The History

The hotel complex of The Park Hotel San Michele is located on the grounds of a farmhouse dating back to the 1800s. It was owned by Barone Pasquale Argentina.

In 1899 the farm was purchased by the Aquaro brothers then well known traders of snow. They changed the farm, by adapting it to their activity which was to collect the winter snow. They collected the snow by rolling it into (neviere) underground rooms which were dug into the rocks. Here the snow was pressed into various layers of ice and then divided into bundles. In the summer, suitably packaged, these blocks of ice protected by bales of straw were loaded onto carts known as (traini) and sold mainly to the costal cities. It was used to make ice cream and sorbets but also for the preparation of cold medicine.

When industrial produced ice started the Aquaro brothers were forced to convert their activities, which were longer profitable. The agricultural business for the production and processing of grapes and (neviera of San Michele) then became a wine factory and remained so until the middle of the 1900s.

At the beginning of the 1950s the transformation of the farmhouse began. It changed into a sumptuous liberty –style villa, adorned with precious marble and wrought iron handmade locally. In the meantime the vineyards were harvested and then gradually pulled up. The gardens were then designed,these gardens which today are reflected in the secular park of which the structure is surrounded.

In 1974 the old mansion was opened to the public and quickly became a Landmark hotel, for its refined cuisine inspired by tradition and local produce. The Park Hotel San Michele was born.

At the beginning of the 80s the enlargement of the structure began and to the now well known old wing a new wing was added to the complex. The hotel then become one of the most welcoming in the Murgia and high Salento area.

In 1993 The Park Hotel San Michele was completely renovated both internally, rooms and ceremony halls and externally. In the park, areas were created for all kinds of ceremonies and events.

At the beginning of 2000 work started on the construction of the conference centre which was completed in 2004 with the opening of the new area dedicated to meetings and conferences.

Today the hotel complex of The Park Hotel San Michele consists of 85 rooms which sleep about 170, various restaurant areas both indoors and outdoors, a conference centre for about 300 and meeting rooms of different sizes, a 5000 mq park in which there is an outdoor pool open during the summer season and a free car-park for all guests.