Castello di Ugento
Family-owned historic castle meets sleek Italian design. Think Cassina chairs against 17th-century stone walls, Baroque frescoes overhead, and a chef who sources herbs from an 18th-century walled kitchen garden. Cultural, culinary, and genuinely personal rather than corporate-luxury.
Book the Master Suite della Loggia (95 sq.m) if you want the most spectacular Piano Nobile experience — frescoed living room, fireplace, private kitchen, and balcony over the courtyard
Why It Matters
One of very few actual medieval castles converted into a functioning hotel in Puglia — this isn't a masseria or a converted farmhouse. The Puglia Culinary Centre with its three Electrolux teaching kitchens is a legitimate culinary destination in its own right, not a marketing add-on. Il Tempo Nuovo restaurant is in the Michelin Guide. The Norman tower discovered under the dining room floor during the 2015 renovation — visible through a glass panel — says it all about the depth of history here.
A 900-year-old hilltop castle in the Salento tip of Puglia — and genuinely one of the most ambitious hotel conversions in southern Italy. The d'Amore family has owned it since 1643, and the current generation has turned it into a five-star hotel with nine suites, a Michelin Guide-listed restaurant, and a serious culinary school, all tucked inside one set of ancient walls. It's in the Condé Nast Hot List and on the NYT's 52 Places to See. No pool on-site (that's at the sister property Masseria le Mandorle, five minutes away), and the town of Ugento is quiet and sleepy rather than glamorous — but you're 10 minutes from the Ionian Sea.
Where You'll Stay
9 room types available
Corte Alta
The Junior Deluxe room in the courtyard-facing wing, with the bed positioned on a mezzanine level — which gives a great vantage point looking out over the courtyard below. Can be twinned. Same materials and quality as the other Corte rooms: walnut furniture, handmade Puglian linens, monsoon shower.
King on mezzanine (can be twinned)Corte Barocca
Courtyard-facing Deluxe room in the former guest quarters. King-size bed (can be twinned) in 28 sq.m. The 'Barocca' moniker hints at the decorative touches that set it apart from its neighbors. Same premium appointments as all Castello rooms: handmade linens, custom walnut armoires, monsoon shower with Puglia olive-oil toiletries.
King (can be twinned) · 28 sqmCorte del Giardino
A suite under beautiful star-vaulted ceilings in pietra leccese (the warm local limestone), opening onto a private patio. King-size canopy bed dressed in fine handmade Puglian linen and hand-woven bedspreads. Artisan-made walnut furniture with designer and antique pieces. Ensuite bathroom with monsoon shower and organic olive-oil toiletries.
King (canopy) · 33 sqmCorte del Pellicano
Opens onto the courtyard with a distinctive bathroom built under a rediscovered original vault — the bathing space itself is an architectural moment. King-size bed (can be twinned) with premium Puglian linens and hand-woven bedspreads. Sculptural iron console alongside custom walnut furniture and Italian designer pieces. Connects to Corte del Sole through a small corridor, making it ideal for families who need two rooms.
King (can be twinned) · 40 sqmCorte del Sole
One of three courtyard-facing Deluxe rooms converted from the old guest quarters. Opens directly onto the cobbled castle courtyard. King-size bed (can be twinned) dressed in handmade Puglian cotton linen and hand-woven bedspreads. Custom walnut furniture by local artisans alongside Italian designer pieces. Monsoon shower bathroom with organic Puglia olive-oil toiletries.
King (can be twinned) · 23 sqm
Corte della Torre
Courtyard-facing Deluxe room in the former guest quarters wing. King-size bed with the same premium handmade Puglian linens and hand-woven bedspreads found across all rooms. Ensuite bathroom with monsoon shower, bidets, and organic olive-oil based toiletries. Custom walnut furniture with Italian designer accents.
King · 28 sqm
Master Suite Alcova di Diana
The most romantic room in the house and the newlyweds' favourite. Located on the Piano Nobile in the former private apartments of the d'Amore family. The king-size bed is framed by an original 18th-century baroque alcove. Soaring vaulted ceilings, monsoon shower bathroom with organic toiletries, a separate living room, and a private terrace with views over the castle, the cathedral, and the rooftops of Ugento's historic centre.
