Francis Ford Coppola Resort

[ENG] - Palazzo Margherita is situated in Bernalda, a small hilltop town in the Basilicata region of Southern Italy. Located in the province of Matera, which is famous for its ancient cave dwellings, dramatic landscapes and historic houses, Bernalda is relatively unknown outside of Italy. It is just ten minutes from the coast, where miles of white sand beaches border the Ionian Sea, as this part of the Mediterranean is known. While the neighboring region of Puglia has become popular with tourists, Bernalda remains largely undiscovered—one of a few remaining parts of Italy where the culture, food and wine remain authentic and untouched by the world beyond. The townspeople offer a genuine hospitality that makes every visitor feel more like a friend or neighbor than a tourist. It is said that anyone who visits Bernalda cannot resist returning.

Palazzo Margherita, a true 19th century palazzo, was built in 1892 in Bernalda by the Margherita family. The town was the birthplace and home to Agostino Coppola, Francis Ford Coppola’s grandfather, who always affectionately referred to it as “Bernalda bella.” The small town holds a special place in the family history, which is what drew Francis to first visit it in the 1960’s. He acquired the Palazzo in 2005. The surrounding countryside, which was settled by the Greeks before the Roman Empire, is part of the Hellenic Magna Graecia—the coastal areas of Southern Italy—where the thriving local agriculture produces sumptuous fruits and vegetables, as well as the Aglianico grapes used to make wines of the same name. Nestled between the ancient cities of Metapontum and Matera, the area is rich with history, including haunting primordial cave dwellings referred to as “Sassi,” which have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Completely restored in collaboration with acclaimed French designer Jacques Grange, the Palazzo offers a luxurious yet authentic Italian experience, with vast bedrooms, ornate reception rooms and an inner courtyard opening onto a world of private gardens and a swimming pool.

In keeping with Francis’s desire to create an environment his children would want to continually return to, the entire family collaborated with Grange in contributing personal details to individual rooms, adding to the special atmosphere of visiting a private home. The interior is styled with tiled floors and hand-painted fresco ceilings with a taste of Moroccan and Neoclassical flair. Some of the furniture and finishes were personally designed by Grange, and the floors have been restored from the original marble, with additional craftsmanship provided by painters and artisans in the region.

The intimate resort has seven large suites and two garden rooms. Each is a unique work of art and features luxurious linens and elegant bathrooms. Many of the rooms feature a large terrace and/or a Juliette Balcony; some face the charming interior garden, others look onto the leafy town square. All rooms were individually designed in order to capture the essence of being in a very special home.

Garden Suite One - This suite embodies the elegance of Italian country house style—an airy, traditional room that opens directly onto the courtyard garden and fountain. Situated on the ground floor, it also features a spacious, en-suite sitting room with a floor to ceiling window that heightens the effect of being sequestered in one's own private garden. The large bathroom includes a clawfoot bathtub and separate glass shower among its many details. Queen-sized bed. 550 square feet (50 square meters). Maximum occupancy of three people with additional twin bed

Garden Two - An elegant and traditional room that opens directly onto the lush private garden and fountain. It features vaulted ceilings, a large closet and a writing desk. A beautifully appointed bathroom is highlighted by a clawfoot bathtub beneath a window that overlooks the garden. Queen-sized bed. 320 square feet (30 square meters). Maximum occupancy of two people Garden Three - Like our other garden rooms, this one embodies the simple elegance of Italian country house living. Grand barn-like doors that open onto the inner courtyard create a setting that is both sophisticated and rustic. A luxurious bathroom includes a clawfoot bathtub and separate glass shower. Queen-sized bed. 370 square feet (35 square meters). Maximum occupancy of three people with additional twin bed

Suite Four (Sofia) – Jacques Grange designed this suite in collaboration with Sofia Coppola; its mood is delicate and feminine, with hand-painted frescos evoking a misty summer garden at dawn. A Juliette balcony off the bedroom overlooks the courtyard and the palatial bathroom has a steam shower and a clawfoot bathtub. French doors from the bathroom and bedroom lead to a fully-furnished private terrace that offers a magical view of the garden and fountain. King-sized bed. 670 square feet (60 square meters). Maximum occupancy of three people with additional twin bed.

Suite Five – Classic Italian décor lends this suite a warm ambiance with a modern touch. A secret back staircase leads to an upstairs small loft, whose single bed and sitting room make it an enchanting hideaway for a child, or a perfect private reading room for adults. (It is said that it was the room of the Palazzo's young maid, Palmetta, who had given her heart to the dashing Agostino Coppola.) The room also features a majestic ceiling with a hand-painted restored fresco, and spacious bathroom with a clawfoot bathtub and separate shower. A Juliette balcony faces the main street and town square, a perfect spot to enjoy coffee or tea. King-sized bed. 670 square feet (60 square meters). Maximum occupancy of four people with additional twin bed.

Suite Six – This majestically proportioned suite pays tribute to Italian décor of the early 20th century, combining simple elegance with bold ornament. A Juliette balcony opens onto the main street and leafy town square. The magnificent ceiling, with a restored, hand-painted fresco, and the spacious bathroom with clawfoot bathtub and separate shower add to the room's comfortable formality. King-sized bed. 590 square feet (55 square meters). Maximum occupancy of three people with additional twin bed.

Suite Seven (Roman) – This Modernist-inspired suite was designed by Jacques Grange in collaboration with Roman Coppola. Its Art Deco furniture and lighting, elegant slate bathroom, and restored fresco of the same period lend an international flair. It includes a fully-furnished shared terrace for dining or relaxing outdoors as well as a Juliette balcony that opens to the beautiful courtyard below. A lavish bathroom includes a separate shower and clawfoot bathtub. King-sized bed. 465 square feet (45 square meters).

Suite Eight (Gia)- This romantic suite was designed as a gift to Gia Coppola, Francis's first granddaughter. It features a subtle Rococo design with a delicate fresco on the ceiling representing Cupid and Psyche, symbolizing good fortune and happy harmony to lovers. A large walk-in closet and separate dressing room add to the dramatic scale. A balcony offers a view of Bernalda's main street and town square, a perfect spot from which to enjoy the spectacle of unhurried, small-town life. A spacious bathroom includes a clawfoot bathtub and separate shower. King-sized bed. 780 square feet (70 square meters). Maximum occupancy of three people with additional twin bed.

Suite Nine (Francis) - Integrating subtle elements of Tunisian design—a historical influence in Southern Italy—this picturesque suite has a fully-furnished shared terrace overlooking the garden and courtyard. The style is intended to honor Francis's Tunisian-born grandmother, Maria Zasa. A striking tiled fireplace and an anteroom with a large writing desk add to the regal splendor of this suite. A luxurious bathroom includes a clawfoot bathtub and separate shower. Walls and high ceilings feature beautifully restored painting and frescos. 800 square feet (75 square meters.) Maximum occupancy of three people with additional twin bed.

[ITA] - Progetto architettonico di restauro bio-ecologico, risanamento conservativo, retrofit energetico e direzione dei lavori di una dimora storica destinata a residenza d’epoca a fini turistico-ricettivi. interior design: JACQUES GRANGE