They worked closely with Milanese architects Ludovica and Roberto Palomba on the restoration. A stay here is less about the town and more about art and authenticity, starting with Palazzo Daniele’s legendary candlelit courtyard dinners. Often held to celebrate milestone birthdays (it’s a great spot for a 40th!), chef’s feasts are all local, often organic and simply delicious… The vibe is relaxed, fun (drinks from the Holy Spirits bar, a nod to the owners’ quirky humour) and a great place to take over exclusively with close friends.
There’s good reason for its inclusion in the Design Hotel portfolio: pared down, almost monastic interiors allow the art and design pieces to sing against frescoed walls and magnificent mosaic floors.
Each of its suites is unique, the most intriguing being the Black Suite. Only accessible by a secret door that leads to the rooftop of the Palazzo, this contemporary penthouse has an astonishing 1 500m2 private terrace that encircles the central courtyard.
Night skies are nothing short of spectacular up here. Another favourite is the Suite Apartment, fit for royalty and with an art collection of its own to lose yourself in. With an entire wing dedicated to this separate entrance, three-bedroomed gem, the 200m2 space includes a private living and dining area filled with art and sculpture.
You’ll find Mohamed Namou’s ‘Pocket’, Sergio Breviario’s ‘Prototipo Macchina per la Conquista del Mondo’, sculpture by Roberto Cuoghi and Carla Accardi’s lithography alongside a portrait of ancestral family.
Gagliano del Capo is not on everyone’s route in Puglia, but Palazzo Daniele ‘is just insane’, says Perfect Hideaways’s Mandi Aliverti. Do stay and savour an Apulian or Salento-inspired dinner prepared by four female chefs, or book a cooking class.
Do pack a good book to read around the pool set in an orange grove. And don’t expect too much from the town, it’s the Palazzo itself that’s the destination experience.
Reviewed by Michelle Snaddon