Hotel

Palazzo Tafuri

Nardò (Lecce), Apulia, Italy

The Palazzo Tafuri looks back on centuries of history. The current owners have paid tribute to this past and have taken special care to preserve the building's former glory.

The interior design of the boutique hotel is therefore a sophisticated and harmonious combination of art deco, vintage from the 50s and 60s and minimalist elements. The commissioned interior designer skilfully refurbished old pieces and designed new furniture. Each of the 16 rooms and suites is therefore completely unique and wonderfully combines the typical features of an old Salento palace with the comfort and luxury of a modern boutique hotel.

The hotel exudes a warm and cozy atmosphere. Authentic luxury is paired with homely harmony. The spaces are spacious and welcoming, starting with the vaulted entrance hall and ending in the central courtyard.

The new French owners are lovers of fine dining and wine connoisseurs. Her passion for hospitality combined with her love for Italy, especially Puglia, has led her to breathe new life into this historical place opposite one of the oldest and best preserved monasteries in Puglia, Santa Chiara.

Palazzo Tafuri is just a stone's throw from Lecce - the baroque splendor of Puglia, Gallipoli and the Ionian Sea. Located in one of the most historic areas of Nardò (Lecce), the proximity to the Ionian coast and the breathtaking beauty of the Parco di Porto Selvaggio nature reserve has not only convinced the owners, but also all the guests who have stayed at the hotel so far.


Rooms + Rates

per night
Double roomfrom231 €
Suitefrom424 €

Sustainable

ArchitectureEcological wood wool has been used to insulate the hotel's roof and the antique floors have been preserved and restored. All windows have the best energy coefficients and where possible, the old doors have been renovated. The renovation was carried out with local contractors and craftsmen. Most of the furniture was made by local artisans. But also a lot of old furniture has found its place in the hotel. The hotel has also been redecorated with some vintage furniture. The doors and windows that had to be remade to meet energy standards were made on site. Local stones were used where necessary (pietra di lecce, pietra di soleto). The sinks are also locally made and the plants in the hotel are locally sourced and the pots were made by a local artisan.

FoodTafuri Restaurant offers a total gourmet experience. The menu is designed to incorporate local, seasonal produce, some home-grown (such as tomatoes, lettuces, and lettuces) and some organic. Surplus food is donated to the upstream monastery or shared with the employees. The menu includes many vegetarian options and the wine list includes some organic wines, the number of which will grow over time. The philosophy of the restaurant comes from the chef Antonio Capocello, a native of Salento who decided to return to Puglia after a long stay abroad. Homegrown vegetables or fish from the Ionian Sea are just some of the options on the menu. Antonio Capocollo loves to create and serves authentic, sustainable cuisine with a sophisticated French twist. He was even named Chef of the Year 2022 at the Food & Travel Italy Reader Awards.

The hotel mainly employs people from the region, but there is also the opportunity for people from abroad to do an internship there. Accommodation and training (at home and abroad) as well as discounts on overnight stays and meals are granted to the staff.

EnvironmentThe hotel's hot water is partly produced by solar panels, the pool is partly solar heated, waste is separated and the use of organic products is preferred whenever possible (e.g. vinegar instead of harsh detergents). Domotics were used to control and optimize energy consumption. In addition, the owners had efficient heat pumps and solar water heating installed.

Well-BeingPalazzo Tafuri has a heated swimming pool with hydromassage, one third covered and adjacent to the spa, which includes a sauna, turkish bath, shower and jacuzzi. There is also a relaxation area where guests can enjoy various types of massages.


Characteristics

  • Luxurious boutique hotel housed in a beautiful palazzo steeped in history
  • Located in the historic part of Nardò (Lecce), in front of the Santa Chiara Monastery
  • Wonderful marriage of the typical features of an ancient Salento palace with the comfort and luxury of a modern boutique hotel
  • Restaurant with gourmet character and upscale, regional cuisine
  • Numerous activities in the area, from hiking to kayaking, canoeing, stand up paddling, surfing, kite surfing, diving and boat or catamaran trips
  • There is the possibility of guided tours of the wineries, cooking classes, yoga classes or horseback riding
  • Paddle football, tennis, beach volleyball and basketball courts and a (covered) children's playground in the immediate vicinity of the hotel

Boutique hotel16 rooms + apartmentsRestaurant, 2 apartments with kitchenChildren welcomeWi-FiDisabled accessPoolPets allowed

Features

  • Boutique hotel with 16 rooms and suites (for up to 4 people)
  • Suites with their own fully equipped kitchen
  • Some rooms and all suites with their own terrace
  • Hotel bar + restaurant Tafuri
  • Heated pool with hydromassage, one third covered and adjacent to the spa
  • Spa area with sauna, steam bath, shower and jacuzzi
  • A range of different massages can be booked
  • Bike rental

Testimonials

Beautiful Nardo is another baroque town just under 20 miles southwest of Lecce, and Palazzo Tafuri is its suitably elegant new opening. A blend of old and new, the 17 rooms and suites pair high arched ceilings and the odd 18th-century botany print with mid-century-style furniture and arty photos of plants by a contemporary artist from Salento. The restaurant takes local ingredients and fuses traditional Pugliese dishes with international twists that the chef Antonio Capoccello picked up while working abroad before returning home. Up on the first floor is a sunny indoor-outdoor pool.

Jane Mulkerrins, thetimes.co.uk, May 2023

Fotos: Rocco Casaluci

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Rooms + Rates

per night
Double roomfrom231 €
Suitefrom424 €

Location + Directions

By car

From Lecce you drive about 30 minutes to Nardò (29 km). From Bari it takes about 2 hours (178 km), from Brindisi it takes less than an hour (65 km) and from Naples it takes about 4.5 hours (435 km). The exact address can be found on the website.

With public transport

Nardò has a train station and is easily accessible by train. The Nardò Citta station is about 1 km from the palazzo. From Bari you need almost 3 hours for the journey with a change in Lecce.