Palazzo Siena Home & More

Imagine an Italian palace brought into the present day – high cream ceilings that have seen many eras and many owners, winding staircases that endlessly weave up, up, up, cosy courtyards, and sprawling, manicured gardens topped with a stylish, modern flair. This is the Palazzo Siena, a sweet retreat set along the rolling coast of the Salento region.

Dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, the former palace was owned by a baron back in the days when technology was a mere illusion. For many years after the baron’s reign it remained untouched, languishing away amidst a flurry of overgrown greenery until a mother and daughter duo fell under its mesmerising spell. The Siena family came upon it by chance in a heart-warming story that infiltrates every nook of the building itself. On the hunt for a summer home near the rugged cliffs and azure waters of Salento, Fabrizia and Gilda stumbled into the Palazzo. They immediately knew it would not serve as just a summer home, but they also immediately knew that they had to have it. Images of a plush, boutique hotel circled their minds, bringing the abandoned and unloved Palazzo into the present day.

It is this sense of unconditional love and intimate charm that encapsulates me as I wander up the wide, marble steps, my hand trailing along the wrought iron bannister. Yes, it is a big and impressive building, but it also feels like a home. With only ten rooms throughout the Palazzo, it is easy to feel like it was made just for you.

My room was a testimony to this grand yet cosy charm. Heavy, dark-wood furniture, curled and detailed to perfection, rubbed shoulders with exposed-brick walls and open rafters. The combination of wood, stone, and brick hinted back to the palace’s past, whilst the soft furnishings, luxurious lighting, and stylish décor was very much cemented in the modern day.

Elsewhere in the palace, the exquisite mix of old pastel tones and pops of bright colour offered the perfect introduction to traditional, chic Italy. Outside, the peaceful gardens stretched out in a whirlwind of fruit trees, and the ancient colonnade that has been well preserved pokes out from vintage vineyards and an ancient citrus grove. There is the swimming pool, too, an intimate affair tucked away between low-hanging trees and the eternally blue Italian sky.

For dinner the palace lived up to its name, serving fresh, home-grown vegetables and local ingredients in dishes fit for royalty, either eaten under the watchful eye of the stars or in the grand interior of the Palazzo restaurant.

By this point Italy, and the palace itself, had me well and truly under its spell. A quick wander through the rustic towns of Salento and a dip in the warm sea waters only reinforced this new found love. It is so easy to see how Fabrizia and Gilda fell in love at first sight with the Palazzo and its surroundings – and I’m so glad they did, otherwise I would not have been able to experience the grandeur of its restoration, its beautiful décor, and its welcoming, friendly atmosphere.