Why we love it: A design-forward minimalist villa in Puglia with original frescoes and vaulted ceilings. The Highlights: - A cheerful orangery and open-air courtyard - Fully restored frescoes as a canvas for a jaw-dropping modern art collection - A hidden kaffeehouse enclosure perfect for romantic dinners The Review: The sister hotel of G-Rough in Rome, this restored villa is a nine-suite luxury hotel housed in a 150-year-old family palazzo, formerly the home of art philanthropist Francesco Petrucci, in the village of Gagliano del Capo. Inspired by the concept of absence, the hotel’s minimalist design by GS Collection and the award-winning Milanese design studio Palomba Serafini Associati serves to draw attention to the opulence of the palazzo’s original frescoes, vaulted ceilings, and mosaic flooring. These have all been carefully restored to create a remarkable backdrop for the property’s contemporary art collection, which includes pieces by Claudio Abbate, Mohamed Namou, Eva Jospin, and Christian Frosi. Plus, original site-specific works commissioned by Petrucci himself can still be found across the property, such as a Luigi Presicci lamp, Nicolas Party stools, a Roberto Cuoghi sculpture, and lithography by Carla Accardi. . The nine extraordinary suites feature vaulted ceilings, and are sparsely furnished with queen or king size beds and custom-made black steel-framed open wardrobes. Each suite has unique artwork, with the bathroom of the Royal Junior Suite an art installation in itself, thanks to a rain shower cascading from a 20-foot-high ceiling into a basin designed by Italian artist Andrea Sala. For those who require the utmost privacy, the Suite Apartment (formerly Petrucci’s residence on the property) inhabits an entire wing of the palazzo with independent access, a private kitchen, living room, three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a separate dining room. Guests who venture out from their suite will find shared common spaces including a cozy library, a living room with a fireplace, a sprawling courtyard with ample seating, a pool, steam room, and sauna. The open kitchen serves breakfast, light tapas, and dinner using local ingredients sourced fresh each morning. This is Italy, after all.
