Best Boutique Hotels in Puglia, Italy

Masseria Bagnara Resort & Spa is the picture of Mediterranean beauty and peace, with sun-bleached, vine-covered stone buildings and expansive grounds of cacti and flowers. Located near the Ionian Coast of Salento, the five-pearl resort is situated in a renovated farm house that incorporates environmentally friendly refurbishments with elements of the original structure. The 15 guest rooms are chic and stylish, with domed ceilings, contemporary dark-wood furniture, and lavender accents. Most have their own private terraces with views of the beautiful surrounding scenery. Resort features include a serene spa, an outdoor pool with panoramic views, a Mediterranean restaurant (where breakfast is free), and a stone wine cellar.

Located on a cliff overlooking a 16th-century stone warning tower and the Adriatic Sea, this sleek hotel is under a 10-minute walk from the turquoise waters of Baia d'Oriente and Torre Dell'Orso beaches. The bright yellow walls and blue-washed furniture in the 40 rooms aren't exactly stylish, but each one has a private balcony, plus most guests spend their time on the rooftop taking in magnificent views of the sea.

This old Salento farmhouse has been transformed into an intimate Moroccan-themed hotel filled with dark woods and bright fabrics. Like a traditional Moroccan palace, the 28 rooms and suites surround an inner courtyard, and a fire is lit in the center of the space in cooler evenings. Music and an exotic perfume fill the area. The large, zero-entry outdoor pool is surrounded by white-curtained cabanas and bed-like loungers, and the restaurant has arched ceilings and beautiful tiled floors. 

The upscale Borgobianco Resort & Spa overlooks the Itria Valley and the Adriatic Sea. The old farmhouse's traditional Apulian architecture creates a relaxing haven, with whitewashed stone buildings surrounded by olive trees, cacti, and bright flowers. The resort produces vegetables, fruit, and olive oil for their on-site restaurant, La Torre del Borgo. The 48 stone-floored rooms are pure white, from the walls and linens to the flat-screen TVs, sound systems, and Illy espresso machines. Every room has a private balcony -- some with sunbeds, and some shaded. The Unica Spa at the Borgobianco Resort is a blissful retreat, offering massages and beauty treatments, as well as a zen-like indoor pool with a fountain and sunbeds, a whirlpool, a sauna, and a Turkish hammam. The main pool is beautifully landscaped with cacti and olive trees, and sits next to a poolside bar.

The mid-range Relais Corte Palmieri is on the limestone island referred to as the old town of Gallipoli, still an active fishing village. Built in 1700, the hotel has some rustic architectural details (such as vaulted stone ceilings) with the addition of modern features that include porcelain tiled bathrooms. Exposed outdoor stairways and wall-climbing bougainvillea add to the Mediterranean charm. The rooftop terrace where breakfast is served is a beautiful space with lounge chairs and cacti. Some rooms have open patios while others have lovely shaded terraces with daybeds.

The Roof Barocco Suite B&B is a special place to stay, with just two suites located on the top floor of an 18th-century house. Owned and operated by a husband and wife, the property feels like a home, but better. The bed-and-breakfast's warm, welcoming vibe begins out front, as cars park on the cobblestone street before the white facade decorated with sprays of purple cascading flowers. The welcome basket filled with homemade treats, such as biscuits and olive oil, make this a delightful place to spend a vacation in Puglia.

L’Antico Frantoio, or The Old Mill, is a sprawling property with olive trees, cacti, purple-flowering bushes, and stone buildings decorated with rustic furnishings. The restaurant is particularly gorgeous, with a big millstone, interior arches, and terrace seating framed with white curtains. Each of the eight guest rooms has a pergola-covered front porch and big backyard garden. However, the rooms themselves are somewhat sparsely furnished. 

From the road, the starkly white L'Isola di Pazze looks cool and sophisticated. Tall palm trees and a white wall topped with red flowers draw one’s gaze, while the hotel's reflective glass windows add to the modern vibe. Things are breezy and chic inside, with an airy, beach-facing seafood restaurant and contemporary rooms with brightly painted walls (some have sea views). The hotel has a saltwater swimming pool and a private beach (accessed via an underground tunnel, so crossing traffic isn't a problem). 

With its shuttered windows, wrought-iron balconies, and stone carvings, Patria Palace Lecce cuts an elegant figure. The hotel occupies an 18th-century palazzo, and was once the residence of an aristocratic family before being donated to a religious order and becoming an orphanage. The property first opened as a guesthouse in 1850 and it was only totally modernized in 1997. Stepping inside, however, it's clear most of the building's original Baroque architecture has been retained -- including both coffered and vaulted ceilings -- as well as numerous Art Deco features such as floral stained glass and warm wood paneling. The hotel also successfully blends details like antique gilt-framed artwork, colored glass light fixtures, and early 20th-century design furnishings to create eclectic and sophisticated interiors.

Located close to the waterfront in Otranto's picturesque historic center, Hotel Palazzo Papaleo is a boutique hotel with nine guest rooms and a rooftop terrace with gorgeous views of the town and sea. The hotel has a restaurant serving fresh Salentine seafood dishes and a spa with Turkish bath and hot stone treatments. The bustling surrounding area has many restaurants, small bars, cafes and artisan shops, so parking can be difficult in the summer.

This 14-room boutique near the bustling port of Gallipoli is a combination of two 19th-century buildings. The hotel itself has retained many features of the original interior architecture; these details are paired with an ultramodern aesthetic, including a glassed-in rooftop restaurant and a contemporary dipping pool. A pleasing mix of floral overstuffed chairs, mirrored walls, and nautical bric-a-brac are featured in the common areas.