The Patria Palace hotel opens a spa beneath the vaults of Lecce, in Puglia

There are hotels that add a spa, and those that carve one out. The Patria Palace in Lecce has installed its Idume Spa in the vaulted cellars of the palazzo, beneath 18^th-century stonework, and added a rooftop overlooking the old town.

The property is no newcomer: built opposite the Basilica di Santa Croce to plans by architect Mauro Manieri, the palazzo was acquired by the De Gennaro family in the early 1990s and became, in 1997, the region’s first five-star hotel. What is changing today is how the space is used.

An 18^th-century palazzo facing Santa Croce

Lecce is the pinnacle of southern Baroque architecture, and the Patria Palace occupies prime position: it faces Santa Croce, the city’s most photographed facade. The building is the work of Mauro Manieri, one of the architects who gave the city its blonde stone and ornate detailing.

The Patria Palace, from bedroom to underground spa

The De Gennaro family acquired it in the early 1990s and opened it in 1997. Thirty years later, the property has joined Leading Hotels of the World and been awarded a Michelin Key · two essential milestones for an international clientele discovering Lecce.

Idume Spa, beneath the vaulted ceilings

The spa was not added; it was uncovered. It occupies the vaulted cellars of the palazzo, where local stone forms the walls and arches. The pool and treatment rooms fit naturally into pre-existing spaces, giving the venue an acoustics and lighting that a newly built spa simply cannot replicate.

Sira Kong, the rooftop by Drink Kong

Up on the roof, Sira Kong was designed with Drink Kong, the Roman bar regularly ranked among the world’s best. It is a way of bringing a signature cocktail experience to Lecce that would not have happened organically, giving the hotel an evening destination independent of its resident guests.

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Why the meeting rooms disappeared

This is the most telling strategic decision of the project. To adapt the palazzo, the property removed its business meeting spaces in favour of suites and wellness facilities. A historic city-centre hotel must always choose between square footage rented by the day and square footage rented by the night · here, the latter won out.

HO Collection management, headed by Mattia De Gennaro, champions the same philosophy across its portfolio: an identity unique to each property rather than a replicated model, with investments directed towards the hotel product rather than advertising.

Borgo Barzae, the next chapter

The group has announced the opening of the Borgo Barzae estate in the Itria Valley, slated for 2028. Over the past decade, the valley between Alberobello and Locorotondo has become the quintessential Pugliese country retreat · a logical next step for a brand that has already mastered the city.