Palazzo Porcini Suites
This fabulous estate near Lecce will leave guests wanting for nothing, except more time to kick back and delight in the joy and ease of a stay in such beauty and splendour.
Palazzo Porcini is a gorgeous 37-acre estate of citrus and olive groves, private parkland and tropical gardens near Lecce. Within its walls lie a fairytale castle that was abandoned almost a century ago in a classic tale of love and loss, a cottage, an 18th century lookout tower and an ancient masseria, all of which have been brought back to life with serious flair.
The exquisite restoration of the four properties has resulted in ten uniquely designed suites where original details, modern technology and high-end art and furnishings combine in fabulous fashion, while the architectural integrity and romance of the buildings is very much still palpable. A house party vibe means guests can be as social as they choose while enjoying the decadent privacy of these incredible suites.
Guests and their friends can dine in the private restaurant on a menu prepared by a chef who is passionate about using homegrown, locally sourced and seasonal ingredients in classic Pugliese dishes. From wine tastings on the castle’s rooftop terrace to cocktails delivered in the mobile bar, nothing is too much trouble.
A music room with a 1902 Beckstein grand piano is the perfect spot for entertainment and relaxation, likewise the lower-ground floor cinema, both in the Palazzo. Workshops in the atelier cater to different art forms and there are plenty of sociable seating areas as well as quiet reading corners throughout the estate, both inside and out.
There is a 70sqm heated infinity pool for guests of the Palazzo and Cottage suites, a 40sqm pool for those staying in the Torre and Masseria, a 12-person Jacuzzi, a private Jacuzzi at Castle Cottage, and a flooded solarium where even a wet disco is possible!
Palazzo Porcini cossets guests in unparalleled style. And there is no real reason why anyone would want to leave this magical estate until they have to except, perhaps, for a quick trip to nearby Lecce or to the coast.
The Castle
Inside The Castle you can find two open space lounges, a dining room, a private cinema, an office and the rooftop.
The Queen Suite is sophisticated and stylish, where statuesque, original 20th century features meet contemporary luxury design. The vast leather bed sits beneath a delicate fresco ceiling that has been meticulously restored to show the splendour of its original design. Likewise, the original floor tiles have been brought back to life to show the vibrancy of their colour and pattern. Guests are cosseted by modern touches that enable this big room to be as comfortable as it is magnificent.
In the en-suite, a carved marble bath sits behind a Crittall screen with a beautiful sculptural day bed on the other side, encouraging guests to bathe like royalty and to lounge around in blissful privacy. The Queen suite also provides a luxurious private salon overlooking the pool and garden: the perfect spot for a morning coffee or evening cocktail.
The King Suite is a suitably regal size with a star-vault ceiling that has been restored to show off the exquisite patina of its original design. The colours are picked up in the suite’s decoration and furnishings – a master class in tone, form and function. Original art adorns the walls and the restored floor tiles offer superb decoration in their patterns and colours. However, equally luxurious are the physical comforts of the super-king size leather bed and the soothing views of the Puglian landscape.
The floor tiles continue into the en-suite bathroom, where decoration and restraint are again mixed to perfection, with the beautiful lines of the carved marble bath and double basin taking centre stage.
The Prince Suite is a regal shade of pale blue to complement the intricate design and colours of the restored fresco in the star-vault ceiling. The sumptuous super-king-size bed, upholstered in button-back velvet and dressed in pure linen is suitably princely. Original artwork decorates the walls and high-end modern technology comes as standard, hidden behind the restored historic features. The en-suite bathroom is equally grand and has a powerful rainfall shower and luxury bath products. Guests of the Prince and Princess suites have exclusive access to a private salon with a balcony overlooking parkland and an olive grove.
The Princess suite is bright and beautiful topped by a beautiful vaulted ceiling with the original frescoes still visible round the edge. The stunning velvet upholstered super king-sized bed offers the perfect night’s sleep while the floor tiles, wall colours and artwork are divine. The en-suite bathroom has the same attention to detail with a powerful rainfall shower and luxury bath products.
