Accommodation in Puglia, Italy - Antico Palazzo Murri - Vacation apartment, banquet and conference facilities

Accommodation in Puglia, Italy - Just 15km from Brindisi and the coast, this old townhouse offers a large vacation apartment, conference and banqueting facilities, along with the option of domestic help and a driver.

This is a lovingly restructured seventeenth century palazzo - the perfect fusion between the antique and the modern. The palazzo is situated on the main square in Mesagne, a lovely town lying inland of the beachfront at Brindisi. Dating back to the 1600s, it has a marvellous atmosphere, thanks to its position in the historical centre, surrounded by the old palazzi of the town.

A whole floor (450sqm) is available for rent, with 5 bedrooms furnished in immaculate taste (and sleeping 11), bathrooms, and 3 living rooms for dining and receiving guests. There is a garage for 5 vehicles. A couple, providing domestic help and driving, will be available throughout your stay.

All of the rooms are elegantly decorated and air conditioned, with each bedroom furnished in a different style, though all traditionally and comfortably fitted out. The meeting rooms are large, bright and comfortably furnished, with independent heating and air conditioning, and with direct telephone lines - these can seat up to 300 people.

The Antico Palazzo Murri is an elegant solution for conferences, meals, banquets and parties ... or of course just a perfect holiday in Puglia. Contact your hosts, who will be delighted to tailor a package to suit you.

And you will love exploring Puglia (or Apulia in Italian) the long narrow strip of land that stretches 400km down the eastern 'heel' of Italy. This sun-baked land, with great beaches and reliably balmy weather, has been invaded and colonised down the ages and is today a fascinatingly eclectic mix of cultures and influences.

Brindisi was once a staging post for Crusading knights on their way to the Holy Land. In Roman times it had been a crossing point between the eastern and western empires. And during the height of Norman rule it saw a continuous stream of pilgrims heading from northern Europe to Jerusalem.

Each invader left their legacy. The Normans left lavishly ornate cathedrals, such as the duomo at Trani. The Romans set the template of agriculture and field patterns that largely survives to this day. The Spanish brought an opulent Baroque elegance to cities such as Lecce and Martina Franca. And the Swabian Frederick II peppered the countryside with imposing castles, a startling northern note in this very southern part of Europe. But perhaps the most typical construction of Puglia is a more humble one - the dramatic cylindrical 'trulli', whitewashed houses topped with conical roofs, unlike anything you'll have seen anywhere else.

[ local map | map of Puglia ]

An increasingly popular destination, Puglia is still largely there to be discovered - a fascinating and idiosyncratic region of Italy, and a marvellous spot for a Mediterranean vacation. Click below to discover more.