La Sommit
Historic grandeur meets quiet luxury. Serious architecture, restrained interiors in cream and stone, very few rooms so it actually feels private. Not a resort — no beach, no big pool — but an intimate urban palazzo retreat with real character.
Book Cielo restaurant at the same time as your room — peak season fills up fast and it's open to non-guests too
Why It Matters
One of only a handful of 5-star hotels in all of Puglia. Member of both Relais & Châteaux and the American Express Fine Hotels program. Home to Cielo, a Michelin-starred restaurant. The building itself — built on the original castle foundations of Ostuni — is a working piece of 500-year-old history, and the wellness center occupies an ancient olive oil press with the original millstones still visible.
La Sommità sits at the literal top of Ostuni — the 'White City' of Puglia — in a 16th-century palace that was once the seat of the city's ruling Zavallo dukes and later a bishop's residence. The 15 rooms are carved out of the original Gothic-Romanesque structure, with soaring stone vaults, skylights drilled through ancient walls, and the occasional 13th-century iron grille still in its original archway. Outside, it's nearly invisible — just old whitewashed stone like everything else up here. Inside is a different story: minimalist design, local limestone and wood, and a Michelin-starred restaurant called Cielo.
Where You'll Stay
15 room types available
Deluxe Family Studio — Il Colle
From USD280 / nightTwo-level room designed for families. A living area with sofa bed on the ground floor and a stone-shower bathroom. A staircase leads to the mezzanine sleeping area with a king-size bed. The skylight here is framed by an original 13th-century iron grille — one of the most visually striking architectural details in the hotel.
King-size on mezzanine + sofa bedDeluxe Room — L'Affresco
From USD280 / nightNamed for a fresco uncovered during the hotel's renovation, which depicts the oldest known representation of Ostuni's cathedral. You're literally sleeping next to a piece of local art history.
King-sizeDeluxe Room — La Corte
From USD280 / nightInterior-facing deluxe room with a distinctive skylight positioned at the very top of the wall, letting light filter in softly rather than through windows. High vaulted ceilings throughout.
King-sizeDeluxe Room — La Grotta
From USD280 / nightGround-floor room built entirely from authentic Apulian stone. The name says it — it has the feel of a cave, in the best possible way. Quiet, interior-facing, very cool even in summer.
King-sizeDeluxe Room — La Loggia
From USD280 / nightComfortable and versatile deluxe room on the inner side of the palace, with the option of an extra bed for families.
King-size (extra bed available)Deluxe Room Balcony Sea View — Il Sole
From USD375 / nightPanoramic views stretching over olive groves to the Adriatic coastline. The balcony catches the full sunset panorama.
King-sizeDeluxe Room Balcony Sea View — La Palma
From USD375 / nightElegant room with a private balcony overlooking Ostuni's olive groves and the sea. Sophisticated and relaxed design, ideal for watching the sun go down over the coast.
King-sizeDeluxe Room Balcony Sea View — La Torre
From USD375 / nightUpper-floor room with a private balcony for open-air relaxation. Part of the Deluxe Balcony Sea View category with views toward the sea.
King-sizeDeluxe Room Sea View — Il Mare
From USD280 / nightNamed for the sea view it offers from its upper-floor position. Large windows bring in the view without a balcony.
King-sizeDeluxe Room Sea View — L'Aranceto
From USD280 / nightUpper-floor room overlooking the hotel's orange trees and the Adriatic beyond. Large windows frame the panoramic view rather than a balcony — still some of the best light in the house.
King-sizeSuite Il Camino
From USD400 / nightOpen-plan suite with a living room, working fireplace, and a private inner courtyard. The stone-and-marble bathroom has a freestanding exposed bathtub. One of the more dramatically designed rooms in the hotel.
King-sizeSuite Il Cielo
From USD400 / nightUpper-floor two-level suite with a living room and stone shower bathroom downstairs, and a lofted sleeping area with a king-size bed. A skylight illuminates the sleeping area, and the Twiggy chandelier is the design centerpiece.
King-size or twin singlesSuite L'Aurora
From USD400 / nightUpper-floor two-level suite balancing comfort and style. Named for the morning light that fills it.
King-sizeSuite La Cattedrale
From USD400 / nightTwo-level suite with a cozy living room and sofa bed on the ground floor — ideal for a third guest — and the sleeping area above. Named for its proximity to Ostuni's cathedral.
King-size + sofa bedSuite Le Volte
From USD590 / nightThe top-of-the-range room in the house. Ground-floor, accessible through the inner courtyard, with a majestic vaulted stone ceiling and a minimalist design that really lets the architecture speak. The bathroom has a central Jacuzzi tub carved from tuff stone. There's a private outdoor patio enclosed by the ancient citadel walls, with sea views and views over the olive plains.
King-size (extra bed possible) · 60 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
4 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Concierge-organized excursion through Cisternino, Locorotondo, and the trulli of Alberobello. Scenic countryside route through olive groves and vineyards.
Guided private tour of Lecce — the 'Lady of the Baroque' — with a tour guide and optional private driver. Guide costs are separate.
Day trip to Matera, organized by concierge, to explore the ancient Sassi cave dwellings — a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993.
The hotel's own vintage Ape Calessino — the iconic Italian three-wheeled vehicle — available for touring around Ostuni's old town in style.
A private session in a local Apulian home where a traditional housewife teaches the art of making orecchiette and taralli from scratch. Ends with lunch and local peasant wine.
Guided e-bike route starting from Piazza Sant'Oronzo, circling the city walls, descending through thousand-year-old olive trees to the Port of Villanova via the ancient Via del Procaccio. Ends at the sea with gelato before heading back up.
A private crewed boat along the Adriatic coast, visiting caves along the cliffs of Polignano a Mare and diving in clear waters. Ends with an aperitif of wine and Apulian specialties on board.
Concierge-arranged private driver for customized excursions to the Itria Valley, Matera, Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Lecce, or Salento. Available by car or minivan.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Qualified babysitting available on request. Note: children under 8 are not accepted.
Enclosed inner courtyard with orange trees, olive trees, and citrus. Used for garden bistrot dining and Cielo summer dinners. Shaded daybeds available.
Property participates in Amex Fine Hotels program.
Outdoor Jacuzzi and plunge pool area with solarium, set within the Spanish garden. Not a large swimming pool — more of an intimate relaxation area.
Sun deck area alongside the outdoor Jacuzzi with loungers.
Full concierge service for organizing activities, restaurant reservations, drivers, transfers, and beach club access.
Turkish hammam steam room, available for standalone sessions and as part of multi-stage body rituals.
Transfers from Brindisi airport, Bari airport, and Ostuni train station available on request (surcharge applies).
Valet parking available — essential since the hotel is in a pedestrianized zone and guests cannot drive to the entrance.
BUILD YOUR LA SOMMITA RELAIS PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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