Holiday home Palazzo Nianu

A sleek swimming pool with reddish plas­terwork, face to face with the dome of San Michele Arc­angelo Church, whose ancient walls stand out against the vast land­scape: anyone who arrives up here, above the rooftops of Neviano – or Nianu, as the village situated between Gal­lipoli and Lecce is also known – will be reluctant to leave. Yet the roof terrace is just one of many favourite spots at Palazzo Nianu – a house that reflects the relaxed rhythm of sou­thern Italy.

Respon­sible for the careful trans­for­mation are interior designer Georg Kayser and architect Ales­sandro Venneri, whose approach follows a clear phi­lo­sophy: to achieve maximum effect with minimal inter­vention. The res­to­ration is not intended as a radical overhaul, but rather as a process of unco­vering, and represents a sen­sitive revival of the house, which had stood aban­doned for many years, pre­serving the traces of time whilst simul­ta­neously opening up new per­spec­tives. Patina, mate­riality and imper­fection are not merely pre­served, but are deli­berately show­cased, as seen in the old wooden doors, marble sur­faces, mosaic floors, ornate cei­lings and ceramic vases.

Local mate­rials such as reddish-white coc­cio­pesto – a tra­di­tional, water-repellent plaster made from lime and ground ter­ra­cotta shards – feature pro­min­ently on floors, walls and built-in fix­tures. These are com­ple­mented by a carefully curated mix of bespoke fur­niture, vintage pieces and hand­crafted objects. The colour palette ranges from light, airy tones to rich, earthy shades, creating a tim­eless, relaxed ele­gance.

Spa­tially, the palazzo thrives on subtle inter­ven­tions: new ope­nings create sight­lines between rooms of varying heights, allow light to flood in and connect indoor and outdoor spaces. The central ent­rance hall, with its five-metre-high vaulted ceiling and massive columns, retains its ori­ginal cha­racter and, with its built-in benches, serves as an atmo­spheric living space. The dining room, with its res­tored blue vaulted ceiling, ori­ginal tiles and a bespoke tra­vertine table, forms the heart of the house. The kitchen, built of stone and clad in coc­cio­pesto, opens onto the terrace and becomes the hub of social inter­action.

The three bed­rooms – the Blue Room with a balcony and a vaulted ceiling fea­turing a blue star pattern, the White Room with a star-shaped ceiling and soft lighting, and the large master suite over­looking an orange grove – are retreats of quiet intensity. They are com­ple­mented by a small reading room and two indi­vi­dually designed bath­rooms.

Even though one is likely to be aes­the­ti­cally delighted by all the impressive rooms of the palazzo, the ter­raced roof ter­races offer a further sur­prise: dining, lounge and rela­xation areas extend across several levels, leading down to the pool with sun loungers, a fire pit and views over the rooftops of Neviano.

What to do

Hiking and cycling through olive groves and rolling hills or along the coast; swimming and water sports by the sea (the west coast with its sandy bays is about 15 minutes away, whilst the more rocky east coast is about 40 minutes away), for example in Santa Maria al Bagno, Porto Selvaggio, Baia dei Turchi or at the spectacular swimming pool in Santa Cesarea Terme, exploring the town’s historical sights and those in the surrounding area, day trips to Gallipoli, Lecce, Otranto, Specchia or the trulli of Alberobello, as well as culinary excursions to the nearby agriturismi

Why we like this house


Palazzo Nianu is not only a beautifully designed holiday home, but also a subtle testament to the beauty of simplicity and imperfection.

This house is great for

Groups of friends, families and couples of up to six people looking to explore the southern part of Apulia will find plenty of places to stay

Sustainability


Nearby electric charging point, public transport: a car is essential

Details

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