Palazzo Mosco Inn

A 19th-century palace on the island

Palazzo Mosco Inn is a small hotel in a 19th-century palace in Gallipoli's old town, the city on a limestone island in the Ionian. It is on Via Micetti, behind the cathedral of Sant'Agata, among the alleys and courtyards of a district that is still a fishermen's one. From here you do everything on foot: the cathedral, the wall, the castle and Purità beach (see the old town walk).

It is the option for sleeping inside the city, without a car, with the sea round the corner.

The rooms

Each room is different, with furniture that follows the building's 19th-century style. Some face the old town's alleys and others the inner courtyard. There are two types:

• Double Standard, from 15 m²: small and well kept.
• Double Deluxe, from 20 m²: some have a four-poster bed, and others keep the original mosaic floor or frescoes.

All have adjustable air conditioning, wifi, satellite television, minibar, safe, hairdryer and a marble bathroom with shower.

The terrace and services

The best of the house is up above: a terrace over the sea and the Gulf of Gallipoli, with the white walls and bougainvilleas of the old town around, for a drink at sunset. There is a small wellness room where treatments and massages are booked.

The hotel belongs to the same group as the Palazzo del Corso, a five-star in Gallipoli with a rooftop restaurant, the Relais Corte Palmieri and the Relais Valle dell'Idro in Otranto. From the Palazzo del Corso, yacht outings for up to four people are organised, with a swim at Sant'Andrea island.

Getting there

Gallipoli has a train from Lecce run by Ferrovie del Sud Est, about 45 minutes by car. If you come by car, ask the hotel before you arrive where to leave it: the old town is a maze of alleys.