the spectacular “white city” of Ostuni, while the restored vintage car that sits outside offers something of a clue to its unconventional mix of the past and present. But stepping inside is to enter another world entirely. The weird and wonderful brainchild of its founders, interior designers and partners Pascale Lauber and Ulrike Bauschke, they clearly saw the restoration of this mysterious building (its exact origins and dates of construction still remain largely unknown) as an opportunity to unleash their wildest design instincts. The property opened last summer with head-spinningly fabulous results. 

Paragon 700’s vintage car sits on the piazza directly in front of the palazzo. Photo: Gregory Venere
The pool area at Paragon 700.Photo: Gregory Venere
A bespoke bathtub in one of Paragon 700’s eleven suites. Photo: Gregory Venere

The expansive bar area is Baroque by way of Tim Burton: statues of macabre grinning monkeys sit next to defaced reinterpretations of Renaissance paintings, while candelabras dripping with red wax line the tables where artist-designed sofas are upholstered with sewn-together silk ties. The hotel’s 11 individually designed rooms are intentionally more relaxed, with frescoed ceilings, warm lighting fixtures, and stonewashed linen sheets. Despite the flamboyant trappings of its decor, however, both wellness and sustainability are a priority here. The spa, reached by glass elevator and built into the underground caves that are atmospherically lit with candles, feature a hydromassage basin, a Turkish bath, a Himalayan salt wall, and even a natural whirlpool dug deeper into the ground. Meanwhile, the hotel’s commitments to micro-CHP energy, zero plastics, and local construction materials are also notable. 

Probably the biggest facet of Paragon 700’s appeal, though, is its prime location within Ostuni, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region, but that somehow manages never to feel wildly overcrowded. Getting lost in the city’s labyrinth of alleyways and admiring its Gothic cathedral are unmissable elements of a Puglian vacation all on their own—but knowing you can return to the homely environs of Paragon 700 for a refreshing dip in the pool, a cocktail as delightfully offbeat as the decor, and finally a meal in their gourmet, open-kitchen Restaurant 700 to round off the evening makes the experience all the sweeter.

The front facade of Castle Elvira. Photo: Rei Moon

Castle Elvira

A new opening for 2022, Castle Elvira sits atop a picturesque ridgeway 20 minutes or so outside of the historic city of Lecce, surrounded by 37 acres of wild gardens, olive and citrus groves, and lush parkland. But the real star of the show is the castle itself: according to legend, it was built in the early 20th century by a Neapolitan family for their teenage daughter Elvira, who died soon after, leaving the castle abandoned for over 100 years. In 2018, a British couple purchased the property and set about reviving it to its former glories—albeit with a very 21st-century twist.

The drawing room at Castle Elvira with a vintage Bechstein piano. Photo: Rei Moon

Balancing these nods to history with a sensitive restoration and firmly contemporary amenities, the exuberant decor is a kaleidoscope of bold colors where art covers every wall of its six individually designed guest suites. (The focus here is very much on intimacy, with family-style dining, a private cinema, and a gorgeous infinity pool, while the castle is also available to hire out in its entirety for group holidays, parties, and weddings.) The eclectic vision for the property is very much the product of its owners, artist and filmmaker Harvey B-Brown and his property developer husband Steve Riseley, who are as jolly and inviting as the decor.

Best of all, you have the pick of the entire property when it comes to choosing where to eat the traditional Pugliese home cooking on offer, courtesy of the local house chef Fabiana. There’s the restaurant space which sits in its own single-story building surrounded by palms and bedecked with charming vintage signs, an opulent dining room with a round table for communal eating, or even the rooftop, where you can enjoy aperitivo and the sunset as viewed from its fairytale turrets; a converted golf cart will even bring you cocktails and boxed lunches to eat by the pool. With a nearby sister property set in the tower of an 18th-century monastery, Castle Elvira lands as a wildly characterful new addition to Puglia’s offering of unexpected luxury stays.

Baglioni Masseria Muzza

Courtesy of Baglioni Hotels & Resorts

Arguably the year’s splashiest new opening in Puglia comes courtesy of Baglioni Hotels & Resorts, the Italian-owned and run luxury hotel group placing a particular emphasis on the country’s cultural hotspots—and their latest property, located a few miles out of Otranto and overlooking the idyllic Lake Alimini, doesn’t disappoint. Masseria Muzza is a sprawling complex of 17th-century whitewashed farmhouses that have been sensitively updated to feature all of the uber-deluxe mod cons you’d expect from a hotel of its caliber.

Courtesy of Baglioni Hotels & Resorts
Courtesy of Baglioni Hotels & Resorts

Those who need to be by a body of water at all times to truly relax will find succor here. The jewel in Masseria Muzza’s crown is its enormous infinity pool—featuring in-built hydromassage loungers and island platforms—for cooling off in the Puglian summer heat, while a shuttle service will whisk you away to a nearby beach in central Otranto with a dedicated area and sunloungers if you fancy a dip in the sea. (The hotel is also mere minutes away from the sparkling blue waters of one of the region’s most breathtaking beaches, the Baia dei Turchi.) Elsewhere, a cavernous spa complex features every amenity you could dream of, from an ice fountain to a Finnish sauna to a steam bath.

