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Palazzo Margherita

Bernalda, Italy

A dream come true in Southern Italy.

Property Overview

Palazzo Margherita is an intimate hotel in the untouched Basilicata region of Southern Italy, just minutes from the Ionian coast, the Sassi caves of Matera, and neighboring Puglia. Restored by director Francis Ford Coppola, this nineteenth-century palazzo offers a refined, yet authentic Italian experience, with spacious bedrooms, ornate reception rooms, and an inner courtyard that opens onto a preserved private garden—the Giardino all’Italiana—filled with fruit trees, herbs, and organic vegetables that supply the kitchen. Designed in collaboration with Jacques Grange, the interiors reflect a personal, residential feel, while tailored experiences and curated excursions invite guests to explore the culture, cuisine, and landscapes of Basilicata and beyond, or simply settle into the relaxed atmosphere of this charming Lucanian retreat.

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SmartFlyer Exclusives

  • Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
  • Daily breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant (already included in property rates)
  • Complimentary lunch or dinner for up to two guests per bedroom, once during stay, excluding alcohol, taxes and gratuities
  • Early check-in / late check-out, subject to availability
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi

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Agent Tips

  • Learn how to shape traditional handmade pasta in a complimentary cooking class in the kitchen.
  • Don't miss Grigliata (barbecue) Night, a warm, familial dining experience taking place in the historical garden.
Accommodations

The essence of home.

The intimate resort has seven large suites and two garden rooms. Each is a work of art and features sumptuous linens and elegant bathrooms. Many of the rooms offer a large terrace and/or a Juliet balcony; some face the charming interior garden, others look onto the leafy town square. All rooms were individually designed to capture the essence of being in a very special home.
Pool + Gym

A private pool within a walled garden in the heart of an Italian town.

Hidden at the far end of the gardens, the swimming pool is generously proportioned and intended for family enjoyment, with bathrooms, showers, cabins for changing, and full bar and food service. Here, you can take pleasure in a quintessentially Roman experience: swimming in a private pool within a walled garden in the heart of an Italian town.
Restaurant + Bar

Traditional Southern Italian cooking in an array of settings.

Dining at Palazzo Margherita is tailored to individual preference. Guests can enjoy traditional Southern Italian cooking or a delicious casual meal served in the eat-in kitchen, the Cinecittà Bar, or beside the swimming pool. Romantic courtyard and garden dining, as well as in-room service, are also available throughout the day. Meals are served on handmade ceramic dishware from the southern Italian village of Grottaglie. You're also invited to join a cooking class during the day, during which the cooks will show you how to make typical local pasta.

Enjoy three different bars on the premises: The Family Bar, an intimate private bar and parlor room where you can sip drinks or coffee throughout the day, and pre-dinner cocktails and appetizers in the evening (this location displays various labels from the Coppola wineries in California; the Cinecittà Bar at the front of the Palazzo, a traditional café and pizzeria that spills out onto Bernalda’s main street and looks onto the town square and is perfect for people-watching, mingling with the local life, and sipping delicious Italian coffee (open daily for lunch and dinner); and the Pool Bar, nestled in the lush garden and serving a wide variety of Lucanian wines, cocktails, and refreshing beverages as you bask in the warmth of the sun. Note, only hotel guests are allowed inside the premises.
  • Vibe
    Palazzo Margherita's locations offer a warm, welcoming, and familial atmosphere. The goal is for guests to feel as though they are stepping into a charming Italian home, rather than a traditional hotel. With the intimate setting, thoughtful design, and dedicated staff, you can truly relax, connect, and feel at home, surrounded by the genuine spirit of Southern Italian hospitality.
  • Who's it for?
    Palazzo Margherita is the perfect location for adults looking for a relaxing escape, for families and friends who desire a cozy celebration or some time together, or for multigenerational family reunions. If you are seeking a refined yet intimate atmosphere, where genuine southern hospitality and excellent local food and wine are offered with warmth and sincerity, then this is the spot for you!
  • Location
    Palazzo Margherita is an intimate hotel located in the untouched Basilicata region in Southern Italy. Basilicata is home to many beautiful and historic towns. Just forty minutes from Bernalda is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Matera, where ancient cave dwellings, known as Sassi, have been reclaimed as picturesque churches, homes, museums, and restaurants. Matera was awarded the title of 2019 European Capital of Culture and is also home to MUSMA, the Museum of Contemporary Sculpture. Small mountain villages dot Basilicata’s sculpted hills, offering an experience of life untouched by tourism. Just across the border in neighboring Puglia, the town of Grottaglie is famous for its ceramics. From Neolithic cave dwellings to the ancient Greek ruins outside Metaponto, Basilicata is home to a diverse array of cultural and historical attractions. The concierge will suggest itineraries to match every interest (including anyone with a penchant for horror, as the abandoned ghost town of Craco is a forty-minute drive away!).Two eighteen-hole golf courses are less than a half-hour drive from the Palazzo. Tennis courts are also nearby. For hikers, the Pollino National Park, Italy’s largest, offers spectacular mountain trails and wildlife an hour’s drive from the Palazzo. Locally, the hotel provides bicycles and itineraries for fitness and sightseeing tours.

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