Paragon 700: A New Boutique Hotel & SPA in Ostuni

Paragon 700, a new boutique hotel and SPA, has opened in Ostuni, housed in the historic Palazzo Rosso, once home to the city's first mayor and linked to the Giovine Italia movement. Designed by Pascale Lauber, co-owner with Ulrike Bauschke, the hotel blends pieces from South Africa and local craftsmanship, with many items designed by Lauber herself, founder of ID Living. The property previously hosted a contemporary art exhibition in 2018, "Cantieri mentali, Opere di Caio Gracco," during its renovation. Paragon 700 features temporary exhibitions, such as works by Michal Cole, artist and director of the Pavilion of Humanity, whose pieces deconstruct symbols of power using materials like ties and money, including a tribute to Queen Elizabeth. The exhibition runs through summer. The hotel collaborates with the Monopoli conservatory and will host music for the Festa della Musica on June 21. Its cocktail program, "The Cocktail Show," pays homage to cinema, using fermented ingredients for wellness. The cuisine, led by a chef blending childhood memories and Mediterranean techniques, includes dishes like a tortello shaped like a cartellata filled with hunter-style ragù of young rooster.