Palazzo del Corso

Palazzo del Corso, Gallipoli, Italy: A Comprehensive Review of a Michelin Key Selected Property

Palazzo del Corso in Gallipoli, Italy, stands out as a distinguished 5-star luxury boutique hotel, recognized with a Michelin Key selection for its exceptional offerings. Guests consistently praise its blend of historic elegance and modern comforts, coupled with outstanding service and a prime location.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Palazzo del Corso is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing their stays as "exceptional," "superb," and "perfect". Review platforms show high ratings for staff, cleanliness, and location, indicating a very strong positive sentiment. It is considered a top-rated hotel in Gallipoli.

2. Key Highlights

Guests particularly love the hotel's:

• Exceptional Service & Staff: The friendly, helpful, and professional staff consistently receive glowing reviews.
• Prime Location: Its position on Gallipoli's main street, Corso Roma, offers easy access to both the historic old town and the newer parts of the city.
• Rooftop Terrace with Panoramic Views: The panoramic terrace, featuring a pool, hot tub, and the DolceVita restaurant, provides stunning views over Gallipoli and the Ionian Sea, especially at sunset.
• Outstanding Breakfast: The breakfast buffet served on the rooftop terrace is frequently highlighted as a phenomenal experience with a diverse selection of local and fresh products.
• Elegant Design: The hotel beautifully combines 19th-century palazzo grandeur with modern design elements, often featuring vaulted ceilings and stylish decor.

3. Room Quality

Palazzo del Corso offers stylish, air-conditioned rooms that are individually designed, combining modern amenities with 19th-century features and vaulted ceilings. Rooms are generally described as beautiful, spacious, very clean, and comfortable, with some featuring parquet floors, LED lighting, four-poster beds, or wooden ceilings. Rooms and suites are split across two historic buildings, with "Classic" styles offering timeless leather furniture and fresco paintings, and "Fashion" styles presenting a more modern aesthetic with white marble and refined leather and wooden furniture. Many rooms include balconies, free Wi-Fi, and 29-inch flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Suites are often split-level.

4. Dining Experience

The breakfast is a major highlight, consistently praised as "phenomenal" and "excellent." A sweet and savory buffet breakfast, featuring local and fresh products, is served daily on the panoramic sea-view terrace. Guests enjoy fresh fruit, pastries, and the option to make their own juices.

The Dolce Vita Gourmet restaurant, also located on the rooftop, specializes in traditional Puglian cuisine and fish dishes, accompanied by an extensive wine list. While the rooftop setting is perfect for evening drinks and offers beautiful views, some guest experiences with dinner at the restaurant have been mixed, with a few finding the food quality basic for the price and the service not always consistent compared to options in the Old Town.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Palazzo del Corso is consistently lauded as exceptional. Staff members are described as wonderful, friendly, helpful, professional, and attentive. Guests appreciate the warm welcome, often including champagne and snacks, and highlight individuals like Gloria and Francesca for their attentiveness and helpfulness. The 24-hour front desk staff are efficient and helpful, providing tourist information about the Salento area and assisting with organizing trip details and shuttle services.

6. Location & Accessibility

The hotel boasts a superb and very central location on Corso Roma, Gallipoli's main street. It is ideally situated within quick walking distance of both the historic Old Town (just across a picturesque limestone bridge) and the newer parts of town, surrounded by elegant boutiques. White sandy beaches are nearby, and guests may enjoy discounted rates. Gallipoli Train Station is approximately 410 meters away, and shuttle services to various beaches and Brindisi Airport (around 60-70 km away) can be arranged upon request. The location also serves as an excellent base for exploring other Salento attractions like Lecce, Otranto, and Santa Maria di Leuca, all less than an hour's drive away.

7. Value & Pricing

Palazzo del Corso is a luxury 5-star property, and its pricing reflects this. While specific typical price ranges vary by season, rates can start from around $240 in the low season. Guests acknowledge it is "pricier than most", but many feel the overall experience, especially the service, location, and breakfast, justifies the cost. The "Value for money" rating on booking platforms is generally good at 8.6, suggesting that most guests find it worthwhile despite the higher price point.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring minor criticisms include:

• Bathroom Size: A few guests noted that some bathrooms, particularly the shower cubicles in Classic Deluxe rooms, can be very small or need updating.
• Restaurant Dinner Quality/Value: Some reviews mention that the dinner experience at the DolceVita restaurant was disappointing or basic for the price, suggesting better dining experiences could be found in the Old Town.
• Minor Room Issues: Occasional reports of TVs not working well.
• Breakfast Coffee/Hot Options: While breakfast is highly praised, some guests suggested improving coffee quality and introducing more hot dish options.
• Quirky Room Location: One guest mentioned a room that required taking an elevator to the top floor, walking through a dining area, and then going down stairs, which felt a bit added on.
• Taxi Charges: A note that taxis have a minimum charge, even for very short distances.

Sources

1. booking.com
2. hotels-apulia.com
3. trivago.ie
4. booking.com
5. wheree.com
6. michelin.com
7. charmingpuglia.com
8. postcard.inc
9. worldseniorchampionship2025.com
10. expedia.com
11. onthebeach.ie
12. trip.com
13. kayak.com
14. tablethotels.com