Palazzo Daniele, Gagliano del Capo, Italy

The Rural Retreat Award
The Rural Retreat Award
Palazzo Daniele, Gagliano del Capo, Italy

Opened in April 2019, Palazzo Daniele is a nine-suite luxury hotel housed within a 158-year-old aristocratic palazzo in Italy’s exquisite Puglia region, formerly belonging to the Daniele family. Francesco Petrucci, the last Daniele descendant, teamed up with Roman hotelier Gabriele Salini to transform the property into an intimate hospitality concept where the ancient and ultra-modern seamlessly coexist. Constructed in 1861, timeless elements of traditional Italian design are deeply embedded within all aspects of the property. With the aid of award-winning Milanese design studio Palomba Serafini Associati, the property re-emerges today with a harmonious combination of sublime minimalism and 19th-century splendor. Inspired by the concept of absence, Palazzo Daniele’s interiors were stripped back as much as possible while preserving the structure’s architectural integrity through the restoration of ornate frescos and original flooring, offering an exceptional backdrop for its carefully-curated modern art collection. Palazzo Daniele redefines the traditional hotel; rather, it provides guests with a hospitality experience that merges the very best of Italian art, design, history, and gastronomy in an unparalleled authentic, organic setting. The property marks the second addition to Gabriele Salini’s newly formed GS Collection, an intimate portfolio of luxury hotels steeped in rich Italian history.