Piazzetta Gabriele Riccardi 13, Lecce, Italy | (618) 248-8274
Elegant 18th-century palazzo with Art Deco touches
Set in the center of Lecce, opposite Basilica di Santa
Croce
Rooms have Art Deco furnishings and marble bathrooms
Extensive hot and cold buffet breakfast included
Fine dining restaurant serving regional food
Some rooms have terraces with city views
Furnished roof terrace overlooking the city
Valet parking service available (for a fee)
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Some rooms are
small
Room decor possibly old
fashioned for some tastes
No spa or wellness facilities
The upscale Patria Palace Lecce is set in a handsome 18th-century palazzo positioned in the center of historic Lecce, just opposite the gorgeous Basilica di Santa Croce. Interiors are an elegant blend of original Baroque touches and Art Deco features, a sensibility that extends to the 67 traditionally styled guest rooms as well. Eating and drinking options are excellent, especially the extensive breakfast buffet, while the hotel features cityscape views from upgraded rooms and a roof terrace. Those who find the decor a little old fashioned for their tastes may prefer the similar, but more modern, Risorgimento Resort nearby.
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Scene
Elegant 18th-century palazzo brimming with Baroque and Art Deco touches
With its
shuttered windows, wrought iron balconies, and delicate stone carving, there's
something both unassuming and elegant about the Patria Palace
Lecce. The hotel occupies a palazzo dating from the 18th century; it 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. Clientele tend largely towards vacationing couples, including plenty
of Italian, British, and American tourists.
Location
In the heart of historic Lecce, opposite the Basilica di Santa Croce
The hotel is
located right in the center of Lecce and opposite the Basilica di Santa Croce, one of the most beautiful churches of the city. It's set in a restricted
traffic zone (valet parking service is available) and the surrounding streets
are full of restaurants and bars, as well as the region's only McDonald's. The
Villa Comunale historic palace, which is surrounded by lovely public gardens, is just a
few minutes away on foot, and the city's Duomo is a five-minute walk from the hotel. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, piazzas, and palazzos in almost every direction from the hotel. The Salento region, which is home to Lecce, is famous for its wines, and vineyards can be found in the surrounding countryside -- the wine-producing town of Salice Salentino is just 30 minutes west by car. The closest beach is a 20-minute drive east to the town of San Cataldo, while Gallipoli's well-known shores are about 40 minutes in the other direction by road. Lecce's main train station is a 15-minute walk from the hotel (10 minutes by taxi),
while the Salento Airport is a 35-minute drive.
Rooms
Elegant rooms with Art Deco furnishings, some with private terraces and city views
No two of the
hotel's 67 rooms are identical, though all tend toward the traditional, with design choices like coordinated patterned fabrics and striped wallpaper. There are artful touches, like modern landscape murals on some walls, that either complement or contrast the highly stylized Art Deco furniture, depending on your perspective. Colors overall hue toward the soft, with creams and yellows offset by warm wood tones in the furniture and deep navy accents in the soft furnishings and carpeting. The look certainly has polish, but some guests may not be enthralled with the classic aesthetic. Amenities include electric kettles, safes, air-conditioning, and
flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Bathrooms, which look slightly dated, are clad in marble and have shower/tub combos, a bit of space around large sinks, wall-mounted hairdryers, bathrobes, and toiletries. Higher-category rooms open to private furnished terraces with views over the city. Note that room size can vary dramatically, from
spacious to rather cramped.
Features
Outstanding breakfast buffet, fine dining, and rooftop terrace
The Patria's free breakfast features an excellent selection
of hot and cold items including a wide choice of breads, cheeses, egg, and
meats. The Atenze Restaurant is also one of the best in the area and serves a
fine-dining menu of traditional regional cooking in the restaurant or on a street-level
terrace. There's also an elegant Art Deco-styled cocktail bar just off the
lobby, and drinks can also be taken onto the rooftop terrace, which looks out over the
city's skyline. Common to this kind of hotel in Lecce, there are no health or fitness facilities. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and airport transfers can be arranged for a fee. The hotel also offers laundry services and valet parking in a private garage.
