nemo – Design your dream trip

Need help?

Show all photos

Castle Elvira

Castle Elvira: the manor, the myth, the legend… Topped with crenellated turrets and surrounded by enchanted forest (and groves), this storybook 20th-century Puglian stay is rooted in tragic origins (as its folklore goes), but steered towards a bright future by Renaissance creative Harvey B-Brown and his partner. The decor certainly isn’t retiring – a mix of restored frescoes and floral-motif floor tiles, statement-yelling pieces (tufted velvet or circular bedframes, stone bath tubs, and Brown’s own artistic embellishments) – and nor are guests, who might be disco-ing in the pool, crafting their own portraiture, joining singalongs around the grand piano or calling on the mobile cocktail cart. Elvira is a beauty that only sleeps when she really needs to.

Go deep into the Puglian hinterland, where the olive groves thicken and the roads give way to green, and you’ll find the fairytale that is Castle Elvira (actually just a 20-minute drive from Baroque beauty Lecce).

Room Types

The Prince Suite

26sq m | Access to a private salon and balcony (shared with the Princess Suite), with views over the hotel’s parkland and olive groves | Idiosyncratic in style, this suite has high, frescoed ceilings and 20th century floral-motif floor tiles, plus baby blue and mint green hues with pops of neon pink, and avant-garde artworks | Super-king-size bed on a tufted teal-velvet bedframe, with an aloe-vera-infused mattress and Conran linens | Ensuite bathroom with a rain-head power shower | Underfloor heating and cooling, Marshall Bluetooth speaker, smart TV (hidden behind a vintage mirror) and Ortigia bath products

from £606

The Princess Suite

26sq m | Access to a private salon and balcony (shared with the Prince Suite), with views over the hotel’s parkland and olive groves | This sunny suite is painted lemon yellow and has high ceilings with the remains of frescoes, and 20th century floral-motif floor tiles, plus avant-garde artworks | Super-king-size bed on a tufted purple-velvet bedframe, with an aloe-vera-infused mattress and Conran linens | Vintage vanity with a pink-velvet cocktail chair | Ensuite bathroom with a rain-head power shower | Underfloor heating and cooling, Marshall Bluetooth speaker, smart TV (hidden behind a vintage mirror) and Ortigia bath products

from £606

The Cottage

70sq m | Set in the grounds 20 metres from the house | Private garden (26sq m) with a sunken Jacuzzi and direct access to the pool | Decor is full of personality, with whimsical and Pop prints, bold hues throughout and stylish modern lighting | Salon with velvet cocktail chairs, canary-yellow sofa-bed for one and a curio cabinet | Two bedrooms (one peach-hued, one sage) each with a king-size bed dressed with aloe-vera-infused mattresses and Conran linens | Two ensuite bathrooms, each with a rain-head power shower | Underfloor heating and cooling, Marshall Bluetooth speaker, smart TVs in each bedroom (hidden behind a vintage mirror) and Ortigia bath products | Sleeps up to five

from £956

The Queen Suite

37sq m | Access to a private salon and balcony (shared with the King Suite), with views over the pool, gardens and the St Elia Ridge | A cheerful suite with high, frescoed ceilings throughout, citrussy hues on walls, avant-garde artworks and decorative 20th-century floor tiles | The suite also has views of the St Elia Ridge garden and pool area | Super-king-size bed with an aloe-vera-infused mattress and Conran linens | Ensuite bathroom with a carved-marble bath tub, walk-in rain-head power shower, twin sinks, and chaise-longue | Underfloor heating and cooling, Marshall Bluetooth speaker, smart TV (hidden behind a vintage mirror) and Ortigia bath products

from £1030

The King Suite

37sq m | Access to a private salon and balcony (shared with the Queen Suite), with views over the pool, gardens and the St Elia Ridge | From your suite, you have views over the hotel’s parkland, gardens and pool | Dramatically decorated, this room has a high ceiling with flecks of vintage fresco paint, walls in varying shades of blue, patterned 20th-century floor tiles, and avant-garde artworks (we particularly like the Matisse-esque man with an apple over his face) | Bedroom with a super-king-size petrol-blue leather bed (with an aloe-vera-infused mattress and Conran linens) and drum-shaped side tables | Ensuite bathroom with a carved-marble bath tub, walk-in rain-head power shower, twin sinks, ottoman and floral-motif floor tiles | Walk-in wardrobe | Underfloor heating and cooling, Marshall Bluetooth speaker, smart TV (hidden behind a vintage mirror) and Ortigia bath products

from £848

Tower Park Suite

27sq m | Set in the 18th-century Tower Elvira (in the estate grounds), about 150 metres from the castle | Access to a 40sq m swimming pool | Entry through your private garden (16sq m), which has an ancient hand-hewn well, wood-burning stove, alfresco dining space barbecue and large parasol | A head-turning suite with the original stone star-vault ceiling, mirrored feature wall, museum-piece table (with a roulette-style inlay), lavender-hued walls, avant-garde artworks and drum-shaped side tables | Small sitting area with a blue-velvet sofa | Super-king-size Timothy Oulton Aviator bed (with riveted-metal frame and leather headboard), with an aloe-vera-infused mattress and Conran linens | Ensuite bathroom with a sunken bath tub and a rain-head power shower hidden behind an original, illuminated 1960s ‘tree of life’ screen | Underfloor heating and cooling, Marshall Bluetooth speaker, Marshall Bluetooth speaker, smart TV (hidden behind a vintage mirror) and Ortigia bath products

