We Don't Host.We Welcome You Home.
Palazzo Ceraselli is not a hotel. It is a home, one that opens its doors to those who wish to slow down, to breathe, and to remember what it feels to truly belong.
Our story
A return to origins
Time seems to move in circles, always returning to where history left its deepest mark. Once the cherished holiday residence of Raffaele Ceraselli, a gentleman of grace, an entrepreneur and a guardian of traditions, the palazzo held summers filled with laughter, long evenings, and the quiet poetry of Valle d’Itria’s life.
For decades, after life shifted and generations passed, the palazzo drifted into a gentle slumber: fifty years of silence, of shuttered rooms, of beauty held in suspension.
The founders
When roots call
But roots possess a mysterious strength. After nearly half a century abroad, Elio Manca, a descendant of the Ceraselli family, returned to Martina Franca to restore the home of his childhood summers and open its doors to travelers seeking the rhythms, flavors and soul of Valle d’Itria.
Beside him, Gabriela Galbenus, Feng Shui scholar and yoga teacher, guided every decision with an attuned sense of place and timing. Together, they shaped a sanctuary of peace, authenticity and mindful living at the heart of Valle d’Itria.
Nature, community & responsibility
Giving back
Our garden, aromatic, peaceful, alive, is a reminder of the rhythm we choose to honour: slow, conscious, respectful. We believe in giving back: nurturing our land through reforestation, offering a home and care for stray animals, protecting our environment through clean-up initiatives, and cultivating awareness through art, culture, and community projects.
Our greatest rewards come from giving, to our guests, our community and our world.
Genius Loci
The spirit of this place
From its hilltop perch in Martina Franca, Palazzo Ceraselli overlooks the white rooftops and silver-green hills of the Valle d’Itria. Built in 1893 and restored with local stone, vaulted rooms and a Feng Shui reading of how energy moves through the house, it remains a place with its own spirit: not a generic retreat, but a home rooted in one particular town on one particular hill.
Mission & values
The pillars of our dream
Pillars that inspire us to live purposefully and create a better world around us.
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Wellbeing
Yoga, meditation, massage, and practices that invite regeneration.
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Food
Seasonal, local, zero-kilometers ingredients; traditional recipes; vegan creations; the joy of sharing meals with heart.
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Music
From the Festival della Valle d’Itria to intimate concerts that fill our home with emotion.
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Learning
Feng Shui, cooking lessons, and the magical rituals of harvesting olives and almonds.
We don’t measure our success in numbers or accolades. We measure it in hearts warmed, minds opened, and friendships made, a family of souls connected through kindness, authenticity, and shared moments of joy.