Our stay at Palazzo Circolone was absolutely wonderful. From the moment we arrived, Francesca welcomed us with open arms — she was friendly, attentive, and genuinely went above and beyond to make us feel at home. She offered excellent local recommendations and made sure every detail of our stay was perfect. The location couldn’t be better — right in the heart of Salento, making it easy to explore nearby towns like Otranto, Lecce, and Gallipoli while still enjoying the peaceful charm of Poggiardo. The property itself is stunning, with beautifully restored interiors that balance historic character and modern comfort. Breakfast each morning was exceptional, featuring fresh, local ingredients and a great variety of options — the perfect start to a day of exploring. If you’re looking for a place that combines warmth, elegance, and authentic hospitality, Palazzo Circolone is a true standout.

Nothing comes to mind.

Palazzo Circolone is a wonderful place to stay. Poggiardo is a lively town and the hotel is surrounded by handsome buildings that look perfect in the Italian sunshine. As for the Palazzo itself, you're welcomed by a lovely bar area that opens onto the square outside and leads to the back of the building where you can retreat to a very private pool area shaded by fruit trees. There's a space where breakfast is laid out, on broad tables dressed delicious home made treats. The style is casual but the surroundings are grand. Same for the bedrooms. Ours was a huge room with a marble floor and a fresco on the ceiling. But the thing that really makes Palazzo Circolone so special is the people. Francesca, Angela and everyone who looked after us were the best, going out of their way to make us feel at home.

If you’re picky like us, stop your search — Palazzo Circolone is it. We just did a road-trip around Puglia in September and this was without doubt our favourite stay. We booked it at the last minute after deciding to skip another destination that felt overcrowded, too touristy, and overly commercialised — and we are so happy we did. The building is a beautifully renovated historical palazzo, full of character yet with all the modern comforts. The location is perfect — right on the main square of Poggiardo, with the hotel bar buzzing with locals at espresso and aperitivo time. It’s also an ideal base for exploring Salento: Lecce, Otranto, Castro, Santa Maria di Leuca, San Cesarea Terme, spiaggia(s) Alimini and Baia dei Turch and one we recommend in Marina Serra - all an easy drive. The rooms (especially the Deluxe) are stylish, spacious, impeccably clean, with thoughtful touches. The pool and garden are a delight — citrus trees, calm atmosphere, birdsong, and perfect maintenance. Breakfast deserves a mention too: tables in a little courtyard and a cute buffet table with everything you need to start the day in a good mood. Everything is home-made and of excellent quality — we especially loved the omelettes and the moka pot coffee they make on request. What truly makes the difference is the team: Francesca and her colleague at the reception, the breakfast ladies, and the gardener/pool/bar gentleman, all warm, caring, and attentive, making you feel like part of a family. A couple of really-really good restaurants in Poggiardo and its great supermarket Conad made our stay here even easier and more enjoyable. We never liked beaten travel paths. The existence of such a beautiful and memorable place in tiny Poggiardo proves the most exciting part of your trip begins when you go left while everyone else goes right. A true hidden gem you want to return to and never forget. Wishing the Palazzo only the success it deserves — and only the nicest guests.

Not a minus, rather a note: there is no TV in the room. However, after two days we realised this “TV-detox” was actually wonderful. We spent more time outside, taking evening walks after dinner — burning off irresistible pasta, pizza, and tiramisu, reflecting on the day, and simply enjoying our surroundings. We also learned that in Italy, this tradition has a name: la passeggiata — a leisurely evening stroll through the piazza to chat, unwind, and enjoy the fresh air. Please, don’t ever install TVs — the experience is perfect as it is!

The room was clean and charming, and the breakfast was especially wonderful - everything was fresh, well-prepared, and beautifully presented. The breakfast area itself was also lovely, with a peaceful atmosphere during the day (even though there were a few late-night parties outside). The pool area was also beautiful - a perfect spot to relax. All of the shared spaces throughout the property felt thoughtful and special. Francesca at the reception was incredibly kind and helpful throughout our visit - she welcomed us warmly on arrival, guided us perfectly with parking, and even recommended a local luminarie event that made our trip truly special. We’re very grateful for everything and would definitely come back! — Park from Korea

There were just a couple of small things that could be improved — there was no trash bin in the room at first, but the staff kindly brought one when we asked. The soundproofing between rooms seemed weak, and although we were very quiet throughout our stay, we still experienced some discomfort. It was also surprising that there was no television in the room, and the bathroom sink drained a bit slowly.

Very nice historical place with well renovated rooms equipped with everything you need. The common spaces with the books and the Swimming pool are fantastic, the free welcome drink at the outside bar + crostini were great, we enjoyed the atmosphere there of the public square.

The restaurant downstairs (not part of the hotel, but downstairs inside the building) was too expensive for what you got. Because of the resto the swimming pool closes at 7pm, which is a bit to early in summer. But the hotel gets our 10/10 !

A beautiful hotel which was very comfortable. Beautiful large rooms and bedrooms. Very tastefully restored. A very relaxing stay. Breakfast was great, with a lot of variety. All the staff were very friendly and helpful, especially Francesca and Sandra. It was great to have a pool especially during the heatwave, when it was too hot to be outside sightseeing. Really enjoyed my stay here good location for exploring other areas. Nowhere is far away.

The staff were amazing and a credit to the hotel. Francesca on reception went above & beyond to help us. The ladies that cleaned our room daily were so thorough. The ladies behind the bar provided a first class service and kept our drinks flowing😀. And not forgetting the staff who ensured our breakfast was prepared to a high standard. What more could we ask for! This hotel is a little gem and the owner should be very proud of his team.

Nothing!

Great location - one of the most beautiful rooms we’ve ever stayed in. The location was also very convenient: we had a car, but there were a few restaurants within walking distance, and everything else, like the supermarket and pharmacy, was close by too. The staff were incredibly kind and always ready to help whenever we needed.

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The location is wonderful, the historic palazzo is beautifully decorated, the rooms are cleaned every day, and even all the belongings are neatly arranged. The breakfasts are quite good, with a wide selection by Italian standards, not just coffee and croissants. The hotel staff is also amazing, very responsive and friendly. We were left with only warm impressions!

We chose the Amorini room; if you like to sleep in, it might be a problem because the room is right across from the reception, and it can be noisy.

A stunning hotel in a pretty town. A perfect base for touring the southern tip of Puglia. The staff were amazing, so friendly and helpful. The rooms and decor are beautiful and very comfortable. We had dinner in the hotel on two evenings and can recommend it. Can't think of anything to find fault of.

There was nothing we didn't like about it