After lying abandoned for the last century, Castle Elvira in Puglia is set to welcome guests this spring following a three-year restoration project.

The castle is thought to have been built in the late 1800s by two parents for their daughter Elvira’s seventeenth birthday. However, upon Elvira’s tragic passing, her parents fled the castle, leaving it abandoned ever since. 

It wasn’t until 2018 that the property, its groundskeeper’s cottage and the 37 acres of private parkland that surround them were acquired by Steve Riseley with the intention of transforming them into a luxury estate. 

Once complete, the project will offer ten en-suite guestrooms spread across the castle, its groundskeeper’s cottage and neighbouring tower, as well as a cinema, bar and multiple living areas. Outside, amenities will include a 70m² swimming pool, a 12-person sunken jacuzzi and a roof terrace, providing views from St. Elia Ridge across the property’s private gardens, including its own citrus and olive groves. 

Also set in the gardens will be a café serving authentic Puglian dishes rooted in the ‘cucina povera salentina’ tradition, utilising locally-sourced and seasonal produce with some ingredients even grown onsite. 

Working closely with architects Filotico & Partners and a team of local artisans, Riseley’s design-led restoration sensitively maintains many of the castle’s heritage features while carefully integrating modern technology, hidden behind original ceramic tiles and wall panellings. 

While original 19th century design details are complemented by eclectic antique furnishings, bespoke lighting features and a selection of bright modern artwork inject new life into the castle walls, featuring pieces by Riseley’s husband Harvey B-Brown.

“Whether a fable or reality, I fell in love with the castle and Elvira’s tragic story,” explains Riseley. “From the moment I saw the property, I wanted to breathe life back into the decaying buildings, restoring the glory, filling the park with love and magic so that the story of little Elvira can live on.”