Patria Palace Hotel: Baroque Splendor in the Heart of Lecce

The Patria Palace Hotel sits in the Baroque heart of Lecce, the honey-stone city of the Salento often called the Florence of the South. A restored 19th-century palace, it faces the extravagantly carved facade of the Basilica di Santa Croce, one of the masterpieces of Lecce Baroque, from a position at the center of the old town.

The dining makes the most of that setting. Atenze offers a creative, contemporary interpretation of Apulian cuisine from local, seasonal ingredients; and the rooftop Sira, under chef Cristiano Stamerra, serves Lecce's best sunset views with signature cocktails and aperitivo against the basilica.

For a Baroque, central Lecce stay, the Patria Palace is a standout.

Planning Puglia? Book your stay with me for preferred-partner perks.