Castle Elvira’s sister residence, Tower Elvira, has opened in Puglia, offering guests the chance to stay in an 18th-century fort with panoramic views. Jenny Southan reports
Following an ambitious restoration project, Tower Elvira has opened in Puglia, Italy. Set on St Elia Ridge, the former lookout tower for the Saint Elia Monastery provides sweeping views of citrus groves, private parkland, a 40 sqm swimming pool with colonnaded sun loungers and sister residence, Castle Elvira.
Owner Steven Riseley employed a team of local architects and specialist artisans to assist in the “respectful restoration” of the two historic structures and surrounding gardens.
Whilst the suites are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and contemporary design details, Riseley has ensured these details are carefully offset by antique furnishings. Each of the rooms feature carefully curated art works, including a selection of new pieces by Elvira’s resident artist Harvey B-Brown.
The tower itself houses two suites with star-covered vaulted ceilings, Timothy Oulton beds, Murano glass chandeliers, and en suite bathrooms with rainfall showers with fittings from IB Rubinetti. (There is a sunken bath in the Park suite and hand-carved sandstone bath on the private terrace of the Top suite.)
Meanwhile, the neighbouring converted masseria (fortified farmhouse) features two en-suite bedrooms sleeping up to five guests in each. Each suite has a private garden with barbecues for an exclusive dining experience.
Additionally the suites features a two-person, hand-carved, sandstone bathtubs within the private garden (Agave suite) or extra-large en suite (Pepper suite). The split level Agave suite, with its own lounge area with open fireplace, is suitable for up to three guests.
Tower Elvira’s sister residence, Castle Elvira, accommodates 12 guests across six suites (rates start from €299 per night). Castle Elvira is located in the immediate vicinity of the Tower and offers living and dining rooms, a roof terrace, a 70 sqm heated swimming pool, and 37 acres of private parkland and gardens.
Guests can also book cooking and portrait classes.
In an effort to preserve nature in the estate and local area, Riseley has invested in the preservation and potential cure of the estates 500 olive trees, suffering the ravages of the xylella bacterial disease, which has hit the entire region, destroying thousands of trees.
This remarkable new scientific effort is showing great promise and could potentially save some of Puglia’s most ancient trees. Additionally, Riseley and his team have put huge efforts into the revival of the 50-tree citrus orchard, with its lemons, limes and mandarins.