This ex-Pepsi CEO's 17th century Italian castle just underwent a $12 million renovation to become a state-of-the-art cooking school
Fancy dining at a 17th century chef's table?Castello di Ugento
If there's one thing Italians know how to do, it's cook — and now they can do it in one of the most stunning settings imaginable.
A majestic 17th century castle in the heart of southern Puglia, Italy has undergone an $11.7 million transformation to become an art culinary institute.
It's called the Puglia Culinary Centre, and it operates in partnership with The Culinary Institute of America.
Along with the state-of-the-art cooking school, the 4,500 square metre castle — which dates back to the Messapians in 8th century BC — now also houses a luxury boutique hotel, a contemporary art exhibition, an event space, and a museum.
In 1643 Castello di Ugento, named after the historical town of Ugento in which it is situated, was bought by the d’Amore family, and has been under their ownership ever since. The property is now owned by Massimo Fasanella d'Amore di Ruffano, an ex-CEO at Pepsi.
In the 1600s Nicola and Francesco d'Amore transformed what was then a military fort — sat at the top of a hill to protect the land and village below it — into a lavish palace.
It boasted elegant salons on the first floor and ceilings "soaring into the star-shaped vaults typical of Salentine architecture, decorated with a glorious mythological cycle of frescoes." But over the past 100 years the castle has slowly decayed.
Archaeologists, specialist restorers, and art historians were appointed in 2013 to "breathe new life into the dormant Castello" as well as improve its comfort, security, and technology all while respecting its ancient history.
Scroll down for a look at the incredible restoration of the castle that's home to over 1,000 years of history.
This is the Castello di Ugento, a property with over 1,000 years of history that has recently undergone a renovation to become a state-of-the-art cooking school, museum, and boutique hotel.
Here, you can see the castle before its transformation. It's thought that it was built — and then rebuilt — during Roman times on Messapian remains.
Its circular Angevin Tower dates back to the Normans, who controlled the region from 1059.
Here's the Tower from the walled kitchen garden after its year-long restoration...
...as well as the eastern view of the newly-revamped castle.
The Puglia Culinary Centre sits in its own separate wing of the castle.
The ancient Pugliese art of cooking will be taught by House Chef Odette Fada, in brand new, high-tech kitchens with separate bakery and pâtisserie areas.
Students from the renowned Culinary Institute of America will come here to study Puglia’s gastronomy on a semester abroad from September to April.
They will also learn about Puglia's local wines, with wine tasting and pairing in what used to be the underground cistern, originally built in the late 17th century. Hotel guests can also sign up for cookery classes where they will visit nearby markets to source fresh, seasonal ingredients every day.
Castello di Ugento’s restaurant, Il Tempo Nuovo, celebrates local, seasonal cuisine, using recipes passed down through families over the centuries. You can eat in an antique paved courtyard, a vaulted room known as La Torre Scoperta...
...or you can ask to sit at the Chef’s Table in the state-of-the-art open kitchen where you can watch your meal being prepared.
It's pretty close to the action.
The Puglia Culinary Centre will use fruit, vegetables, and herbs grown in the castle’s restored 18th-century kitchen garden.
This was the orchard before the renovation.
Now it includes lemon, orange, persimmon, figs, and almond trees laden with fruit, while raised beds are planted with fennel, basil, and fava beans during spring.
In summer the crops include peppers, prunes, and peaches, in autumn there are cauliflowers, pomegranates, and persimmons to pick while in winter melons, tangerines, artichokes, and cabbages are in season.
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