Finance Monthly September 2021 Edition

66 www.finance-monthly.com TRAVEL - ITALY Following an extensive restoration over the past three years, the historic Castle Elvira will be ready to open its doors to guests in spring 2022. Nestled in Lecce, Puglia and set on St Elia Ridge in 37 acres of private parkland, the castle has been transformed into a luxury, adults-only residence with six guest suites, a basement cinema, a rooftop aperitivo bar, a 70 sqm swimming pool and a restaurant. Original 20th-century design details will meet eclectic furnishing and modern technology to create the ultimate ultra-luxe experience for the castle’s guests. Originally built in the late 1800s, Castle Elvira was abandoned shortly after and has been decaying for almost a century before the current owner Steve Riseley acquired the property in 2018. Since then, he’s been on a mission to carefully restore the castle and turn it into one of Puglia’s most luxurious retreats. A local legend suggests that the castle was built by two adoring parents from Naples for their daughter Elvira. According to the story, she was enchanted by a local castle in Naples, owned by Italian actor and playwright, Eduardo Scarpetta and her parents decided to build her an identical one in Puglia for their only child’s 17th birthday. Overwhelmed with gratitude and love, Elvira planned a surprise feast to thank her mother and father and hand-picked wild mushrooms from the castle’s grounds. When her parents returned to the castle, however, they found their daughter dead – it