Villa Raffaella

You stay in a historic villa whose elegant interiors were designed in the 1800s by Milanese architect Emilio Corti. The setting is practical for a diving holiday: the sea is close, the beach is within walking distance, and the garden offers benches where you can sit down without having to make a heroic decision about the rest of the afternoon.

The hotel team speaks English and Italian, so you can sort out the useful things without resorting to underwater hand signals. The property was renovated in 2023 and has 28 rooms, with a shared lounge and TV area for the moments when conversation loses to fatigue.

This suits couples who want the coast, a proper town around them and a little more character than a standard modern block. Families are catered for too, with family rooms, a children’s menu and babysitting available.

Villa Raffaella is in Santa Cesarea Terme, on Italy’s Adriatic coast, in the centre of town and close to the sea. The beach is about 50 metres away, with golden sand, sun loungers and parasols. That is close enough for a quick swim, a lazy shore day or the useful post-dive ritual of doing absolutely nothing for a while.

The thermal spas are a two-minute walk away, while local places to eat and drink are also close. Est Restaurant is roughly 450 feet away on foot, Delizie Nocesi about 500 feet, and En Plo Cafe around the same distance. Tabacchi Alcazar is about 700 feet away, handy for a coffee or a small local errand.

You are also well placed for exploring the coast by car. Porto Miggiano Beach is about 1 mile away, Castro Marina Beach about 4 miles, and Porto Badisco Beach about 4 miles. Otranto is roughly 9 miles away, with its castle, while Brindisi–Salento Airport is about 56 miles by road.

The rooms keep things cool and straightforward, with air conditioning, television, a private bathroom and a hairdryer. Pastel colours and tiled floors suit the old-villa setting, while the air conditioning matters when the day has involved salt water, warm weather and more sun than your shoulders strictly requested.

For two, the Superior Double Room is the sensible step up from the compact Standard Double Room. If the view matters, choose the sea-view version: it gives the Adriatic a place in the evening rather than leaving it entirely to the terrace. Couples get the easiest arrangement here, with a king-size bed and a private bathroom.

The larger Superior Triple and Quadruple rooms are the practical choices for family groups or friends travelling together. They add sleeping flexibility with a single bed or sofa bed, although a larger occupancy also means more luggage competing for floor space. Apartments and studios have a kitchenette and dining area, and some also have a fridge, useful when you want cold water waiting after a day outside.

The beds are described as particularly comfortable, and the combination of air conditioning and cool flooring should make the return to your room feel rather better than the walk back from the beach. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, with the lobby specifically offering it as a place to connect.

Raffaella Restaurant handles breakfast, lunch and dinner on its terrace, with a Mediterranean menu built around fresh local ingredients and traditional flavours. The dress code is casual, which is exactly right for a hotel where the day may have involved swimwear, sun cream and a towel that refuses to dry properly.

Breakfast is a continental buffet from 07:30, and the stay can be booked on a half-board basis. Lunch runs from 12:30 to 14:30, while dinner is served from 19:30 to 22:00. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available, and the restaurant has a wide selection of local wines.

There is one bar: the Pool Bar, beside the outdoor swimming pool. It serves cocktails and light snacks, giving you somewhere to sit with a drink while deciding whether the next move is dinner, a swim or the chair that has been waiting patiently in the garden. Room service is also available during limited hours.

The outdoor swimming pool is the hotel’s main piece of post-dive machinery, with a bar built into the scene and snacks available nearby. It is not heated, but it gives you an easy alternative to the sea when you want water without sand, waves or having to locate your flip-flops. The garden, terrace and benches add quieter places to dry off and read.

The beach is about 50 metres away, so you can choose between golden sand with loungers and parasols or the poolside version of idling. The coastline also lends itself to snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding and boat excursions, with equipment rental available. These are proper options for a non-diving day, provided your idea of exertion remains modest.

Free bicycles are available for exploring the surroundings, while cycling and hiking are part of the hotel’s activity offering. For a day away from the water, the hotel can arrange cultural outings including an Otranto city tour and a visit to Lecce’s historic centre. The tour desk and car hire service make those plans easier to organise, and babysitting is available when adults need an uninterrupted afternoon.

Brindisi–Salento Airport is about 56 miles away by road, with a typical drive of around 1 hour 14 minutes. An airport shuttle is available through the hotel, either privately or as a shared service, and should be arranged with the property. Car hire is also available, while street parking can be found nearby.

The practical arrival window is 16:00 to 21:00, with check-out from 08:00 to 10:00. If you expect to arrive after 20:00, arrange this in advance; arrivals after 22:00 carry a surcharge and remain subject to confirmation. Early check-in and late check-out can be requested.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Cash, Visa and Mastercard are accepted. You also have luggage storage, a concierge, a tour desk, laundry and dry-cleaning services, a reception safe, a minimarket and meeting facilities. The hotel is non-smoking, and the accommodation welcomes children of all ages; cots and extra beds can be requested according to the room selected.