The gentle hills of Umbria rise between Perugia and Siena, the original landscape radiates a feeling of peace and comfort. Amidst the natural idyll lies Castello di Reschio – a magnificent estate, with a castle from the 10th century in the center captivating everyone’s attention.
From ruins to new splendor
Light-colored, historical stone walls, small turrets and slender, tall cypresses afford the Reschio its distinctive charm of Dolce Vita. The estate’s history is unique: In 1994 Graf Antonio Bolza purchased the 1500 hectare plot to renovate the listed castle and dozens of medieval farmhouses scattered around the grounds of the estate and proceeded to convert them to luxurious villas. Partly designed as a residential property, partly as a holiday home for leasing, each one of the houses built in a traditional Italian design is unique. Tradesmen, stonemasons, blacksmiths, tile manufacturers and restorers from the region breathed new life into the old walls with exceptional skills and a great love of detail.
Customized design
The castle itself is a superlative jewel: For over 25 years the architect Benedikt Bolza has been investing a great deal of effort and verve into the restoration of the building. The 36 very individual design suites in the boutique hotel are constructed in a charming mix of stately-rustic and modern-elegant flair. He designed numerous pieces of furniture, lamps, glasses and wall colors specifically based on an old archetype for the Reschio. Antique objects and opulent works of art were sourced from small antique markets and art exhibitions from all over Italy. The highlight is the 180 square meter Tower Suite, which extends over five storeys of the old tower that dates back centuries, and has two bedrooms and an open air bathtub.
Close to nature
The size of the estate is also breathtaking: A tour of the unique countryside with its hills, meadows, forests and olive groves takes roughly one hour on the e-bike. As well as vegetables, flowers and herbs there are also fruit bushes grown organically in the garden at the Reschio. The yield is served in the Farm-to-Table Restaurant. Olive oil is gained from the olives of over 5000 trees and roughly one million busy bees produce the finest organic Mille Fiori blossom honey. The high-quality wines produced from the estate’s Sangiovese, Ciliegolo, Cesanese and Merlot vines are also exquisite. In addition to activities such as truffle hunting, hiking, swimming in the private lake and cooking courses the Reschio is a paradise for horse lovers: 40 Andalusians – the noble animals have always been regarded as the horses of kings – live on the estate.
Culture and spa
After an excursion to the enchanting cities of Assisi, Arezzo, Siena or Perugia, which are all respectively approximately a one-hour drive from the Reschio, you can relax in the elaborate palm house or in the underground spa area with salt water pool, private rooms and hammam. Approximately 3000 years ago people lived in the area that is today the magnificent estate. An almost magic flair can still be felt today in the old walls. Unlike then however, we experience the Reschio today as a place of rural luxury, which is unparalleled.
Photos Copyrights: Reschio