Courtesy of Baglioni Hotels & Resorts

Equally top-notch are the hotel’s culinary offerings, from a relaxed poolside restaurant perfect for enjoying a lazy lunch of salads and light pasta dishes to the restaurant in the evening—decorated with the region’s famously flamboyant luminarie, or twinkling colored lights, and surrounded by lemon trees—which offers local cooking alongside wood-fired pizzas. (There are also gourmet tasting menus on offer at the resort’s third restaurant, Le Site, if that’s your bag.) If it’s pure, unadulterated indulgence you’re seeking, Masseria Muzza is the one to beat.

La Fiermontina

Courtesy of La Fiermontina

If you’re looking for the perfect city base to explore the south of Puglia, look no further than Lecce, the Salento town whose historic center is packed with dozens of churches and palazzi decorated with intricate Baroque carvings cut from the local limestone. (Throughout the day, as the natural light shifts, they seem to almost magically change color.) And if you’re then looking for somewhere to stay in the heart of the city, the names to know are La Fiermontina and its sister property Palazzo Bozzi Corso.

Courtesy of Palazzo Bozzi Corso
Courtesy of Palazzo Bozzi Corso
Courtesy of Palazzo Bozzi Corso

The former sits on the outskirts of the centro storico, thus featuring an unusual amount of space for a city stay in the typically narrow, winding streets of the region, as well as 18 individually designed rooms that blend the traditional trappings of Pugliese decor, from crisp white linens and cream stone walls, with elegant mid-century furniture in muted tones arranged just so. And that’s without mentioning the lush gardens and perfectly sized pool surrounded by olive trees, ready for when you need to cool off after a day of wandering Lecce’s bustling markets and museums.

Courtesy of Palazzo Bozzi Corso

Palazzo Bozzi Corso, meanwhile, is situated slap-bang in the middle of the city, just steps away from the breathtakingly ornate facade of the Basilica di Santa Croce. Step into the courtyard of this historic palazzo from the busy street outside, however, and an atmospheric hush takes over (and that’s before even heading down to its subterranean wellness space). The interiors speak to the design nous of its owners, the Fiermonte family—the high-ceilinged rooms on the piano nobile best show off their masterful eye for color and proportion—and its the rich history of the family and their guardianship of the property that resonates most strongly, lending these two perfectly Leccese properties their beating heart.

Palazzo Ducale Venturi

Courtesy of Palazzo Ducale Venturi

As with the best of Puglia’s gloriously grand townhouses, the Palazzo Ducale Venturi offers little suggestion from the outside of the treasure trove in store when you step through the pedestrian entryway cut into its grand wooden doors. Situated in the sleepy, charming town of Minervino di Lecce on the southwestern corner of the peninsula, 15 minutes or so west of the lively beach town of Otranto, the palazzo’s gardens—humming with wildlife, and featuring everything from a medieval well to a herb garden to columns overflowing with white bougainvillea—and an impossibly tranquil pool constitute its own small world.

Photo: Carlo Contino Circolone / Courtesy of Palazzo Ducale Venturi
Courtesy of Palazzo Ducale Venturi

If you do wish to venture further, however, Palazzo Ducale Venturi sits in a perfect location to explore the southern tip of the boot, in particular the array of rocky coves and secluded beaches that dot the nearby shoreline. But thanks to its particularly impressive food offering—chef ​​Antonio Russo offers elevated takes on Salentine cooking with a particular emphasis on mouth-wateringly fresh seafood—and a small but cutting-edge spa area that features an underground pool converted from an ancient oil mill, you don’t even really need to leave the four walls of its domain anyway.

Palazzo Presta

Courtesy of Palazzo Presta

Palazzo Presta is located in Gallipoli, a somewhat off-the-beaten-track town on the west coast of Salento that, before you ask, bears no relation to the Turkish peninsula of the same name. And as far as the city’s selection of hotels go, Palazzo Presta stands head and shoulders above the rest. Not only is it right in the beating heart of Gallipoli’s historic island old town (and merely a few hundred yards from its convenient, centrally located beach, the Spiaggia della Purità) but Palazzo Presta’s achingly stylish interiors would be worth the trip alone.

Courtesy of Palazzo Presta

Its owners, Eugenia and Antonio, have reinvented its rabbit warren interiors to balance in-the-know nods to design history with a sense of worldly eclecticism, the walls decorated in bold colors and adorned with everything from maritime flags to vintage Japanese prints to racy contemporary photography. The real star of the show, however, is its rambling, two-story rooftop terrace, which features views over the city that can be enjoyed from plush striped seating—and, of course, an inventive cocktail courtesy of the terrace’s dedicated rooftop bar, open every evening just in time for a sundowner.

Courtesy of Palazzo Presta