Located in the heart of Lecce's historic centre, just fifty metres from the Cathedral, Palazzo Bernardini is an exclusive noble residence of Renaissance origin. The rooms, with their stellar and barrel vaults, have been expertly restored in keeping with the traditional style and have been appointed with antique furniture and carpets, all decorated with great attention to detail. Inside the Palazzo, elegant suites and spacious, bright apartments are available for guest accommodation, making it an ideal choice for visitors wanting to stay in a particularly suggestive location in Lecce. This authentic noble residence combines local tradition with up-to-date facilities, combining the charm of the past with ultra-modern comforts.

Palazzo Bernardini also boasts an ancient internal garden, delightfully enlivened by the heady scent of flowers and centuries-old plants, including a majestic nineteenth-century monkey puzzle tree and a centuries-old wisteria. The garden is available to guests staying at our suites to enjoy breakfast and relax amongst the fragrant flowers.

THE HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO BERNARDINI

The Palazzo is the result of the fusion of three buildings, the oldest of which is of Renaissance origin, amalgamated by the Mandoj family on the occasion of their only daughter Aurelia's marriage to Raffaele Bernardini, Marquis of Arnesano, in the second half of the 19th century. On the ‘piano nobile’ noble floor there are 15th-century niches with frescoes from the same date, recessed safes with revolving stone panels, 18th-century frescoes and stuccos, which form the backdrop for the sumptuous furnishings of an ancient library and a prestigious collection of seventeenth-century Neapolitan school paintings from the Pinacoteca picture gallery of the nearby Palazzo Marchesale di Arnesano. Restoration work has preserved the ancient flooring, including a 19th-century mosaic with floral motifs, 19th-century ‘majolica’ ceramic tiles from Naples and from the historic Paladini Factory of San Pietro in Lama with geometric and floral motifs, as well as the paving stones.

In the rooms on the ground floor – which formerly housed the carriages – the old horse troughs, remnants of terracotta water pipes and an ancient oven are still preserved, while an ancient grain store and various cisterns have been found in the basement areas. Visitors can enjoy a view of the Cathedral's Bell Tower from the windows of the Palazzo's façade, while on the opposite side, you can admire the historical garden bordered by an ancient dry-stone "bolo" wall, which is typical of the Apulia region.

THE GARDEN

The garden, which preserves the city's oldest example of a jacaranda tree, together with many other 19th-century plants, as well as citrus trees and ornamental plants, is open to the public once a year on the last Sunday of May, on the occasion of the ‘Cortili Aperti’ Open Courtyards event organised by the Associazione Dimore Storiche Italiane (Italian Historical Residences Association) in collaboration with the Municipality of Lecce. Marchesa Isabelle, widow of Raffaele Bernardini, Marquis of Arnesano, has always been and remains dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Palazzo.

FACILITIES AND SERVICES AT PALAZZO BERNARDINI

Reception from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m;

Free Wi-Fi internet throughout the Palazzo;

Air conditioning and flat-screen TV in all suites and apartments;

Permission to drive in and out of the historic centre around the Palazzo;

Covered parking (not possible to reserve in advance), subject to daily availability;

Airport and train station shuttle service upon request;

Breakfast (including options for coeliacs and other dietary intolerances) served at the desired time in the suite or in the garden; pantry restocking service upon request for the apartments;

Dinners with personalised menu in the historical Palace garden;

Courtesy bicycles (subject to availability, not possible to pre-book);

Laundry service;

Hairdresser and beautician services;

Complimentary crib for children up to three years old;

Organisation of excursions with a tour guide, and other related services;

Credit card payments accepted via POS.