BORGO STORICO SEGHETTI PANICHI, ABOUNDING IN HISTORY, ART, BEAUTY AND TRADITION, AND INHABITED BY THE SAME FAMILY FOR EIGHT GENERATIONS

Rich in historical tradition and abounding in charm and culture, the Seghetti Panichi residence has been inhabited by the same family for eight generations. To this day, it preserves the same aim of perpetuating and transmitting passion and respect not only for the family home but also for the entire surrounding territory. Once a medieval fortress, today Borgo Storico Seghetti Panichi is a historical Palazzo that welcomes guests and travellers and offers accommodation in the form of suites and apartments that show careful attention to every detail.

It is also an exclusive venue for events and ceremonies with an unforgettable atmosphere, thanks in no small part to the delightful bio-energetic Historical Park surrounding the entire dwelling. What follows is an extract from the famous work written in 1790 by the well-known painter and architect Perugino Baldassare Orsini in his "Descrizione delle Pitture, Sculture, Architetture ed altre cose rare della Insigne di Ascoli nella Marca" (‘Description of the Paintings, Sculptures, Architectures and other rare things of the illustrious city of Ascoli in the Marche region’):

" The main requirement which architects prescribe when building a villa is a preference for a location where the air is salubrious; combined with this is choosing a hillside which offers a pleasurable panorama. This Villa, which is seven miles away from the city of Ascoli when exiting from Porta Maggiore, is well equipped with all the aforementioned prerogatives, enjoying much of the countryside around the Tronto Valley and overlooking the hills in the distance, with views of the Montagna dei Fiori mountain group and also the peaks of the Gran Sasso in the Apennine Mountains further away, while looking towards the East one can see the Adriatic Sea stretching along the horizon.

The Palazzo sits on the summit of a hill facing south and east and is shaped like an inverted “T”. A majestic gallery on each of the three floors divides it down the middle, with portals at both ends on the ground floor and a vast grotto with 15th-century arches on the subterranean level.  Together with the adjoining chapel, the elevated bell tower and its clock situated in front of the Palazzo offers a gratifying sight to visitors, whether viewed from near or far, and the latter is also connected to the main Villa by an underground passageway. The overall setting is one of delightful rolling hills that are abundant in fruit-bearing oak trees, vineyards and olive groves. In one corner to the east of the Palazzo, one can admire a leafy green area with a small Roccolo featuring antechambers where a group of people can comfortably rest while hunting”.

THE HISTORY OF BORGO STORICO SEGHETTI PANICHI

The existence of the Castle on the Lama is first mentioned in 1311 in Sebastiano Andrea Antonelli's "Historiae Asculanae". The area was an important and strategic one, located between the territories of the north and the powerful Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, divided by the Tronto River which acted as a natural boundary. The Borgo Storico complex included a Mansion, which was an agglomeration of small houses that together constituted a defensive fortress in the medieval period between 1300 and 1400. Three impressive galleries running north to south were built In the 1500s which unified these smaller constructions and formed a unified Castle.

During the same period, the Gentilizio Oratory dedicated to San Pancrazio was built in front of the Castle (1580 - 1625). The Chapel is a testament to many historical memories pertaining to the Piceno territory and indeed the central altar is composed of white travertine, a typical stone from the Ascoli region. On either side, two beautiful frescoes from the mid-1600s can be admired: Sant'Emidio, the patron saint of Ascoli Piceno and protector against earthquakes, is on the left and San Serafino of Montegranaro, the protector of the Family, appears on the right-hand side. The surrounding walls are entirely frescoed with an eighteenth-century cycle depicting Theological Virtues and a series of interesting monochromes produced by the workshop of the famous Ascoli painter Biagio Miniera.

At the end of the 1600s, a façade section was added to the defensive Castle in the shape of an inverted "T," which transformed the structure into a country home for private use. With this addition, the interior of the Palazzo became habitable, and today features an imposing reception floor and two additional storeys where seven prestigious suites are now located, where the family used to live during the summer months. Further down the hill, beyond the Oratory, ancient stables dating back to the 1600s are housed, and are now a venue designated for events and cultural activities. Adjacent to them is another impressive structure, namely a Residence from the 1800s which was formerly a rural farmhouse, and which now contains five apartments and a charming restaurant overlooking the swimming pool and surrounded by a Mediterranean garden.

