Corte Manfredi, a small hotel in Italy

Careful Restoration Returns Noble Mansion to its Former Glory

A local aristocratic family lived within this vaulted courtyard mansion for centuries after its construction in the 16th century, but the once-noble residence had completely lost its standing when its new owners stumbled upon it. Abandoned and in a state of near complete decay, the ancient manor still seduced, and today the mansion has been painstakingly returned to its former glory.

A stroll through the old town center of a small village in their beloved Puglia led the future owners to this residence, the home of the aristocratic Manfredi family which stood crumbling in a cul de sac bearing the family’s name. In great disrepair and architectural decay, the residence’s noble bones nonetheless remained apparent—ceilings were vaulted, coats of arms spread across arched openings, and mosaics covered a floor—so they spent several years breathing new life into the home, resulting in its rebirth as an architecture-lovers dreamscape.

Today, the multiple structures hold five bedroom suites and a communal living room, kitchen, and terrace garden. This vacation home rental in Italy can be booked as individual rooms or as a single residence. Fully restored rooms offer vaulted volumes, some have massive open hearths, and all are decorated with a touch of minimalist modern design that allows its ancient aristocratic origins to shine. An outdoor terrace with a solarium and small plunge pool occupy the home’s center, and richly carved balconies, stone portals, and picturesque arches are elegantly preserved.

Corte Manfredi’s renovation is particularly notable for its respect of the ancient series of structures that made up the region’s traditional courtyard homes. No structural changes or additions were made, and most of the estate’s unique details—friezes, wall niches, mosaics—were recovered and preserved to revive the home’s historical origins rather than renovate or update them. Distinctive details include the two types of vaulted ceilings, the mosaic floor in one room, and heavy stone fireplaces made of local Lecce stone or tuff. Friezes and carved stone wall décor celebrate the aristocratic standing of the home’s original residents, and the updated room décor is in keeping with local traditions, showcasing regional ceramics, reed work, weavings and signature fisculi baskets.

The owners of Corte Manfredi offer select cultural experiences with an emphasis on local traditions. Private tours to surrounding historical villages and monuments, Fiat or sailboat tours, and culinary and wellness workshops can be booked as a part of your stay. There are also opportunities to experience the work of local artisans firsthand, including tours and lessons on the disappearing tradition of fisculi weaving, rush gathering, and ceramic making.

AROUND

This vacation home rental in Italy is located in a paved alley in the historical heart of Alessano, a small village in the southern part of Salento in Puglia. A commercial center in the 15th and 16th centuries, the town offers multiple Renaissance palaces and a historical downtown characterized by narrow cobbled alleys, arched stone portals, richly carved balconies and facades, and numerous churches.

The owners offer extensive information and sightseeing opportunities highlighting local and regional traditions, including offering visits to nearby sites such as the cave dwellings and ruins at Macurano, the unique underground oil mills at Presicce, the hilltop village of Specchia with its castle, as well as the coastal villages and seashore grottos of Novaglie, Marina Serra, Tricase Porto, and the powdery white beaches of Pescoluse, known as the Maldives of Salento.