In Lecce, La Fiermontina stands as an extraordinary art hotel—a homage to one of the most captivating artistic and familial sagas of the twentieth century; a harmonious trilogy of genius and passion spanning the sun-drenched landscape of Salento, the bohemian cafés of Paris, and the fragrant breezes of Rabat.
La Fiermontina comprises three distinct properties situated merely three hundred metres apart: La Fiermontina Luxury Home, a seventeenth-century masseria featuring nineteen rooms and suites set within an olive grove with a swimming pool, home also to Zéphyr Restaurant; La Fiermontina Palazzo Bozzi Corso, a refined 1775 residence offering ten suites, a private garden, and a panoramic rooftop bar; and the Fiermonte Museum, which incorporates four themed guest suites within its exhibition spaces.
Allow yourself to be transported to distant worlds through the beautiful paintings, ornate sculptures and luxury furniture we have chosen to help us tell our incredible story.
A Tale of Great Love and Artistic Alliance
The properties of the Fiermontina collection owe their existence to a homecoming—a tribute paid by siblings Antonia Yasmina and Fouad Giacomo Filali to the memory of their ancestors. Chief among them was their grandmother, Antonia Fiermonte, the true muse and secret soul of this sanctuary, and her brother Enzo Fiermonte, a boxer and Hollywood actor who wed the famous Lady Madeleine Astor, the wealthy American heiress who survived the sinking of the Titanic.
The artistic narrative preserved beneath the star-vaulted ceilings of the hotel began in the 1930s when Antonia, an Apulian violinist and painter, departed Italy for Paris in pursuit of love. She became the wife and muse of the French sculptor René Letourneur, a prominent figure of the Art Déco movement.
Her temperament and allure, however, equally entranced René’s closest friend, the artist Jacques Zwobada. A tumultuous ménage à trois ensued; upon Antonia’s untimely death at a very young age, the two artists rekindled their enduring friendship through the shared veneration of her memory.
This familial tapestry took on rich North African nuances when Anne, Antonia Fiermonte’s daughter, married the son of Cadi Thami Filali—an influential scholar of Islamic law—in Fez, giving birth to Antonia Yasmina and Fouad Giacomo.
Today, this saga lives anew in Lecce, in the heart of Salento where the story originated. Here, the two grandchildren and current owners have brought home from Paris private family heirlooms, period furnishings, and the sculptures and drawings of the two French masters. These works now adorn the ancient olive groves and opulent suites of this dispersed luxury retreat (albergo diffuso).
La Fiermontina Luxury Home
A stay at La Fiermontina Luxury Home is an immersive encounter with Art Déco: guests do not merely visit a collection, they inhabit it. While the architecture speaks the native vernacular of Leccese Baroque and Apulian rural minimalism, the interiors engage in an ongoing dialogue with French modernism and the European avant-garde.
Opened in 2015, the 19 suites offer exclusive terraces and private gardens, culminating in the magnificent Pool Suite with its private pool.
The Fiermonte Museum
Located fifty metres from La Fiermontina Luxury Home, the Fiermonte Museum offers a kaleidoscopic journey through twentieth-century art, showcased through the private collection of the Fiermonte-Filali family.
Under the chisel of René Letourneur, marble blocks are transformed into poetry, while Jacques Zwobada’s bronzes writhe in celestial combat before ascending toward infinity. The curatorial path unfolds through sensuous figurative sketches, Antonia Fiermonte’s watercolours, 1930s photography, archival letters, notebooks, and 3D documentary films exploring the artists’ lives.
Here, guests may also reside within one of 4 themed suites—rendered in hues of blue, crimson, deep teal, and powder pink—each dedicated to music, cinema, sculpture, or painting.
Zéphyr Restaurant
Nestled between an ancient olive grove dotted with sculptures—such as Letourneur’s Armonia II and Zwobada’s La Couple—and a secluded citrus garden, Zéphyr Restaurant resides within La Fiermontina Luxury Home. Open to non-resident guests, its cuisine embodies the heritage of the founding family, presenting a culinary odyssey between Salento, France, and Morocco.
Under the direction of Chef Antonio De Carlo, the menu balances the revival of local traditional recipes with refined haute cuisine. Honouring the family’s North African lineage, the kitchen crafts aromatic, spice-infused dishes thoughtfully reinterpreted for fine dining—such as Taktouka with Arabic flatbread, Tajine di Manzoma, and spiced Triddhi.
The menu equally celebrates the authentic flavours of Apulia through classics such as Ciceri e Tria, Spaghetti Nonna Antonia, Fave e Cicorie, and Muersi Fritti, seamlessly interwoven with elevated French seafood creations incorporating local catches—including amberjack tartare and Spigola in Porchetta served with frisella and tuna sashimi.
La Fiermontina Palazzo Bozzi Corso
Palazzo Bozzi Corso, the collection’s noble residence situated three hundred metres from the Luxury Home, was designed by the architect Emanuele Manieri. It retains its eighteenth-century splendour—complete with soaring frescoed ceilings—complemented by interior design that serves as a manifesto of modernism and avant-garde style.
Inaugurated in 2018, each of the 10 suites honours a member of the family or a prominent artist; highlights include the magnificent Jacques Swobada Wellness Suite, the Blue Wellness Suite, and the Deluxe Lady Astor Suite with its private terrace.
The interiors are further elevated by curated artworks and iconic design pieces selected by the French interior designers Charles-Philippe and Christophe of Laboratoire Design in Rabat. Notable highlights include Ettore Sottsass lamps for Artemide, Gio Ponti’s Superleggera chairs for Cassina, Le Corbusier’s Escargot lamps produced by Nemo, and distinctive creations by Carlo Scarpa.
Equally enchanting are the secluded rear garden where breakfast is served, the wellness relaxarium with gym, and the rooftop bar complete with a pool and solarium, offering breathtaking views across the rooftops of Lecce and unforgettable sunsets.
La Fiermontina stands among Italy’s most distinguished art hotels. Guests are warmly encouraged to reserve the complimentary art tours conducted by the property’s dedicated Guest Ambassadors.
The Secret
The mother of the current owners, Anne—daughter of Antonia Fiermonte—is a prominent figure in avant-garde cultural circles. She met Yoko Ono at the memorial to John Lennon, “Strawberry Fields Garden,” which Anne created with her in New York’s Central Park. As a further tribute, they also published an art book in which various 20th-century artists paid homage to Lennon and his vision. Many of his works are on display in the halls of La Fiermontina Palazzo Bozzi Corso and also in the John & Yoko suite, which houses John Lennon’s drawings donated by Yoko Ono to the Filali family.
La Fiermontina Luxury Home
La Fiermontina Palazzo Bozzi Corso
Useful Info
La Fiermontina Collection
La Fiermontina Luxury Home
Piazzetta De Summa Scipione 4
73100 Lecce
Tel. +39 0832 302481
La Fiermontina Palazzo Bozzi Corso
Via Umberto I 38
73100 Lecce
Tel. +39 0832 1560335
Rates: Rooms from €220 (including breakfast)
Zéphyr Restaurant: First courses from €18 | Main courses from €25 | Tasting menu from €100 | Cocktails from €16