This entire grand complex is framed by five hectares of greenery, which from 1876 to 1890 was designed and planned by the great German landscape architect Ludwig Winter. After the unification of Italy in 1860, the noble Carfratelli Seghetti family decided to gentrify all these historical monuments by adding a romantic garden typical of the late nineteenth century. At its heart is an undulating pond, with statues of Venus and Cupid towering over a rose-filled islet, while in the background, there is a fine example of a 19th-century rockery, which depicts the Mount of Sibyl with its magical spring. The historical garden was studied from 2000 to 2003 by Professor Kunnen and his student, Eco designer Marco Nieri of Bologna, who defined bio-energetic zones, making it the first ever Bio-energetic Historical Park in Europe. The entire historical, architectural and landscape complex is bound and protected by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and has been owned by the same family for several generations. The current direct owners and curators are Ben Gladstone and Stefania Gladstone Pignatelli.

Visitors to Borgo Storico Seghetti Panichi can enjoy a variety of services: overnight stays and private events such as weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties and family gatherings can be organized, as well as business meetings, conferences, team building activities, temporary exhibitions and cultural events dedicated to well-being, food and wine, and healthy eating.

FACILITIES AND SERVICES AT BORGO STORICO SEGHETTI PANICHI WHAT WE OFFER

Accommodation: Overnight stays in the Palazzo or in the Residence, with breakfast service and lunch and dinner upon request.

Hospitality for groups: Family reunions, destination weddings and events, with exclusive use for private stays in the entire complex or individual buildings, with various customised options available.

Events: Weddings, birthdays, family gatherings, meetings. Various options for the use and rental of the Residence and the Historic Park are available.

Destination Events: All-inclusive packages for your weekend events that include activities throughout the surrounding area. We help you find the best and most suitable things to do with your family, friends, colleagues, or clients.

Location: Cultural events, photo shoots, TV and film shoots.

Restaurant: Open all year round for weddings, communions, confirmations, birthdays and anniversaries, including breakfast and the organisation of food and beverage as required.

Swimming pool: Nestled in the heart of the Residence’s Mediterranean garden, next to the apartments and restaurant, and complying with all European safety regulations, it is a true haven of tranquillity and relaxation.

Wellness Area: A welcoming and intimate space comprising a sauna area and massage room. Treatments are available on request.

Bioenergetic Areas: Specially designed in 2003 by Eco Designer Marco Nieri and ensuring moments of total psychophysical well-being.

Available for all guests: WiFi throughout the Borgo Storico complex.

Provided for all guests in the Suites and flats: WiFi, TV, minibar, air conditioning, hairdryer, shoe cleaning set, laundry and butler service, personal shopper and stylist upon request. Jacuzzi in some suites.

PLACES OF INTEREST IN THE VICINITY

Just 8 km away is the beautiful city of Ascoli Piceno, which is brimming over with monuments, museums and squares dating from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. Entirely built in the white stone of the Sibillini Mountains, called ‘travertine’, it is known as the "white city". A mere 5 kilometres away is the delightful fortress town of Offida. Entirely constructed with pink Marche brickwork, it features the small 18th-century Serpente Aureo Theatre and the beautiful two-story church of Santa Maria La Rocca. A half-hour drive away are the wonderful Sybilline Mountains, which encompass Mount Vettore and Lake Pilato, waiting to be discovered. Not far from the property, just 10 km away, the stunning golden beaches of the Adriatic Sea offer a series of small fishing villages such as San Benedetto del Tronto, Grottammare and Cupra Marittima, where you can spend the entire day in delightful beachfront chalets offering excellent seafood dishes.

A little further away, the town of Fermo is particularly interesting for its unique Roman Cisterns and the splendid Library of Queen Christina of Sweden. Heading north, day-trippers can also visit Macerata with its opera season at the Sferisterio, the stunning Basilica of Loreto, filled with Renaissance masterpieces and Recanati, the birthplace of the famous poet Giacomo Leopardi. If travellers wish to explore further afield from Castel di Lama, the Abruzzo Region, with its diverse natural landscapes, boasts its splendid Natural Park just a few kilometres away.