
This Puglia Hotel is an Invitation to Enjoy La Dolce Vita
Located in a rural setting in the Italian region of Puglia, a hidden gem of a hotel, Tenuta Negroamaro, sits on nearly 10 acres of land but comprises only 10 rooms. Having lived in London since he was 16 years old, the owner decided to start a hospitality project in his native Puglia, and trusted designer Olga Ashby to craft the interiors.
Created as a peaceful home away from home, the boutique hotel favors indoor-outdoor living, offering guests an invitation to slow down.
With its vaulted ceilings, the main house is dedicated to the breakfast area as well as a sitting area for drinks and board games, while a bamboo gazebo provides shade and a stunning view of the pool surrounded by vegetation. Each of the rooms has its own garden or private pool—true sanctuaries for guests. With a mural painted by a local artist and inspired by the local cacti—also used to produce the alcohol which is an ingredient in many on-site cocktails—the pool bar doubles as an Instagrammable spot.
Throughout the hotel, Ashby used natural and traditional materials, including Pietra Leccese stone and travertine for the floors and furniture and jute for rugs and lighting fixtures. Combining rough and smooth textures, the designer wanted to create a “handmade tactile” experience where neutral and earthy colors blend the exteriors and interiors.
Giving guests the feeling of being in a friend’s house, Tenuta Negroamaro, which has a vegetable and fruit garden as well as a small farm, features the work of artisans from different parts of the world. Ashby sourced the artwork above the sitting area in the library corner, and the blankets and cushions in the guest rooms, from Morocco. A vintage African bed bench adorns the living area, 19th-century books can be found in several nooks and the tapestry in merino wool above the sofa is bespoke.


Several projects and programs are already in the works for the hotel’s near future: organizing yoga retreats and—in the little round buildings, called “trullo,” a traditional Apulian dry stone hut with a conical roof—a meditation space and a private dining space for two are underway.
Inside Tenuta Negroamaro, a 10-Key Boutique Hotel in Puglia, Italy















read more
Projects
This Boutique Hotel in St. Barth Leans into Retro Charm
Tropical St. Barth, a boutique hotel designed by Oscar Lucien Ono, reminds guests they are on holiday the second they step inside.
Projects
SBGA | Blengini Ghirardelli Collaborates With Valerio Berruti on the Artist’s Live/Work Space in Italy
SBGA | Blengini Ghirardelli works hand in hand with Valerio Berruti on the artist’s joint studio and family home in Alba, Italy.
Projects
Acro Suites, a Clifftop Resort, Wows in Crete
Afoi Orfanaki and CMH Architecture make the most of a precipitous clifftop site for Acro Suites, a resort near Agia Pelagia on the island of Crete.
recent stories
Projects
OOIIO Arquitectura Transforms a Haberdashery into a Chic Loft
A haberdashery invites sophistication—and a touch of whimsy. That sentiment is perfectly reflected in a vibrant Madrid loft, which was once such a space.
Projects
Art and Nature Take Center Stage in This Aspen Residence
For a spectacular mountainside residence in Aspen, Colorado, CCY Architects creates a stunning space where the great outdoors meet great art.
Projects
SheltonMindel Designs a Miami Home Fit for Beach Days
This Miami apartment by SheltonMindel embraces the surf and sky with a shimmering palette, a focus on light, and architectural furnishings.