from £606

Masseria Pepper Suite

28sq m | Set in the 18th-century Tower Elvira (in the estate grounds) about 150 metres from the castle | Access to a 40sq m swimming pool | Private walled garden (15sq m) with an alfresco shower, dining area, barbecue and large parasol | This suite feels a little more traditional than some of the other rooms, with its Venetian plaster finishes in red and dark grey and star-vault ceiling, but lemon walls, Crittall-glass doors and avant-garde artwork make it feel modern too | Super-king-size bed with a carved Timothy Oulton headboard lined with buttoned leather, aloe-vera-infused mattress and Conran linens | Vanity | Ensuite bathroom accessed through Crittall-glass doors, with star-vault ceiling, hand-carved stone bath tub and rainfall power shower | Underfloor heating and cooling system, smart TV (hidden behind a vintage mirror), Marshall Bluetooth speaker, Ortigia bath products

from £726

Masseria Agave Suite

30sq m | Set in the 18th-century Tower Elvira (in the estate grounds) about 150 metres from the castle | Access to a 40sq m swimming pool | 15sq m private garden | Split-level suite | With star-vault and wood-beamed ceilings, exposed brick and rough plaster finishes in a terracotta hue, this room has a traditional feel but with avant-garde art and retro furnishings to bring it up to date | On the lower level is a lounge area with a vanity, original log-burning fireplace and a sofa which converts into a bed for one | Bedroom set on the upper level with a king-size bed in a polished-cement frame, dressed with an aloe-vera-infused mattress and Conran linens | What was once the masseria’s bread oven is now the ensuite bathroom, with a sunken bath tub and rain-head power shower | Underfloor heating and cooling system, smart TV (hidden behind a vintage mirror), Marshall Bluetooth speaker, Ortigia bath products | Sleeps up to three

from £726

Tower Top Executive Suite

28sq m | Set in the 18th-century Tower Elvira (in the estate grounds) about 150 metres from the castle | Access to a 40sq m swimming pool | Staircase leading to a discreet roof terrace (10sq m) with a round hand-carved stone bath tub (big enough for two) and views all around | In the suite there’s a porthole-style window with views over the private citrus orchard and pool | A spectacular space with a triple-height star-vault ceiling; gilded, Murano-glass volcano-style chandelier; large-scale artworks; lavender walls, and flagstone flooring | A retro-futuristic-style 240cm-wide round bed, open wood fireplace, chintz love seat, mirrored vanity, and studded-metal wardrobe | Ensuite bathroom with a rain-head power shower | Underfloor heating and cooling system, smart TV (hidden behind a vintage mirror), Marshall Bluetooth speaker, Ortigia bath products

from £848

The Castle and The Cottage

Exclusive use for up to 12 guests (more on request), available from November to April | 37 acres of parkland, gardens, and olive and citrus groves | Furnished terraces and alfresco dining spaces | 70sq m heated infinity pool with hydromassage jets with an integrated Sonance sound-system | 12-person Jacuzzi | The full run of the four-storey castle, cottage and grounds | Lounges with original wood-burning fireplaces | Salons with balconies | Sitting room with a 1902 Beckstein grand piano | Dining room | Cinema with Timothy Oulton leather seating | Castle roof terrace bar (with cashmere blankets to borrow) | Red-glass-lined elevator | Four suites in the castle | Two suites in the cottage

from £5198

Location

Via Andrano, Trepuzzi, 73019

CHECK-IN

CHECK-OUT

*We’ll search for the best rates, so you don’t have to.

Handpicked by experts.
Each hotel and experience is carefully selected by our Travel Experts and vetted by our trusted partners around the world.

Designed by you.
Our platform gives you control. Design and book your dream trips, with no hidden costs.

Everyone is a VIP.
We offer personalised advice and concierge services from the moment you land on the website, right up until you return home.

We give back with every trip.
1% of every trip is donated to Hello World, our incredible charity partner.

Suggested Itineraries

Design your dream itinerary and get expert advice.

The Nemo Promise

We are on a mission to simplify bespoke travel planning. This starts by handpicking boutique hotels that have wonderful design, character and ethical practices at their core. Each and every traveller is important, that’s why we have a dedicated team ready to help 24/7. If you want anything extra arranged, from a hire car on arrival to a bespoke experience away from the crowds, all you need to do is ask. For every hotel booked, we will plant a tree in your name and 1% of our revenues are donated to our inspiring charity partner, Hello World..

Covid Policy

As a highly personalised and service-driven company, we are keen to support all of our clients in helping you to make the best possible decision and to be able to travel with confidence in this ever-changing climate. We’ll work with you to ensure that you are fully comfortable with every element of your trip from the moment you visit our website, right up until you get back home. Your health and safety is of the upmost importance, and we ensure all of our hotels are vetted under the latest regulations and are under constant review.

Cancellation Policy

We charge a non-refundable deposit and you can change your travel dates for free up to one week before your trip, which is when your balance is due. Our post-booking services are industry leading and your deposit is to ensure we can offer you the support you deserve, every step of the way. Expect 24/7 access to our team of Travel Experts, a slick concierge app, and VIP treatment on arrival.

East Africa

Indian Subcontinent

Latin America

North Africa & Middle East

Oceania

South-East Asia

Southern Africa

Need help?