It was a chance find on Instragram. There were
pictures of this most beautiful hotel in Umbria,
Hotel Castello di Reschio. It was so beautiful, we
decided we would take a road trip and visit.
And what we found was much more than a
hotel. We found history revisited: a family
committed to sharing a vision of sustained
living, whose future was dedicated to moving
traditions forward responsibly. It was no wonder
that, once learning of their story, we at dig.ni.fy
decided to profile Hotel Castello di Reschio and
Count Antonio Bolza and his son, Count Benedikt
Bolza, whose collective vision and work made it all
happen.
History Revisited
Hotel Castello di Reschio has a long history, a
condensed version of which demonstrates just
how long.
Construction of the original castle started in 900 A.D. An ancient figurine found on the upper slopes of the property suggest the area was once under Etruscan rule; and thus, the name Reschio is thought to derive from Resculum, the Latin word for fortification, rather than the Italian word of the same spelling which means risk.
First deeds related to the property were granted to the family of the Marchesi del Monte Santa Maria by Charlemagne. In 1355, Reschio came under the direct influence of the Holy Roman Empire, creating an independent fiefdom, an island surrounded by the warring factions of Umbria and Tuscany. This created plenty of drama, as warring families struggled for control. Apparently, there was even a telling-off by the Pope in the 16th century for a placement of the Cesi coat of arms (representing a former owner, Angelo Cesi, the bishop of Todi), over the castle’s entrance.
What brings the story full circle is that Cardinal Lorenzo Corsini was elected to became Pope Clemente XII by the College of Cardinals in 1730. The Pope’s niece had married a member of the Bichi Ruspoli family, whereupon the Pope bestowed the title of Conte di Reschio on their son. Until the early 20th century, stewardship of the land was overseen by the Bichi Ruspoli family of Siena until it was transferred to the Cenciari family. And it is here, in an interesting historical twist, the Bolza family realized – with the marrieage of Donna Nencia Corsini to Benedikt Bolza – a Corsini had just returned to the property.
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