To say that we are excited about this luxury hotel in the heart of beautiful Lecce, is an understatement.  The hotel opened on 1 June and is in, far off the beaten track for most of Italy's art-loving visitors, Lecce (often called the “Florence of Puglia”) which sits on the south-eastern tip of Italy's boot. The local sandstone was so easy to work with that it saw an increase of a local ornate and intricate style of stone masonry (barocco leccese) that has left its mark on the city, crowding its buildings with cherubs, monsters, flowers, fruits, beauties and beasts.  The city is the ideal stay for architecture, culture and art lovers.

La Fiermontina, Lecce, Puglia - http://www.essentialitaly.co.uk/la-fiermontina

La Fiermontina is a stunning 17th century villa within the ancient walls of Lecce. The owner stumbled upon this house and adjoining land for sale in 2000 while visiting the city and, having strong family connections with the city, set about a major restoration project. The results of his labour and attention to detail are truly fabulous, while the building stays true to its roots. The soft stone exterior, houses a very modern interior. Interior designers chose Italian furnishings, custom textiles and organic bath products complimenting perfectly the antiques and artwork belonging to the Fiermonte family. These include pieces by Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand and Tobia Scarpa, to name but a few!

The hotel is well positioned to explore many parts of Puglia including Otranto, Gallipoli, Ostuni, and of course the beautiful baroque city of Lecce which is on the doorstep. With the bonus of private parking, access in and out of this busy city is very simple.

The hotel has 16 bedrooms varying from deluxe doubles to suites sleeping up to four, but all have a continuous theme of great decor and style. Many have star-pinnacle ceilings, private balconies and open fire places. Breakfast, lunch and dinner can either be taken in the gardens or within the dining room. The charming external dining area is set in a courtyard and is open to the public.

The pool is the icing on the cake. To find a hotel of this class, within a city, with a pool is a real rarity!

Location: Within Lecce, Brindisi 39km, Galipolli 46km, Otranto 47km, Ostuni 76km, Bari 150km, Matera 170km
Price: Deluxe double room from £160 - £300, Suite from £400 - £640 per night on a B&B basis