LECCE, Apulia — We spoke to Miriam De Rienzo-Gazzola at Palazzo Maresgallo, which she rescued with her husband Lionello from sixty years of abandonment and transformed into one of Lecce’s most striking boutique hotels and art galleries. Twelve suites furnished with works from their private art collection, a noble floor given over to rotating exhibitions of contemporary artists, a grand salon frescoed by Roberto Ruspoli with star-shaped vaults drawn from the pizzica, and a rooftop terrace overlooking Lecce’s Roman theatre and the Duomo. Lionel, whose family legacy in conservative restoration stretches back to his grandfather’s work on the Louvre, and whose career has taken him through projects with the Arnault family and the world’s most prestigious luxury houses, had an instinct for extraordinary spaces before anyone else did. That instinct even drew Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren as patron of the grand opening, and Dior’s Croisière show to Lecce in its wake.
Q. You and Lionel were living in Paris, you already had a house on the Salento coast, and then you walked into this palazzo. Most of the windows were bricked up, the facade was blackened. What on earth happened in that moment?
“We simply fell in love with Lecce and with the palazzo. Pure love. Our dream was to give a new light to Palazzo Maresgallo.”
Q. Helen Mirren was here. Dior’s Croisière came to show in Lecce. You clearly have an instinct for recognising something extraordinary before the world catches up. Was there a moment when you thought ‘have we completely lost our minds?’
“Lionel has an innate ability to recognise special places and transform them into something extraordinary. During two years of restoration work, we often thought we had lost our minds. But the truth is that it was an act of love, and love is often a kind of madness.”
Q. Lionel comes from a family of restorers. His grandfather worked on the Louvre. But you have said this was the most ambitious project of his entire career. What did those two years of restoration actually feel like?
“Honestly, it was a challenging restoration. Palazzo Maresgallo is a historical residence subject to the oversight of the conservation authorities. But in the end, we succeeded, and to an exceptional standard. It was very, very hard.”
Q. You often describe Palazzo Maresgallo with a series of words that all begin with A. Arte, architettura, autenticità, amore, amicizia, avventura (art, architecture, authenticity, love, friendship, adventure.) And then Helen Mirren added one more. Can you tell us that story?
“Palazzo Maresgallo is an act of love, a story written with all the letters A. Amore, art, architecture, authenticity, armonia, amicizia, friendship. And Helen Mirren said to us: ‘May I suggest another A, the most important one?’ I replied that the most important A was for amore, love. And she answered: ‘No, the most important A is for anima, soul. This is where your soul is.’ I was deeply moved.”
Q. You have always said this is not just a hotel. For you, what is this place?
“This palazzo is a home that welcomes our collection of art and design and tells the story of our forty years together. It is a journey from the sixteenth century to the present day.”
Q. You have brought real internationality into Lecce: the Louvre, your background in terms of projects with the Arnault family, as well as high-profile architectural work from around the world. Would you say that Palazzo Maresgallo offers something that cannot be found elsewhere?
“Lecce is now recognised worldwide as one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. We fell in love with it before others did. Local people don’t always realise how essential it is to preserve the authenticity of this place and to protect the elegance of the simplicity.”
Q. You have spent forty years travelling the world and staying in the most extraordinary places. What does Palazzo Maresgallo offer that you cannot find anywhere else?
“We offer more than a place to stay. We share an experience of beauty, history, and the art de vivre. What makes us unique is welcoming our guests as friends, offering comfort and elegance, to live a magical and unforgettable experience.