King · 58 sqm
Master Suite della Loggia
The grandest suite in the castello, adjacent to Alcova di Diana on the Piano Nobile. Under soaring vaulted ceilings, it looks out over both the cobbled courtyard from a balcony and the aromatic fruit garden. Features a beautifully frescoed living room with a fireplace and an adjacent kitchen, plus a small powder room. The sheer scale — at 95 sq.m. — makes it the top choice for a longer stay or for those who want to work from the castle.
King · 95 sqmMaster Suite della Rosa
A large ground-floor master suite set within the oldest walls of the castle, with soaring vaulted ceilings and separate living room, bedroom, and two full bathrooms. Access from both the courtyard and the garden. King-size bed with Puglian handmade linens and hand-woven bedspreads. Custom artisan walnut furniture alongside designer and antique pieces. Can accommodate an extra bed.
King · 48 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
1 venue on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Complimentary shuttle service to the nearest Ionian beaches (approximately 10 minutes away) and between the Castello and sister property Masseria le Mandorle.
A guided stroll through the castle's restored 18th-century walled kitchen garden with the Head Gardener. Learn about the 100+ aromatic and medicinal local plants grown on-site, many of which supply the Il Tempo Nuovo kitchen.
One wing of the castello houses a museum and a contemporary art exhibition space. Guests can stroll through the frescoed museum halls at any time — baroque frescoes, archaeological exhibits, and rotating modern art installations all within the same building as your room.
Concierge-arranged private walking tours led by local expert guides through towns including Lecce, Gallipoli, Otranto, and others. Cover cultural sites, artisan workshops, local foodie stops, and hidden architectural gems — including privately-owned palazzi and masserias not normally open to the public.
Bicycles available to guests at no charge to explore Ugento and the surrounding countryside.
Private visits to centuries-old family-owned olive oil mills and wineries. Meet the owners, tour the property, and taste their products. Genuine insight into Salento's agricultural and cultural traditions.
Hands-on cooking classes in a state-of-the-art facility housed in the castle's former storehouses, with three Electrolux professional kitchens dedicated to doughs, sweets, and savory preparations. Classes include a visit to a local market or the Gallipoli fish market, a tour of the 18th-century aromatic garden to gather herbs, and a wine tasting. Minimum 2 people; private classes available. Suitable from complete beginners to experienced cooks.
Wine tastings held in the historic cellar set within a 16th-century underground cistern. Focus on Pugliese varieties including Primitivo, Negroamaro, Aleatico, Susumaniello, and Malvasia Nera, accompanied by a deep-dive into the region's winemaking heritage dating back to ancient Greek colonization.
A signature house ritual: aperitivo drinks served in the fragrant 17th-century walled kitchen garden as the sun sets over the golden stonework. Can be arranged privately through the concierge.
Drive a vintage car along the Adriatic coast or through the Pugliese countryside — past centuries-old olive groves, vineyards, trulli, and dry-stone walls. Arranged exclusively through the concierge.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Hair and beauty salon on-site or available on request.
Business center available on-site.
Full local cuisine breakfast by Chef Tommaso Sanguedolce, served daily from 8 AM to 10:30 AM. Freshly squeezed juices, a la carte sweet and savory options, seasonal fruit, homemade breads, cakes, and marmalades.
Room service available during limited hours.
On-site bar and lounge area.
Babysitting can be arranged on request at both the Castello and sister property Masseria le Mandorle.
On-site library available to guests.
Restored 18th-century walled aromatic and culinary garden with 100+ medicinal and aromatic local plants. Used as a source for the restaurant kitchen; guests are welcome to relax here during the day or at sunset.
Rooftop terrace with views over Ugento and the surrounding countryside.
No pool at the Castello itself. Guests have complimentary access to the outdoor pool, tennis court, and fitness room at sister property Masseria le Mandorle, a 5-minute drive or complimentary shuttle ride away.
Dry cleaning and laundry services available.
Evening turndown service provided in all rooms.
Luggage storage available for early arrivals or late departures.
Full concierge service arranging bespoke local activities, private tours, restaurant bookings, beach reservations, and transfers throughout Salento.
Complimentary WiFi throughout the property, including in-room. 250+ Mbps reported.
Airport transfers available from Brindisi (BDS) and Bari (BRI) airports. Must be arranged at least 24 hours before arrival.
Complimentary valet parking available on-site. Self-parking also available.
BUILD YOUR CASTELLO DI UGENTO PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
Start Planning