Palazzo Margherita at Coppola Resorts

Basilicate

The Basilicate region of southern Italy is made up of two provinces : Potenza and Matera. Primarily mountainous and famous for its exceptional caves, the area consists of dry and majestic landscapes. The troglodyte caves of Matera are classified by UNESCO as a world heritage since these celebrated sassi have been inhabited since the Neolithic Era.

Little known to tourists, in the province of Matera, we find the city of Bernalda, a preserved site with authentic charm situated high on a hill giving it a very special aura. The local inhabitants have never experienced mass tourism as is the case in the surrounding provinces and have therefore retained a sense warm and serene hospitality. A visit to Bernalda gives one the taste of an eternal Italy, unchanged for generations.

Cinema in Paradise

Francis Ford Coppola is a living legend whose films are regularly cited among the finest ever made. The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, Secret Conversation and Dracula are prime examples of the sophisticated universe created by the Italian-American film maker, in which the beauty of his images blends in perfectly with his strong sense of humanity. Coppola’s interests are not only limited to the cinema. He is a bon vivant who possesses his own vineyards as well as a range of luxury hotels: the Coppola Family Resorts. His name is an assurance of high quality and above all a sense of the exceptional.

The latest jewel in the Coppola group’s crown is the Palazzo Margherita, a former 19^th century palace restored and renovated by French decorator Jacques Grange whose work has revived the natural splendor of this typically Italian building. The original marble has recovered its past majesty. The wall frescoes recount the history of the region which was once part of the Greek Empire. We also find stylish Baroque and Moorish inspired touches.

The hotel has nine rooms and suites, making intimacy part of its DNA. The Palazzo Margherita, a veritable Garden of Eden, can be totally privatized for all sorts of special occasions such as  wedding celebrations, which was the case for the owner’s daughter Sofia. Personalization is one of the hotel’s key elements with service catering to the guest’s slightest need or desire. The restaurant proposes Italian cuisine of course, but can also adapt to the tastes of a clientele whose well-being takes precedence throughout every moment of one’s stay here.

The swimming pool offers visitors magical moments of relaxation and is an ideal way to recharge one’s batteries before leaving to discover the hotel’s picturesque surroundings and its rich and interesting sites. As a veritable cocoon of happiness and well-being, the Palazzo is a truly unforgettable getaway.

Bernalda is the birthplace of the Coppola family which is why the renowned film maker decided to open the crowning jewel of his hotel group here, where is grandfather, Agostino Coppola lived and gave the city its nickname of “Bernalda Bella.”