Don Ferrante

Style

Stone-hewn maze

Setting

Seafront city walls

Built right into Monopoli’s ancient seafront ramparts, hotel Don Ferrante is a labyrinthine hideaway: an elegant tangle of narrow staircases, pretty patios and vaulted limestone ceilings. With just 10 rooms spread across three separate buildings, this whitewashed Puglian retreat charms guests into a slower pace of life. Linger on the terrace over fresh Mediterranean fare, slink into the dinky rooftop pool and soak up those dazzling Adriatic views.

Facilities

Rooms

17, including six suites.

Checkout

11am. Earliest check-in, 2pm. Both are flexible, subject to availability.

More Details

Rates include a buffet breakfast of cereal, yogurt, local bread and cheeses, pastries, tarts, fresh juices and cooked-to-order farm-fresh eggs and bacon, served in the main building.

Also

One of the Deluxe rooms on the ground floor has a bathroom adapted for wheelchair users.

Hotel Closed

The hotel is closed annually in January and February.

Free Internet Access

Laundry

On-Site Restaurant

Room Service

At the Hotel

Rooftop terraces. In rooms: flatscreen TV, minibar, Carthusia toiletries free WiFi (in rooms only).

Our Favourite Rooms

Rooms are spread throughout three buildings: the main hotel, the guesthouse and the townhouse. Kept cool in the summer by the thick, stone city walls, Don Gabriel is the hotel's Superior room, with views of the old town centre. Ground-floor Deluxe room San Vito has a charming little private patio. Suite Don is an indulgent treat with a fireplace, hydro-massage shower and long balcony looking over the sea. All the stone-hewn rooms are soothing and elegant, with handmade ceramics, carved-wood headboards and vaulted ceilings.

Poolside

Sheltered on one side by a striking stone wall, the rooftop’s unheated plunge pool is just big enough for a refreshing dip. Set on a neat patch of grass nearby, two bright white sunloungers let guests linger and soak up the sea view.

Packing Tips

Monopoli’s one-way streets are best explored on foot, so bring some comfortable walking shoes.

Also

Book ahead for a tension-busting in-room massage; in the summer, an outdoor treatment area is set up on the terrace so you can drift away to the sound of lapping waves.

Children

All ages are welcome but with its many steps and high perches, the hotel is best suited to grown-ups. Baby cots (€20 a night) and extra beds (€90 a bed a day in high and peak season and €80 in low and medium) can be added to Deluxe rooms and Suites.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

In the summer, all seats on the terrace are lovely for watching the waves and savouring the sea breeze. Inside, grab one of the two tables by the window for breakfast with a view.

Dress Code

Embrace the Cretan vibe in this labyrinthine seafront retreat with maxi dresses and billowing white linens.

Hotel Restaurant

Locanda Ferrante (open from May to September for lunch and June to August for dinner) dishes up tempting Puglian cuisine on a rooftop terrace with sweeping sea views. The menu changes every month to make the most of local seafood and sun-kissed Mediterranean produce. In fine weather, the all-white sea-view terrace is hard to resist. Breakfast is served in an atmospheric 16th-century gunpowder cellar.

Hotel Bar

Head to the rooftop with a cocktail in hand, or sample robust reds and fragrant rosés from the hotel’s extensive cellar.

Last Orders

Breakfast is served 7.30am–11am and lunch 12.30pm–2.30pm, after which the dinner menu is available from 8.30pm–10.30pm.

Room Service

A light lunch and full dinner menu are available during restaurant opening hours.

Planes

Bari and Brindisi airports, both a 40-minute drive away, serve domestic and international flights from across Europe.

Trains

A five-minute drive away, Monopoli station serves Trenitalia trains from Bologna and stations along the Adriatic Railway. The hotel can arrange free pick-ups from 8am to 7pm.

Automobiles

Parking in Monopoli Old Town is typically restricted to residents, but guests of Don Ferrante can drive up to the hotel’s front entrance via Portavecchia ZTL to drop off luggage until 5.30pm on the day of arrival (as long as you’ve registered your number plate with the front desk before arrival). If you're arriving after 5.30pm, the nearest public car park is 300m from the hotel and there's a private garage 800m away that's open from 8.30am to 5.30pm for €30 a night (advanced booking is required).

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

A jumble of whitewashed houses, ornate church spires and picturesque narrow streets, Monopoli is a delight to explore. Take advantage of Don Ferrante’s free buggy tours to get your bearings in the postcard-worthy centro storico. Stroll down to the sheltered harbour to watch traditional fishing boats bringing in the day’s catch. Follow the sturdy city walls along the coast to a pretty little cove of golden sand just below Santo Stefano castle, once the Knights of Malta’s stronghold. The hotel also runs a free shuttle to private beaches and can arrange cookery classes and wine tastings in local masserias. While in Puglia, it’s worth hiring a car to explore the glorious green-and-gold valleys and Unesco-protected sites: Alberobello’s distinctive trulli dwellings, the imposing citadel at Castel del Monte and Matera’s breathtaking cliff-clinging houses are all within striking distance.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .