• Palazzo Zimara boutique hotel just opened in a restored 16th-century Baroque palace in Lecce, Italy.
• The property has 16 rooms and suites, two restaurants, and a secluded outdoor garden. A rooftop terrace is also in the works and will open later this year.
• The rooms and suites feature private balconies, soaking tubs, bespoke Italian furnishings, and original frescoes.
• Palazzo Zimara also has a concierge team that can arrange local experiences, city tours, cooking classes, and access to private beach clubs.

Palazzo Zimara also has a concierge team that can curate local experiences, city tours, cooking classes, and access to private beach clubs.

Lecce, a laid-back city in the heart of Italy’s Puglia region, is known for its golden-hued limestone buildings, proximity to beautiful beaches, and Baroque architecture. This month, one of the city’s historic gems has been reborn as Palazzo Zimara, a boutique hotel set in a 16th-century Baroque palace.

Originally built in 1557, the one-time residence for the aristocratic Zimara family is now home to 16 rooms and suites, two restaurants, and a secluded outdoor garden.

“Our primary goal was to preserve the authenticity of the Palazzo and honor the Baroque character of Lecce,” said Marialuisa D’Angelo, owner and group CEO of the D’Angelo Family Collection, in an interview with Travel + Leisure. “With the expertise of our artisan specialists, we meticulously restored the antique doors, walls, frescoes, and intricate details of the Palazzo—a process that required time and dedication.”

These intricate details include original cobblestone floors, vaulted ceilings and arched entryways, and frescoes by 19th-century artist Annibale D’Ambrosio. Thoughtful, modern touches, like bespoke lighting, leather-upholstered beds, and custom furniture from Italian designers and artisans, complement the property’s historic character. The decision to highlight local talent was purposeful “to celebrate Italian culture,” D’Angelo said. “As part of the ongoing story of this Palazzo, we wanted to honor and continue the traditions of our region.”

Lecce-based architect Raffaele Centonze led Palazzo Zimara’s transformation. Each of the 16 rooms and suites is one of a kind, ranging from a Deluxe King with dramatic stone-vaulted ceilings to the Suite Zimara, a spacious sanctuary with a jacuzzi, private sauna, and separate living room. Other accommodations have customizations like private balconies, antique chandeliers, original frescoes, and soaking tubs.

“We’re excited for our guests to immerse themselves in the details and history of the Palazzo,” D’Angelo added. “In a world increasingly shaped by modernism and AI, stepping back into 16th-century Italy and experiencing the charm of a historic palazzo in its purest form is something that can only be understood firsthand.”

Guests can start the day like a local with a caffè Leccese—a regional specialty of iced espresso sweetened with almond syrup—served in the property’s tree-shaded courtyard. For lunch or dinner, Radino Wine Bistro serves a menu of organic wines from Francesco Radino Winery alongside small plates of cured meats and bruschetta.

At La Bocca restaurant, executive chef Gabriele Piga spotlights Puglian cuisine using hyperlocal ingredients and takes advantage of the region’s fresh seafood for signature dishes like fregola with mussel soup and sea asparagus and puttanesca-style croaker fish. Later this year, the property will open its rooftop terrace, serving lunch and dinner with panoramic views of Lecce.

The Baroque palazzo is also home to several wellness offerings, including a fitness room. Private yoga and mindfulness sessions can be set up in the courtyard or terrace, too.

Off property, the concierge can organize experiences that tap into Lecce’s local culture, including guided city tours (with an exclusive nighttime visit to the Basilica di Santa Croce, a 17th-century Baroque church in Lecce), olive oil tastings at nearby farms, seasonal cooking classes with chef Piga, and access to private beach clubs on the Ionian and Adriatic seas.

Nightly rates at Palazzo Zimara start from $260, and you can book your stay at palazzozimara.it.