Palazzo Ducale Guarini

Palazzo Ducale Frisari-Guarini, located in the heart of Salento in Puglia, offers visitors an excellent opportunity to indulge in a cultural and culinary holiday with a maritime flavour, while relaxing in an atmosphere immersed in the rich history of authentic Salento. It spans over 4,000 square metres of covered space, including a spacious courtyard, a historical garden and a citrus grove.

The principal ‘piano nobile’ floor serves as the Guarini family‘s residence. For four generations, it has housed approximately 1,200 square metres of expansive, luminous rooms and halls filled with period furnishings, where the centuries coalesce, creating layers of history represented by every era.

The family’s collections are displayed in these rooms, featuring carriages, harnesses, books, paintings, wines, antique and modern musical instruments, records, and various objects and passions from the lives of those who have inhabited the Palazzo for the last five centuries.

To share its history and beauty, the Ducal Palace now offers visitors an opportunity to experience a portion of its ground floor rooms that open onto the historic garden. There are just four bedrooms with ample common spaces. The antique furnishings, the rooms cooled by the large walls that enclose them and the star-shaped barrel or ogival vaults all recount the stories of the various eras that have given rise to a Palazzo, which is now devoted to offering perfect hospitality.

The ancient garden, spanning 5,000 square metres and adorned with century-old exotic plants, contains a great variety of citrus fruits, roses and aromatic herbs, with a small vegetable garden dedicated for guests where vegetables typical of the region are traditionally planted in every season, offering a relaxing and enchanting space to spend lazy summer afternoons, sipping perhaps the excellent wines that the Guarini family have been producing for almost 1000 years. Palazzo Ducale Frisari-Guarini, located in the heart of Salento, Puglia, offers visitors an excellent opportunity to indulge in a cultural and culinary holiday with a maritime flavour, while relaxing in an atmosphere immersed in the rich history of authentic Salento.

The history of Palazzo Ducale Guarini
Like many of the ‘baronial’ castles in the Terra d’Otranto on the Salento Peninsula, Palazzo Ducale Guarini was built during the Norman era as a fortress with the purpose of controlling and ensuring the administration of the fiefdom. It originally possessed walls, towers and a moat. As was frequently the case in the Otranto region, its final transformation occurred during the transition from the 17th to the 18th century. This change was prompted by the obsolescence of its defensive role, leading to its conversion into a residential Palazzo, aimed at creating more spacious and comfortable living quarters for the Frisari family, who were feudal lords of the area.

A historical Palazzo in Scorrano
Scorrano, a town of Roman origin, was initially ruled by Giovanni Galardo de Saumeriaco, and later by the De Noha family. At the end of the 12th century, the Castle and fiefdom of Scorrano belonged to Filippo d’Angiò. By the late 13th century, it was possessed by the Prince of Taranto, Raimondello Orsini Del Balzo, who married the Countess of Lecce, Maria D’Enghien, whose guardian was Pasquale Guarini, ancestor of the current owner of the Palazzo. Many other lords of Scorrano and owners of the Castle followed over the centuries, including the Della Ratta, Borbone, Tolomei, De Capua, Gonzaga, Pignatelli, Maremonti and Trane families. Finally, in 1687, it became the property of the Frisari family and was elevated to a duchy in 1718. Teresa Frisari, Duchess of Scorrano and Princess of Tarsia, was the last heir of this family. In 1894, she entered into matrimony with Carlo Guarini, who held the title of Duke of Poggiardo. As part of her dowry, she brought the Palazzo and her nominal titles into the Guarini family.

After his marriage to Teresa, Carlo Guarini moved his residence to Scorrano, leaving Lecce and the Castle of Poggiardo where his family had lived since the 1400s. The present owner, Duke Giovan Battista, stands as the fourth generation in an unbroken line of custodians responsible for this historic home. Over its many centuries of existence, it has remained a remarkable testament to uninterrupted habitation since its inception as a ‘baronial’ castle in Terra d’Otranto. The Guarini Ducal Palace eloquently reflects the enduring commitment and affection that the Guarini family has consistently invested in the preservation of this magnificent residence.

Charming accommodation in Salento
Palazzo Ducale Frisari-Guarini, located in the heart of Salento, Puglia, offers visitors an excellent opportunity to indulge in a cultural and culinary holiday with a maritime flavour, while relaxing in an atmosphere immersed in the rich history of authentic Salento.

Visiting Palazzo Ducale Guarini in Scorrano
With prior reservation, the Ducal Palace offers visitors the opportunity of touring the Palazzo as guests of the Guarini family.

Tasting typical local products form Salento and visisting the Duca Carlo Guarini winery
It is also possible for lovers of good wine, olive oil and many other local products to reserve a visit of the Duca Carlo Guarini winery, where wine tastings and sampling of the family’s products, which have been produced for nearly 1,000 years, are available.

Ceramic workshop
A visit to the Palazzo’s ceramic workshop, a passion of the host Lucia Guarini, offers the opportunity to discover her fascinating artisanal creations, which have been actively produced for over 20 years. Additionally, upon reservation, guests can participate in introductory or specialised ceramic courses.