Palazzo Esmeralda

The apartment is a feast for the eye, decorated exquisitely with incredible attention to detail and with every convenience you could need. Surrounded by a cast of local characters, wonderful delis, restaurants serving local delicacies freshly caught from the sea, ice creams in exotic flavours crowned with cream. There is art and culture bursting from every crevice of the town. We easily reached the outer regions: Lecce, Matera and Alberobello by bus and train. Annabel was a fantastic host, brimming with knowledge about the area and beyond and always attentive and helpful. Can’t wait to return.

Every fixture adorning this sumptuous apartment tells a story. The rooftop boasts bewitching views of the cathedral, the castle, the sea. Perfectly placed a step from the ocean, boutiques and restaurants. We saw the interiors of the ancient castle alongside works by Warhol. Old met new in a cultural explosion of contemporary art inside the hitherto locked doors of Palacios and chapels mid rennovation. We descended beneath the main square’s fountain and traversed through the tunnels of WW2 bomb shelters. Annabel is a brilliant host with a wealth of knowledge about the area. Highly recommend.

We had a beautiful week staying at this lovely accommodation with everything we needed. The property has been restored to a very high standard. Congrats to Annabel. We must have picked the hottest week in recent history!! Annabel welcomed us, showed us around and recommended beaches and restaurants. Everyone was very friendly and the food was great.

Annabel’s glorious historic property sits on a quiet square within Monopoli’s old town, a short taxi ride from the station. The apartment is furnished with a designer’s eye: its roof terrace with clear views of the Adriatic is an absolute highlight. We stayed with children and swam every day off the rocks in the shallow, safe water of the Cala Porta Vecchia which is 5 minutes walk away. The grandeur of Lecce is a short train ride along the coast, but Monopoli has everything. Annabel is a warm and welcoming host, full of ideas, and who is very much a part of the local community