Palazzo Presta

What the property says

Palazzo Presta is a 17th-century building in the historic center of Gallipoli, dedicated to Giovanni Presta, a family doctor who lived from 1720 to 1792. He also studied the classification of olives, work the hotel says improved olive oil production in the region.

The palazzo was restored in 2018, and the hotel says the work aimed to keep its original materials and architectural integrity. Star-shaped vaults, typical of Salento architecture, give the interiors their character.

What sets it apart is what sits under one roof: a seafood restaurant, a rooftop cocktail bar, a speakeasy and a library. The sister hotel Palazzo Flora is 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. The hotel says the Deluxe Rooms have details that recall different cultures around the world, and that the Junior Suites have antique furnishings.

Most Deluxe Rooms have a private balcony, and most Junior Suites a private terrace. The Junior Suite takes up to 3 adults. Cozy and Deluxe rooms have a king-size bed or two twin beds.

The rooms have a private bathroom with a rain-head shower, a minibar, a safe, a bathrobe and slippers. Independent air conditioning and heating, and free Wi-Fi, are in every room.

Extra beds, cribs and twin-bed setups can be requested. The hotel has an elevator, and a specific room can be requested, which may carry an extra charge.

Eating and drinking

Lazzaro & Caterina is the restaurant, with creative, contemporary seafood cuisine. The hotel names linguine with purple shrimp tartare, friggitelli peppers, anchovy colatura and salted butter, plus tempura prawns and octopus tonnato, among its dishes. It serves vegetarian and gluten-free options, and dogs are welcome.

Breakfast is a la carte, served from 8:00 to 10:30, with fresh local products, sweet and savory choices, and Salento pasticciotto if you ask. For an informal dinner, the hotel’s pizzeria is the alternative.

Terrazza Laurus, the rooftop cocktail bar, serves sunset aperitifs and signature drinks over the sea, and a reserved speakeasy inside the property serves revisited classics. The cocktail bar is open to outside guests. Booking is recommended, especially on weekends and in high season.

The setting

Palazzo Presta is at Via Garibaldi 29, inside the old town, near the port, the main beaches and the restaurants of Gallipoli. The hotel says the city beach is immediately reachable and that it can book equipped beaches, excursions and boat tours.

The pool is outdoors, reserved for guests and not heated, with a solarium on the top floor. There is no spa, but massages can be arranged in the room. There is no gym either, and the hotel recommends nearby ones.

The Libreria del Mare, on the ground floor with its own entrance, is a reading room for guests, with books on the sea, the Salento and Mediterranean travel. Music nights, DJ sets and tastings may be held on the terrace, especially in summer.

Good to know

• The hotel is open from March to November.
• The historic center is a limited traffic zone (ZTL): contact reception, and give your license plate if you drive to the area near Spiaggia della Purità.
• A complimentary electric golf car carries luggage from the port or access point, on request and in daytime hours.
• Pets are welcome in some rooms with a daily supplement per room.
• Bike rental carries an extra charge, and babysitting, a personal trainer and fitness classes are listed at extra cost.
• The city tax is paid in cash at check-out.
• Check-out is by 11:00.
• Price band: 3 of 5 (estimated: no official rate found).

Who it is for, and who should look elsewhere

Couples and food-minded travelers who want a seafood dinner, a rooftop drink and a pool inside the old town will find all three in one building. Families are welcome, with family rooms.

If you need a spa with a sauna, Biancodonda Greenblu Hotel & Spa, also in Gallipoli, lists one. If you want a stay that is open all year, look elsewhere: Palazzo Presta closes from December to February.

Getting there

Palazzo Presta is in Gallipoli’s historic center, in the Gallipoli and the Ionian Salento area. The hotel offers transfers to and from Brindisi and Bari airports, and says you can also take a taxi or rent a car. Train and bus stations are a few kilometers away, and it can arrange private transfers from both.

If you drive, expect the limited traffic zone and talk to reception before you arrive.