Palazzo Flora

What the property says

Palazzo Flora is a building of the early 1800s in the westernmost part of Gallipoli’s old town, on Via D’Ospina. It is named after Agesilao Flora, an artist whose frescoes decorate the ceilings of most of the rooms.

The hotel says it preserved the historical character of the building, and it pairs traditional star-vault ceilings with contemporary design.

Two things set it apart in the old town. It has an outdoor pool reserved for guests, inside the historic center. And it shares a restaurant, a rooftop bar and a library with its sister hotel, Palazzo Presta, within walking distance.

The rooms and suites

There are three room types. The Cozy Room starts at 15 m², the Deluxe Room is 18 m² and the Junior Suite is 25 m². All have a king-size bed or two twin beds, a private bathroom with a shower, air conditioning, a minibar, a safe, a bathrobe and slippers, and most rooms have a coffee machine.

The hotel says most rooms have a private balcony. The Junior Suite takes up to 4 adults, and most are duplex rooms with two distinct sleeping areas. The number of rooms in the building is not confirmed here.

Extra beds and cribs are available on request, and the hotel has an elevator and free Wi-Fi. You can ask for a specific room, subject to availability.

Eating and drinking

Palazzo Flora has no dining room of its own listed: meals are at Palazzo Presta. Breakfast is served at Lazzaro & Caterina, the restaurant of Palazzo Presta, from 8:00 to 10:30. It is à la carte, with pastries and bread, yogurt, fruit, juices, local cheeses and cold cuts, eggs to order and Apulian specialties, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices.

For dinner the hotel points to the same restaurant, which it describes as creative Mediterranean seafood cuisine in the historic center. Reservations are recommended, especially in high season.

For an aperitif there is Terrazza Laurus, the rooftop bar of Palazzo Presta, with sea views, sunset aperitifs and signature cocktails. Cooking classes cost extra, and in-room massages can be arranged on request.

The setting

Palazzo Flora stands in the old town, near the port, the city beach of Spiaggia della Purità and the restaurants of the historic center. The hotel puts Spiaggia della Purità at a 2-minute walk, and says guests can easily reach the main cultural sights and the marina.

The pool and patio are the quiet part: the hotel calls the patio a place of peace away from the bustle of the city. The pool is outdoors, reserved for guests, seasonal and not heated.

The historic center is a limited traffic zone (ZTL). The hotel runs a complimentary electric golf cart for luggage from the access point, on request and in daytime hours, and keeps a secure garage for bicycles.

Good to know

• The hotel is open from March to November.
• The old town is a limited traffic zone: contact reception for access instructions and parking.
• Breakfast is at Palazzo Presta, not in the building, from 8:00 to 10:30.
• Reception is open 24 hours, and the hotel has an elevator and free Wi-Fi.
• A complimentary electric golf cart carries luggage from the access point in daytime hours, on request.
• Pets are welcome in some rooms, with a daily supplement per room.
• Laundry costs extra, luggage storage is offered before check-in and after check-out, and a local tourist tax is added to your stay.
• Check-out is by 11:00.
• The hotel says it has no spa, but massages can be arranged in the room.
• Price band: 3 of 5 (estimated: no official rate found).

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

Couples and families who want a pool and a frescoed room inside the old town, with the beach on foot, are the fit. Dog owners can ask for one of the rooms that take pets.

If you need a spa with a sauna and a Turkish bath, Biancodonda Greenblu Hotel & Spa lists them. If you want a hotel that is open all year, look elsewhere: Palazzo Flora closes from December to February.

Getting there

Palazzo Flora stands in Gallipoli’s historic center, in the Gallipoli and the Ionian Salento area. The hotel says private transfers from Brindisi and Bari airports are available, and that both the railway station and the bus station are a few kilometers from the property.

Most things are reachable on foot, the hotel says, and the old town is a limited traffic zone. If you drive, the hotel points you to the area near Spiaggia della Purità, where staff help with luggage, and to a nearby parking service it can reserve.