Text and photos by Capucine Gougenheim Geagea.
Guy Martin's Italian palaces offer the quintessence of La Dolce Vita
A long weekend in Italy with Guy Martin, in Nardo
To be welcomed into Guy Martin's palaces is to have the privilege of following one of France's greatest chefs on his latest peregrinations and discovering his favorites, this time Italian. A tireless traveler, bon vivant and aesthete down to the smallest detail, the chef has succeeded in creating these extraordinary places to live in old palaces whose old-fashioned charm has been awakened, almost overturned, by carefully chosen pieces of design and art, modernized by noble materials in keeping with the concept of beauty, pleasure and ease imbued with La Dolce Vita.
Abandoned palaces reawakened by Guy Martin and his family's love affair with the city
It was while visiting the first palace, abandoned with its charm intact, that the chef decided with his wife Katherina Marx to transform first one, then two places into luxury guest palaces, having become completely hooked on the area, and touched by the grace and majesty of this special place in Italy, in the heart of the Lecce region of Puglia.
The Palazzo Matteo, located just a few blocks from the first two palaces, completes this private collection in a grandiose and accomplished manner.
Listed as a historic monument, Palazzo Matteo recently opened its doors.
Each apartment is different, with a terrace offering a 360-degree view over the rooftops of the town of Nardò.
The charming Baroque town is the cradle of the abandoned palaces of princes, witness to the authentic Italian Dolce Vita as imagined in the 1950s, unfolding its flamboyant architecture amidst the arid lands of the sunny Salento region, a vast land of olive groves and vineyards.
Six exceptional suites decorated with works of art and local materials
The 1000 m2 of Palazzo Matteo are home to six exceptional suites, immense and comfortable, set under cathedral vaults, typical of the Salento region, to keep out the heat.
Each suite is decorated with hand-picked pieces, collections and works of art that only the most discerning collectors can afford to dare, to form a heterogeneous yet homogeneous whole, unique associations that offer the eye the personal choice of collectors.
The spacious bathrooms feature gigantic showers, some with two showerheads lined up in a row for that perfect duo moment.
The floors are original, like the marble or covered with terracotta, the dazzling presence of Trani stone from Puglia, mosaics made from designs by Katherina, Marx and the headboards covered with fabrics from publishers, bringing a feminine and colorful touch to the place.
A moment of peace amidst collections of art, history and mythology
Original vintage photographs by Giacomelli, Ghirri and Pietzsch rub shoulders with works by Verlaine, Cocteau and Picasso, as well as the great 17th-century painters Francesco Albani, Giacomo del Po, Anthonius van Dyck and Andrea Vaccaro.
The palace is home to an incredible collection of works from Ancient Rome. The immense and unique marble sculpture of Eros, as well as rare glasses, carafes, pendants, vases and lamps, stand alongside furniture by Alvar Alto, Le Corbusier, Gio Ponti, Ico Parisi, Jan Bocan, Paolo Buffa, Ettore Sottsass, Minotti with original Marelli fabrics, Jansen Caccia Dominioni; while an impressive collection of 1970s lamps by Albert Tormos meets mirrors and wall lamps by Ponti, Vigo, Fasano, Scarpa, Espelt and illuminates a cabinet by Serafini created for the Abitare exhibition in Verona in 1988.
Each space is a testimony to different eras, tracing the history, art, mythology and sharp eye of its owner.
Happiness is in Salento
On the rooftop, large terraces planted with flowers overlook the city, bordering a beautiful whirlpool that is a luxury and an exception in this historic center.
You can dine here, have breakfast and taste Pasticcioti, a local specialty, an orange blossom cream cake.
You can lounge by the pool, in the heat, at sunset to enjoy the coolness of the evening, and enjoy Guy Martin's wine, Le Primissimo, as an aperitif. Made in the region from Negroamaro, a Salento grape variety, it's certified organic and committed to a responsible approach; the joy of discovering a wine bursting with freshness yet generous with a silky taste and hints of spice.
A suspended moment, richer than a simple trip to a luxurious palace
Here, the palazzo offers a moment of peace, out of time, far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It allows you to take your time, to stroll around, to observe each detail, each work of art, and to experience the idea of aesthetics at close hand, through the eyes and taste of these great collectors, who are generous enough to offer more than just a suite in a luxurious palazzo.
They succeed in creating a privileged moment in their home, almost a transmission of their art of living, amidst this abundance of beautiful objects and cultural wealth, without ostentation.
"
is our desire, we want to share our passion for Art. Our culture has evolved, our way of seeing has changed, and through our actions and proposals, we bring other references to the table." Guy Martin.
Three palaces, Palazzo Matteo, Palazzo Maritati, Palazzo Muci and a house called Casa della Vigna, just as pretty and luminous, await you in Nardò.
palazzomaritaemuci.com
Photos © Romain Ricard © Michel Figuet © Capucine Plume
