Puglia's Salento, the heel-of-the-boot peninsula in Italy's far south, has long traded on its masserie — restored farmhouses tucked into the countryside with pools, spas and restaurants. But there's a different way to experience the region: base yourself in a historic town and live like a local in a converted palazzo. The upside is real — restaurants and cafés stay open year-round, you can wander beautiful streets at will, and on a short break you may not even need a car.
Two towns worth knowing are Nardò and Galatina, both close to Lecce and within reach of the coast. Nardò sits about ten minutes' drive from a long stretch of shoreline, while Galatina's historic centre is bigger and grander, anchored by the 14th-century Basilica di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, its walls and vaults entirely covered in frescoes.
In Nardò, Nardò House offers five bedroom suites bookable individually or as self-catering apartments, plus a planted roof terrace with sunset views over the church of San Domenico. Owner Vanessa Miner runs it on instinct and personal attention — think dinner parties introducing property-hunting guests to locals, on-site cooking classes, massages, whatever fits. One apartment is fully wheelchair accessible and a lift reaches the roof terrace, making it a solid pick for multi-generational groups; the terrace has hosted a 100-guest wedding reception. Solo travellers are looked after too, with special short breaks for solo women or female friends planned for October and November 2026 and March and April 2027.
Over in Galatina, Palazzo Galluccio is a newly opened luxury B&B opposite the Basilica, restored over three years by Sophie and Laurent Mencherini. The style is minimal and let-the-originals-speak: vaulted cobblestoned courtyard, frescoed ceilings (one above the bed in the reviewer's room), sleek modern bathrooms, and chilled Prosecco flutes waiting in the fridge. The standout is a walled garden with a pool — big enough to actually swim in, sunny mornings, shaded afternoons. Breakfast is served in the garden, and the hospitality is warm but unobtrusive; a forgotten phone charger arrived within minutes of a WhatsApp message. Five bedrooms upstairs (no lift, so not suitable for those with mobility issues), plus a kitchen apartment — ideal for a romantic break or honeymoon.
And if you fancy owning your own palazzo, Galatina currently has two on the market. Palazzo Andriani is fully restored, 550 square metres, with three one-bedroom apartments that can be combined, at €1,350,000. Palazzo Siciliani, also around 550m² with a panoramic roof terrace and parts dating to the 17th century, is unrestored but structurally sound, priced at €350,000 — a full restoration would keep the total under a million euros, potentially move-in ready within 18 months.
Why it matters: if masserie feel too isolated or too summer-only, a palazzo base in a year-round town gives you Puglia's beaches, food and wine with genuine local life on the doorstep. Couples and honeymooners should look at Palazzo Galluccio; groups, event-planners and solo travellers suit Nardò House; and aspiring hospitality entrepreneurs have a rare entry point at Palazzo Siciliani's price.