Art Meets Design at Palazzo Luce

Conceived as a house of art and a place where to welcome curious visitors, Palazzo Luce reveals ever-changing paths, a maze of fascinating atmospheres of a building designed over the course of a century old history: each space is inhabited with works of art and design, special installations and interventions created by artists and creatives, in the luminous dimension of a palace that opens not to be visited but lived in.

Facing the stunning Teatro Romano, this ancient palace is set in the very historic heart of Lecce, in Apulia and embodies the vision of Anna Maria Enselmi,who saw the Palazzo as the perfect environment to house her collection of design and contemporary art. An artistic endeavor conceived as an integral art project born from the ideas and passions of a collector who involved other like minds: designer, artists, architects and gallerists.

Built in the 13th century for the counts of Lecce, the palace has a long history of stylistic interventions and restorations. In an incredible composition of elegant rooms and corridors, Palazzo Luce still preserve its ancient charm in the terracotta flooring, the decorated maiolicas and the hand painted walls and doors. Each suite follows a unique design scheme, differentiating one from the other through contrast and juxtaposition of colors and materials in palettes of blue, purple and sea green.

Anna Maria Enselmi has transformed the storied building into an art and design-filled residence inspired by the modernist legacy of Gio Ponti. Scattered everywhere around the hotel you can find a stunning collection of Ponti’s furniture, in dialogue with other icons of Italian modernism like Franco Albini, Ettore Sottsass and Ignazio Gardella.

The interior design project brings together historic and modern pieces, preserving the building’s diverse architectural heritage; vaulted ceilings, herringbone patterned terracotta tiling and antique bookcases are just some of the historic features that have been meticulously restored, while the palazzo’s labyrinthic layout further enhances the sense of wonder that the uniqueness of each room offers.

A curated selection of books dedicated to art, photography, design, lifestyle and fashion await guests in the palazzo’s two libraries. Everywhere in the palace you can breathe a sense of history and passion for art and design, making it the perfect place for the guest who loves to discover beauty around Italy.

Like a garden between rooftops, from the extraordinary terrace, is it possible to enjoy an incomparable view of Lecce. Bathed in a golden glow, in the colors and voices of the city and shaded by curtains that evoke Mediterranean splendor, it is alight with the colors of Pontian inspired ceramics, hand-painted by Francesco de Maio to a design by Dell’Uva Architetti.

Here, one can relax, have an aperitif at Ponti Cielo – a suspended lounge made from maiolica pebbles, beloved by Ponti and reproduced exclusively for the palace by De Maio. All around a stunning postcard of the historic city center, with its churches, elegant buildings and shades of white, typical of the city’s architecture.