Apartment in a 16th-century Palazzo

Lecce, Puglia · 2012

Rooftop terrace with whitewashed walls and terracotta jars, Historical Apartment in Puglia, Lecce, Puglia

A portion of a sixteenth-century palazzo in the centre of Lecce, abandoned: four hundred square metres over two floors, inside a building divided among several owners. Every decision was bound by a five-hundred-year-old structure. Like most traditional houses in Lecce it was a series of small dark rooms: we took down what we could of the curtain walls and opened archways through the load-bearing ones, so the living room, the dining room and the piano space became one connected space. The owner wanted to keep everything that carried the history of the house — and to add the family pieces he had collected.

The artist is the creator of beautiful things. It is beautiful the atmosphere was created in my 16th century home by Marianna Piccolo. As an Interior Architect, she was able to exceed my expectations and manifest my requirements in this historical building located in Lecce. Her design and her work is a safe investment of money. The emotions and the strong sensations I feel when I am at home, they are fully repaid. Highly recommend! Thanks again!

Cosimo Puglia
Stained glass arched window with a wrought iron grille, Historical Apartment in Puglia, Lecce, Puglia
Living room with a grand piano seen through an archway, Historical Apartment in Puglia, Lecce, Puglia
Living room with a lit fireplace and a bright abstract painting, Historical Apartment in Puglia, Lecce, Puglia
Living room with brown armchairs and a teal pouf on a rug, Historical Apartment in Puglia, Lecce, Puglia

The floor is traditional terrazzo, laid to stay authentic while a discreet underfloor heating system went in beneath it. The staircase was rebuilt in Pietra Leccese by local masons, in a limestone found only in the Salento. The owner's father repaired and painted every door himself. Among the furniture: Paola Lenti, restored vintage pieces from local flea markets, the Him and Her chair by Fabio Novembre for Casamania, tableware and linen by Marimekko, and paintings by the New Zealand artist Vittoria Kolless.

Bedroom detail with an ornate green bedpost and a lavender throw, Historical Apartment in Puglia, Lecce, Puglia
Balcony with red folding chairs against a stone wall, Historical Apartment in Puglia, Lecce, Puglia
Bedroom with a white bed, a red table lamp, and black and white artwork, Historical Apartment in Puglia, Lecce, Puglia
Bathroom with marble walls, a freestanding tub, and a pedestal sink, Historical Apartment in Puglia, Lecce, Puglia

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