Italy
The Reschio Estate, Umbria
Three years of work, yet a millennium in the making, The Reschio Estate does not disappoint. Throughout every beautiful space, there’s a playful attitude that sits alongside a reverence for Italian nobility. Priceless antiques, a bold color palette and cavernous, light-filled spaces come together with a casual elegance that soothes the soul. Spread across 3,750 acres, the Estate comprises both the 36-room Hotel Castello di Reschio as well as nine individual private houses tucked away in secluded corners. No matter which you opt for, every element of your stay here has been carefully thought out. From the shifting light that carries you from afternoon into evening in the Palm Court to the ethereal Bathhouse spa that floods historic wine cellars and the country pursuits that will enable you to take in every acre.
Location
Umbria has always felt like a well-kept secret, somewhere you can go and forge your own path. However, might we suggest that path leads here? At home on The Reschio Estate, a stay here feels like a retreat in the truest sense of the word. Food is foraged, landscapes are explored by horseback – and there’s still plenty of opportunity to blaze your own trail should you wish. Venture further afield and you’ll find historic Perugia a 45-minute drive away with hilltop Assisi just 20-minutes further.
Your Room
Handstitched linens and warm terracotta floors, fabrics that caress the touch and bespoke red silk slippers that sit bedside; the details that make up the 36 rooms and suites at Hotel Castello di Reschio come together to create spaces of unique luxury. Drawing on the history of the Castello, antique ornaments and bespoke pieces give each room its own distinct personality, while individual touches such as standalone bathtubs in the bedroom or private terrace gardens ensure no two are the same. None epitomise this flair quite like the Tower Suite, however. Set across five floors in the Castello’s original tower, this two-bed suite is crowned by a spectacular roof terrace with a hot tub perfect for enjoying the 360-degree views.
For added space and privacy, however, venture beyond the castle ramparts into the sprawling Reschio Estate and you’ll find nine individually restored farmhouses. Where they were once left crumbling into the landscape, they now stand as beautiful designed private houses. Offering between three and seven bedrooms, they each open onto a secluded slice of the estate and, complete with their own private pools, are perfect for longer getaways. What’s more, while the hotel may be seasonal, these houses remain open year-round with Umbrian winters a glorious secret few have been let in on.
Why we like it
Few places can challenge the ingenuity and design of The Reschio Estate. Whilst the swimming pool beguiles with its mirrored surface sunken into a lawn sheltered by umbrella pines, and the restaurant enchants with its refined cuisine served atop the ramparts amid the scent of blossoming fig trees, nowhere captures the imagination quite like the Bathhouse. Down in the bowels of the Castello, the ancient wine cellars have been carved out and flooded with warm saltwaters inspired by the ancient Roman baths. Moody shafts of lights are thrown down by high up windows, felt at their most atmospheric in the cozy pool that forms the base of the tower. Elsewhere, the red wine cellar has become a private spa with room enough for six and a space designed for convivial relaxation with its conversation baths and private juice bar. Upstairs, a healthy wine list remains and we recommend leaving the Bathhouse in time to enjoy a glass in the bar as you catch thick syrupy sunsets cast their glow through the tropical-hued Palm House.