La Torre is an independent unit of Villa Palazzo del Diavolo (in Parabita, Lecce), a prestigious comfortable building with baroque XVII century décor including large windows framed with sculptured local stone, situated in the middle of Parabita’s historic town center.
At the center of an area of great historical and artistic interest, 25 minutes away from the intense turquoise Ionian sea and the beaches, pine forest, dunes and wild rocky coast of the Regional Natural Park of Punta Pizzo and Isola di Sant'Andrea. The Adriatic seaside is also within driving distance (about 40 minutes transfer).
In addition to the coast, from the site you can easily reach the main attractions of Salento: from the most popular to the most refined and secret ones (Lecce, Galatina, Nardò, Santa Maria di Leuca, Porto Selvaggio, Santa Cesarea Terme, Otranto, to mention only a few).
Once in the courtyard of the Villa, on the right, a wide stone staircase leads to La Torre (the tower),
the main floor, built partly inside one of the towers of the ancient medieval walls.
It is accessed by a cozy terrace through a large door from the frame decorated in carparo, the characteristic tuff Salento limestone, finely carved and embellished with a devil mask. The spacious rooms, with vaulted ceiling, are 5,5 meters high (the oldest, dating back to the '600). The flat has a large reception-kitchen and dining room with a table that can seat up to 10 people, a comfortable living room, a large double bedroom and three rooms in the loft for additional 5 beds (two twin and a single), 4 spacious bathrooms fully equipped with shower. There is also access to the quaint pantry barn (manzano, in local language) and to a courtyard with herbs.
Comfortable accommodation for 7 people.
As in the entire property, the premises are equipped with Wi-Fi connection and independent air-conditioning equipment (cooling and heating).
The apartment went through a careful renovation in 2013, and has modern-antiques quality furniture.
Children are welcome, of course. Smoking is allowed only outdoor.
All rooms have Wi-Fi connection and independent air-conditioning (AC) units (cooling and heating). Free car parking nearby. Plus an own property garage suitable for two compact cars.
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La Torre, as Villa Palalzzo del Diavolo, is ideal for planning a different and amazing itinerary for every day. Itineraries tailored to your desires and needs can be developed with the assistance of our TOURIST PERSONAL ADVISOR at no extra charge.
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SPECIAL FEATURES
WHY IS IT CALLED "PALAZZO DEL DIAVOLO"?
Local tradition has the name connected to an event in its construction: several times, the corner linking the two arms of the balcony surrounding the entire building might have collapsed, despite it being supported. When someone observed that it could be “opera tu tiaulu” (made by the devil), the decision to represent the mask of the devil on one of the brackets, the one in the corner, would definitively resolve the question. Following this event, people began to believe that there was something mysterious about the building.
In reality, it is possible that the name derives from the numerous representations of similar demons that are found at different points on the window cornices and the main door of the building. The origin of these depictions is not clear, but they have the esoteric and apotropaic (against the evil eye) features that recall those of the castles of Frederick II in Apulia, and other constructions in various areas of Italy.
RESTORATION
This was carried out in 2011-2013 by Impresa Leopizzi 1750 of Parabita (a family company that has worked for twelve generations in construction the sector of building and in the restoration of monuments). Architect: Corrado Cazzato of Presicce. The restoration followed rigorous philological and conservation criteria preserving the original walls, the general layout and the typical architectural elements: the vaulting and the use of local stones (carparo and Lecce stone).
FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS
High-quality furniture and furnishings mostly from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Some comes from Friuli (North-East Italy), among them we note the Specchiera consolle impero (early nineteenth century console with a large wall mirror) in the dining and sitting room of the Tower. This piece, which comes from the Great Hall of the Pitotti family home (now Antiquarium) in Povoletto (Udine, North-East Italy), has survived the two XX century world wars during which the house was requisitioned by the local command of the occupation troops.
There are two important original engravings, both from the eighteenth century: a map of the Kingdom of Naples, where also the town of Parabita can be recognized; and a map of the Republic of Venice.
With the help of the owners, it is possible to retrace the origin of various pieces of furniture through the events of family life.
