Palazzo Guglielmo - Vignacastrisi, Lecce

At that time, the ground floor was used for the offices and the warehouses to put the olive oil, the wine and the food coming from the fields. This floor was crowded by the housekeepers, workers and farmers that since early morning worked in the garden or in the lounge. The present breakfast room was originally a horse stable, while the swimming pool area was full of chickens and rabbits. Food was stored inside the wells located on the left of the lounge, while one of the rooms was used as a garage for the only car that was present in the town. Granaries and storerooms were located in the cellar.

The rooms where our guests stay, used to be the kitchen and the laundry. Here the housekeepers washed the laundry with hot water and ashes or prepared the cheese using fresh milk. Workers, shepards, men and women were involved in different activities, among which were the maintenance of the palace and of the warehouses.
At the beginning the main sources were corn, oil and wine but when the tobacco was introduced, the palace was enlarged in order to include the new product. The new part of the palace included the tobacco warehouse (Via Napoli), where during many years the local women worked.
The palace became the economic and social centre of the village and its importance grew during the years, especially after II World War, when the family started to deal with politics and administration.
In some special occasions the palace was also used for popular and religious festivals. One of these occasions was the celebration of the festival for the Saint Protector (the Virgin of the Holy Rosary), that takes place in October.

At that time, the ground floor was used for the offices and the warehouses to put the olive oil, the wine and the food coming from the fields. This floor was crowded by the housekeepers, workers and farmers that since early morning worked in the garden or in the lounge. The present breakfast room was originally a horse stable, while the swimming pool area was full of chickens and rabbits. Food was stored inside the wells located on the left of the lounge, while one of the rooms was used as a garage for the only car that was present in the town. Granaries and storerooms were located in the cellar.

The rooms where our guests stay, used to be the kitchen and the laundry. Here the housekeepers washed the laundry with hot water and ashes or prepared the cheese using fresh milk. Workers, shepards, men and women were involved in different activities, among which were the maintenance of the palace and of the warehouses.
At the beginning the main sources were corn, oil and wine but when the tobacco was introduced, the palace was enlarged in order to include the new product. The new part of the palace included the tobacco warehouse (Via Napoli), where during many years the local women worked.
The palace became the economic and social centre of the village and its importance grew during the years, especially after II World War, when the family started to deal with politics and administration.
In some special occasions the palace was also used for popular and religious festivals. One of these occasions was the celebration of the festival for the Saint Protector (the Virgin of the Holy Rosary), that takes place in October.