Located in Italy’s heel, Puglia has long been a well-kept secret, guarded by the natives as their personal holiday spot. As one local put it: “Italians never leave Italy because we have Puglia!”
However, the secret is finally out and with its hot summers, fantastic beaches, wonderful seafood and increasing number of chic hotels, it’s the place to go. And, with regular UK flights to Bari in the north and Brindisi in the south, it’s now very easy to get to.
And as with the best of Puglia’s gloriously grand townhouses, the Palazzo Ducale Venturi offers little suggestion from the outside when you step through the pedestrian entryway cut into its grand wooden doors.
The hotel
Situated in the quaint village of Minervino di Lecce on the southwestern corner of the peninsula, Palazzo Ducale Venturi boasts two outdoor spaces, the main green garden, and a secret citrus grove. With tranquillity at its heart, 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.
The main garden is accessed through a rose garden, which overlooks the outdoor saltwater swimming pool, as well as the pool bar and the old armoury, recently restored to house the gym, wellbeing area and four majestic suites with floor length windows for guests to enjoy the magical Apulian sun.
Other rooms include the Ducale Suite which features direct access to the garden and pool, and the intimate Abbess Room on the first floor which has its own antique stone spiral staircase and access to the indoor pool. After a busy day exploring the local sights, the citrus garden is an oasis of peace, relaxation and Mediterranean scents, the perfect place to enjoy a book or an Aperitivo at sunset.
The noble Palazzo Ducale Venturi, once called Castello Nuovo, is recognised as a historical residence, and offers five centuries of history, art and culture and hints of the extensive past can be found in every nook and corner. Restored under the supervision of The Ministry of Cultural Heritage, once through the door, visitors are greeted by an enormous antique fireplace in the lobby, and in the garden, they can admire a well, made from Lecce stone dating back to the 13th century. Each of the guest rooms are different, with the design offering a taste of the original Apulian palazzo style but with a modern twist.
The majority of the rooms in the main building feature original 16th century vaulted ceilings and art work, typical of old Salento architecture and in the corridor on the first floor, guests will even see an old wooden door set into the wall like a work of art. Legend has it that the Duke Venturi himself had a passionate love affair with the Abbess of the convent near the present-day Church of St Anthony in town and in order to meet her, he had an underground tunnel built, which still exists, connecting the palazzo to the monastery. Throughout the hotel guests can also admire its extensive art collection of modern and classic works of art, from original paintings and sculptures to statues.
The spa
The small but cutting-edge spa area features an underground pool converted from an ancient oil mill and fits perfectly with the style.
But if you really want to up the ante on your pre-wedding wellness recovery, you may want to try the most ground-breaking of the spa’s facilities: the electric cryo chamber, found in the gym. Popular with celebrities and top athletes, cryotherapy – which exposes the body to intense cold (-110°C) to boost oxygen absorption, cell regeneration and fat burning – offers diverse benefits, from soothing muscles and aiding weight loss to combating ageing and improving overall wellness.
There’s plenty of beautiful backdrops just waiting to be captured, whether it’s in the sprawling gardens, charming underground spa, or in the main house itself.
