Location: The Palazzo Bacile is located in the small village of Spongano, approximately six kilometres from the Adriatic Sea.
History: The Palazzo, a 16th century country manor house, has been in the Bacile di Castiglione family for nearly five centuries. In the second half of the 16th century it became a fortified castle, and by the beginning of the 17th century it was transformed into a residential home.
House: Palazzo Bacile has a typical Salentino garden, consisting of various ornamental trees and large expanses of citrus groves, intersected by straight, stone-edged paths. There are many terraces on the property, so guests can choose whether to relax in the shade or sunbathe by the swimming pool nestled in the garden. On the property there are three other small houses for rent (see Casotto di Martino, Casotto Nuovo, Casotto di Caterina) which share the pool and garden.
Inside, the main part of the Palazzo is divided into two floors which can be rented separately or together.
On the first floor, called Tabacchi Sotto, a long hall with high vaulted ceilings that was previously used to dry tobacco is used today as the charming dining and living area. French doors throughout the hall open onto large terraces overlooking the inner courtyard and the garden below. Just next to it is a large fully equipped kitchen. The sleeping quarters open off the hall and they comprise three double bedrooms and a little further off a triple bedroom, all tastefully decorated and each with its own large modern bathroom.
The second floor, called Tabacchi Sopra, is practically an exact replica of the first floor with the exception of having three double bedrooms instead of four. These rooms have the extra comfort of air-conditioning. At the end of the corridor is a smaller, but again fully equipped, kitchen. The hall on this floor has dark wooden beams adding warmth to this large space. The owner’s eclectic collections – shells, bones, fencing equipment and much more – are found throughout the house giving guests a taste of his passions.
Personal note: The Bacile family still lives in a section of the palazzo, and often entertains at the property giving guests the opportunity to socialize with local Salentines.