Park Hotel Elizabeth

Why it’s on the Edit

Park Hotel Elizabeth is a 4-star hotel in a 19th-century noble residence on the Quarto di Palo estate, near Bitonto. The estate covers more than 100 hectares of olives, vines, almonds and cherries, and the hotel stands on a hillside in the middle of it.

The residence was restored in respect of the original building, and the suites and rooms are set inside it. A spa, the restaurant, an outdoor pool and halls for events and congresses complete the resort.

It is listed as a hotel and event resort, not as a quiet masseria. It hosts weddings and congresses, and the estate is a working farm run by Azienda Agricola Quarto di Palo.

The rooms

The hotel has 44 units: suites, superior rooms and standard rooms. The hotel says all are large and well lit by natural light, in a classic style with fine furnishings that suit the old residence.

Floors are parquet or carpet. Bathrooms have a large glass shower, and the suites have a whirlpool tub. Each unit has a private balcony with a view of Castel del Monte and the farmland around.

Every room has air conditioning, a minibar, an electronic safe, a desk, a TV with digital and satellite channels, protected Wi-Fi, a hairdryer, a towel warmer and a quality toiletries set. Room sizes are not confirmed here.

Eating and drinking

The restaurant, called la Carte, seats 200 and cooks Mediterranean, regional Italian and international dishes with seasonal ingredients. A chef and a menu are not confirmed here.

Breakfast is a continental buffet: cold cuts, jams, honey, brioches, cakes, bread, cereals, fruit, juices, coffee and tea. The American Bar looks onto the landscape through large glass walls and serves hot drinks and cocktails.

The restaurant is closed on Mondays, and a booking is possible for Tuesday. The same kitchen supplies coffee breaks, light lunches, brunches and buffets for congresses and receptions.

The event side is large. Three meeting rooms take from 60 to 600 people, equipped with microphones, sound systems, a video projector, internet access and ample parking. The hotel names professional meetings, fashion shows, art exhibitions, workshops, banquets and dancing among the uses.

The setting

The setting is farmland on a rise, with Castel del Monte in view from the balconies. The outdoor pool is placed over the landscape, and the hotel says it was built without upsetting the harmony of the panoramas.

The spa covers 400 m² and has a Turkish bath, a Finnish sauna, a Kneipp path, a whirlpool, an emotional shower and a cloud pool with a starry sky. It offers treatments for stress, drainage, tone, anti-age, thalassotherapy and chromotherapy, and packages from one night to one week. It is for adults only, and it also has a pressorelax area and a body and face club.

For the area, the hotel lists itineraries to Alta Murgia, Alberobello, Trani, Bari, Castel del Monte and Matera, and says Castel del Monte and the Alta Murgia National Park are a short drive away.

Good to know

• The spa is open Monday and Sunday mornings and Thursday to Saturday afternoons, for adults only.
• The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
• Pets are not allowed.
• A reception hall takes up to 350 guests, so weddings can fill the grounds.
• Opening months and children’s policies are not confirmed here.
• Price band: 1 of 5 (estimated: packages on the site are undated).

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

It suits wedding guests, congress delegates and couples or friends who want a spa and a pool inside an estate, with Castel del Monte and Trani within reach by car.

Look elsewhere for a small, intimate masseria or a stay with a dog. For a coastal alternative in Trani, see Palazzo Filisio or Marè Resort, and browse the Bari and Trani hub.

Getting there

Park Hotel Elizabeth is on the provincial road SP 89 near Mariotto, in Bitonto, in the Bari and Trani area. Bari is the nearest of the two main airports, Bari and Brindisi, and the hotel stresses how close it is.

You need a car. The hotel sits in open countryside, at what it calls a short distance from the places it lists.