
One of the greatest pleasures of traveling in Europe is rediscovering the old continent through places that have spanned time to tell their stories, memories and secrets. In the Italian region of Puglia, which covers the Salento peninsula, there is no shortage of options for those with this curious eye and open to the new things the past can bring. Among them is Palazzo Ducale Venturi, an experience that exceeds all expectations.
On the map of Italy, the pleasant village of Minervino di Lecce lies far to the south, on the "heel of the boot" and some 15 kilometers from the Adriatic coast. Here is a palace that has been home to several generations of aristocrats and is now an exclusive and surprising luxury hotel with just 20 rooms.
The 16th-century building, which from the outside looks somewhat somber, is transformed as soon as you enter the arched doorway, with the original wooden door framed by the Venturi coat of arms. First, because the welcome is very personal, warm and invites you into the unique atmosphere of the place. Second, because the furnishings and art objects make the stone castle a purely welcoming environment.
The structure of the Ducal Venturi Palace dates back to events of great historical interest-it was once a Templar refuge and a medieval fortress-that also contributed to its being considered a "Residence of Epoch and Fine Arts" by the Superintendency of Cultural Heritage. TheInsider has been there, seen the importance of the place and learned stories about the palace that would be suitable for a movie or series because of their romantic and mysterious plot.
Legend has it that Duke Venturi had a passionate love affair with the abbess of the nearby convent and had an underground tunnel built, which still exists today, connecting the palace to the convent. The affair went on for years without anyone finding out, until the Duke fell in love with a Neapolitan novice. The abbess, mad with jealousy and heartbroken, drugged the young woman and had her walled up alive. She also closed the entrance to the lovers' alcove and put a curse on the room: "hic amor mori" (here love died).
The door to this room was found among the piles of ruins during restoration work and is on display in the palace. But guests need not worry, because some time after the event a bishop was called to consecrate the place and remove all curses so that peace and love can reign. Indeed, the atmosphere is very romantic, and the highlight is the small and pleasant underground spa area, which once housed an old oil mill, and now has an exclusive heated pool that can be used by reservation. Even the rooms are a trip back in time. With many square meters, immense ceilings and hand-picked decorative objects, the intimate spaces invite imagination.
The breakfast room leads to the garden, with citrus trees and a row of rose-adorned columns that lead to the saltwater pool and bar. But first we can see another historic gem, the 13th-century well, the oldest building on the estate. Also outside the palace is the gun house, recently restored to house four wonderful suites and two junior suites, the gymnasium, and the spa area, where relaxing massages are offered on the exclusive new Himalayan salt heated lounger.
Those who come to Palazzo Ducale Venturi are not looking for the dynamism of a crowded hotel; on the contrary, they expect the privacy and pampering of a unique environment provided by an attentive staff. There is a real pleasure in assisting, explaining and taking care of every detail so that guests have a complete experience.
The hotel's restaurant, run by executive chef Alessandro Danilo Sbocchi, is another feather in the cap-and an absolute must: "My creations draw on my passion for the culinary art and the Salento region. In each dish I try to interpret the flavors, history and soul of our territory through my experience, guiding people on a gastronomic journey capable of surprising," he says. The menu includes masterfully prepared pastas, risottos, fish and meats, always with a touch of creativity. Among the options, we chose the delicate asparagus and chestnut aspic with garden salad for appetizer, the traditional eggplant parmigiana presented to perfection as a first course, and, for second course, we chose the baked sea bass, flavorful and just right. For dessert, the chef offered us an imaginative and delicious fruit salad.
It is worth mentioning that, like the castles it has always been, the Palace serves as a strategic base for reaching other points of great historical and cultural interest, such as the cities of Lecce and Otranto, or of pulsating nature, such as the Punta Palascia lighthouse and the Grotta della Poesia.
Five centuries of history have never been more welcoming than at Palazzo Ducale Venturi, a perfect place to discover the wonders of Salento with great elegance and veracity.