World famous director Francis Ford Coppola has officially opened his new luxury hotel Palazzo Margherita in Bernalda, Italy. Set in Southern Italy where his grandfather Agostino Coppola was born, Coppola's new charming hotel is a completely renovated authentic 19th century palazzo. Working with renowned French designer Jacques Grange, Coppola created a luxurious environment that exudes an Italian warmth.
Coppola is no stranger to the hotel business, with three already in Guatemala, Argentina, and Beliza, and by now the director knows exactly what he'd doing. At Palazzo Margherita, first built in 1892, guests can enjoy a beautiful vacation spot that is relatively unknown to tourists, and rife with cave dwellings, authentic Italian villages, historic homes; the property is also just 20 minutes from many beaches. Featuring restored marble floors and hand-painted fresco ceilings that exude Moroccan and Baroque influences, Coppola wanted to craft an authentic Italian experience that would make guests feel like family and could be a place his own family can enjoy for decades to come. According to Coppola, "...I purchased and designed the now Palazzo Margherita for friends and family to call home in Italy, I knew I needed to extend the property and surrounding village of ‘Bernalda bella’ to my guests as well.”
The six Suites and three Garden Suites are arranged around a beautiful courtyard that offer lush gardens and a private swimming pool. Ranging from 550 square feet to 320 square feet, the Garden Suites embody traditional Italian elegance and are bright and airy, with large floor to ceiling windows and vaulted ceilings. The largest of the six suites is the Francis Suite and is 800 square feet. With an elegant Tunisian design, the Francis overlooks the garden and courtyard and honors Coppola's Tunisian-born grandmother. Each detail is striking in beauty, from the tiled fireplace to the scrollwork along the walls.
One of the softer, more romantic rooms, is the Sofia Suite. Inspired by Coppola's daughter Sofia, the room is feminine and delicate. The hand-painted frescos resemble an early morning garden fog, with a balcony that overlooks the courtyard. In the bathroom is a clawfoot tub and steam shower, as well as a private terrace.
Dining at Palazza Margherita is sure to be a unique experience. Guests can enjoy traditional Italian cuisine either in the Eat-In Kitchen, the Cinecittà Bar, the Family Bar, or the Pool Bar. If you really love your meal, you're more than welcome to join the chef in a cooking lesson so you can make it yourself once home.
Guests can relax and enjoy the wonderfully styled Salon, inspired by Italian director Luchino Visconti. At night, the relaxing atmosphere is transformed into a concert hall or cinema, playing some of Coppola's favorite films. The Palazza Margherita also offers many services and amenities to their guests, including 3D televisions, a huge DVD collection that specializes in Italian cinema, Wi-Fi, private yoga and Pilates lessons, bike tours, and in-room massages.

For more information visit PalazzoMargherita.com