Francis Ford Coppola's latest project...A Palazzo!

                                                              Benvenuti!!

 The film director, Francis Ford Coppola, with the help of French Interior Designer, Jacques Grange has renovated a 19th century palazzo in his family's hometown of Bernalda in southern

Italy. This is the fifth and most luxurious in a collection of hotels owned by the Mr. Coppola. Here is the entrance and central courtyard....

 He has spent the past five years carefully

restoring the entire palazzo with an extreme attention to detail. Every tile in the building was removed, cleaned and polished and then reinstalled over radiant heating. There is central air conditioning. All of the rooms have huge televisions with Apple TV and a selection of the best Italian movies ever produced. Most of the nine bedrooms are on the second floor, along with the grand salon, where there is a huge screen at one end and a projector at the other for movie nights. You are welcome to eat al fresco in the garden below during your stay...

The Family Bar has a 19th century wooden bar salvaged from Turin. This is Mr. Coppola's favorite place to have breakfast and a nightcap before going to bed. Le Manach fabric rests on the walls.

This is Mr. Coppola's suite which includes a Moorish ceiling design and the designer's signature zigzag tiled floor.

Throughout the entire palazzo the walls and ceilings have been hand-painted with either stripes or panels.

 In the upstairs hall  the chandelier is from Murano and walls and columns are faux marble.

 Mr. Coppola asked members of his close-knit family if they would like to contribute to the design of their bedrooms. His famous daughter Sofia (notable film director) designed her feminine suite below with " a summer palace theme" which went along with Jacques Grange's vision, inspired by the Villa Favorita near Palermo.

The designer fell in love with the town of Bernalda although it is not a fancy town. In fact it is quite rustic. It is in an obscure location that has yet to become a tourist destination. The palazzo is situated on the town's central square, with large heavy front doors that lead to an inner courtyard, a walled garden, and a swimming pool.

For Coppola, the palazzo is about family, eating well (there is the nearby coast for fish and mussels from the Ionian Sea, and fresh meats and vegetables from fertile grounds close by) and being together.

Sofia actually married Thomas Mars (front man for the French band, Phoenix) at the palazzo this past Summer.

                                                      (Merci': Cocolee)

                                          (Merci': Iwanttobeacoppola.com)      

I like how Mr. Coppola describes his experience..."In the palazzo you are in heaven and then you walk out the door and there is real Italy. In the evening, everyone is out, there are children everywhere. It feels very safe, and I find it a very pleasant and authentic experience."

(Merci': editorial: WSJ magazine and photos: James Merrell)