Guests of the Prince and Princess suites have exclusive access to a private salon with a balcony overlooking parkland and an olive grove. The Prince and Princess suites can be booked together.
Located just outside the castle, the former gardener’s cottage accommodates four guests in two luxurious en-suite bedrooms where guests can stay in exquisite comfort and style. The whole cottage is decorated in a soft colour palette with one sandy-toned bedroom and the other a soft cream and green. It also has its own salon, a perfect, private, stylish place to curl up with a book or catch up with friends, if your concentration doesn’t wander to the stunning artwork and furnishings. The suites’ garden has a sunken Jacuzzi and direct access to the castle gardens and pool.
TORRE AND MASSERIA SUITES
The four luxurious suites each have a private garden or an exclusive roof terrace, and two of them have an al fresco bath. There is a 40sqm pool surrounded by ancient olive trees where guests can relax on the sun loungers, plotting ways in which to make their stay last forever in this Puglian paradise.
This premium suite boasts a magnificent triple-height, star-vaulted ceiling lit by a bespoke oversized Murano glass volcano chandelier that hangs over the magnificent supersized round bed. There is a large corner fireplace, an elegant mirrored dressing table and a cosy lounge area with views out of the Tower’s original big round window onto the beautiful private parkland. The en-suite has a powerful rainfall shower, while an original stone staircase leads up to an exclusive roof terrace where there is a two-person, hand-carved, round sandstone al fresco bath and sunbeds, from which you can enjoy panoramic views of the Puglian landscape.
Accessed from its own private garden with an ancient well and BBQ facilities, where guests can dine in private al fresco, the Tower Park Suite has a super-king-size Timothy Oulton Aviator bed under an impressive exposed stone star-vault ceiling. Big scarlet and gold drums have been repurposed as bedside tables, there’s a one-of-a-kind coffee table and The Fiddlers artwork on the wall, both by Adored & Adorned, and for cooler nights, there’s an antique wood-burning stove. The en-suite bathroom has a sunken bath and a powerful rainfall shower that is hidden behind an original Sixties illuminated tree-of-life mirrored screen.
The Timothy Oulton carved wood and buttoned-leather headboard on the magnificent bed sets the scene in this beautiful suite that boasts incredible multi star-vaulted ceilings. These continue in the en-suite bathroom, accessed through full-width, Crittall glass doors, where there is a wonderful, hand-carved sandstone bath for two and a powerful rainfall shower. The suite’s private walled garden has an outdoor shower, a large parasol and BBQ facilities enabling guests to dine outside in private.
In this beautiful split-level suite, the bedroom is upstairs and has exposed stone walls and a king-size polished cement bed. Meanwhile, the en-suite bathroom has a sunken bath and a powerful rainfall shower. On the lower level there is a vanity station, a large, original open fireplace and a luxury sofa bed for one guest. The suite’s walled garden is a magical spot with a hand-carved sandstone bath for two, a rainfall shower, a large parasol and a BBQ for private dinners al fresco.
THE LIVING QUARTERS (click for pictures)
The ground floor of the palazzo has a suite of salons that, as with the tradition of grand European architecture, open one into the next, creating fabulous sight lines and bringing light onto the restored ceramic floor tiles. Here, guests will find sociable seating areas and quiet reading corners.
The Music Room
In the music room is a 1902 Beckstein grand piano. This is the perfect spot for entertainment and relaxation, whether it’s for a live musical performance, cocktails or to enjoy a reflective moment.
The Dining Room
This presents a more formal setting for meals, while guests are welcome to use the informal dining area or chose from one of several terraces outside.
The kitchen
A sleek dark marble Zampieri kitchen has a long central island with a gas hob and a double sink. An antique stove against one wall is the backdrop to an informal dining table set below the star-vault ceiling with double doors to the garden.
Cinema
On the lower-ground floor, formerly an aquifer, there is a private cinema with comfy, low leather sofas for eight.
