Palazzo Presta

Those with a keen eye for geography will have noticed that there’s more than one Gallipoli on the Mediterranean — it’s derived from the Greek for “beautiful city,” which is a recurring sentiment in these parts. This one, in Puglia, is set on a small island connected to the mainland by a walkable bridge. And within a 17th-century house in the warren-like town center is Palazzo Presto, a surprisingly colorful and contemporary boutique hotel that’s packed with personality, thanks to its talented designers and the art and objects collected by its globetrotting proprietors.

Each bedroom is different, and we mean different — not just a fresh color scheme but a whole new inspiration, from Morocco to the Americas to the Silk Road and Japan. Underlying the eclectic décor is the historical architecture of the house and its neighbors, as well as modern, if unobtrusive, boutique-hotel comforts.

What makes Palazzo Presto more than a guest house is the inclusion of a restaurant, Lazzaro & Caterina, on the ground floor; it’s joined by a rooftop bar called Laurus, as well as the Libreria del Mare, a speakeasy-style bar hidden away within a functioning library displaying volumes by local publishers.