About Me & Salento

Showing you my roots

 

I’m Leonardo Orlando, founder and host of The Art of Leo. Born and raised in Salento, I spent years traveling and working in hospitality before returning home to transform my family’s 18th-century palazzo into a creative retreat.

 

My vision was simple: to blend the beauty of traditional architecture with a modern sense of comfort and design, creating a place that feels both inspiring and familiar.

 

Salento is a land of contrasts — white-stone villages, ancient olive trees, turquoise seas, and baroque towns filled with light and art. Through The Art of Leo, I share that atmosphere with my guests, inviting them to live slowly, eat locally, and feel the rhythm of southern Italy.

 

Slow living, art, and authenticity

 

Here, days unfold under the Mediterranean sun. You can start your morning in the courtyard, enjoy a swim, taste fresh local produce, or explore nearby Lecce, Tricase, and the Ionian coast.

 

The Art of Leo isn’t just accommodation — it’s an invitation to experience Salento as it truly is: artistic, soulful, and alive.