{"id":6227,"date":"2023-05-17T08:58:14","date_gmt":"2023-05-17T12:58:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/panoramitalia.com\/?p=6227"},"modified":"2023-05-17T09:00:40","modified_gmt":"2023-05-17T13:00:40","slug":"they-bought-a-huge-rundown-italian-castle-and-transformed-it-into-a-luxury-retreat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/panoramitalia.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/17\/they-bought-a-huge-rundown-italian-castle-and-transformed-it-into-a-luxury-retreat\/","title":{"rendered":"They bought a huge rundown Italian castle and transformed it into a luxury retreat"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Ulfanes purchased the castle back in 1995 after coming across it while searching for a home in Italy. Castello di Fighine
<\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>

CNN –<\/strong> When South African couple Max and Joy Ulfane began searching for their dream Italian home around 28 years ago, they never imagined that they\u2019d end up buying a rundown castle in Tuscany.<\/p>

But the entrepreneurs, who are based in the UK, quickly fell in love with Castello di Fighine,<\/a> a neglected medieval military fortress with an attached hamlet, when they came across it back in 1995.<\/p>

The Ulfanes have since transformed the castle, perched 650 meters (2,130 feet) above sea level in the municipality of San Casciano dei Bagni, near the Umbria border, into a very lavish second home.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>

\u201cWe\u2019ve put lots of labor and love in here, facing and overcoming challenges. And lots, lots of money to bring this place back to life again,\u201d Joy Ulfane tells CNN. \u201cAnd to think that we never wanted a castle, never wanted to own one.\u201d<\/p>

Castle home<\/h2>
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Max and Joy Ulfane spent years renovating neglected Tuscan fortress Castello di Fighine into a luxury retreat – Castello di Fighine<\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>

The couple say they\u2019d viewed dozens of unsuitable properties around Italy before the hilltop castle, surrounded by olive groves and forests, was brought to their attention.<\/p>

\u201cOne day the sales person told us \u2018oh, there\u2019s this place in Tuscany but it\u2019s not for you, you won\u2019t like it\u2019 \u2013 and that did it,\u201d adds Joy.<\/p>

Feeling intrigued, they traveled to the hamlet of Fighine to view the castle, and were greeted by a hugely neglected ivy-covered building with high-vaulted ceilings and several rooms, including a wine cellar.<\/p>

Although it was dilapidated and filled with rubble, the Ulfanes saw huge potential in Castello di Fighine and felt it was the right place for them.<\/p>

The Ulfanes were also captivated by the timeless feel of Fighine, which is still encircled by 1.5 meter thick defensive walls with octagonal towers and small round turrets attached.<\/p>

\u201cWe visited Fighine and it was just very romantic even if the castle was falling to pieces, covered in ivy and moss,\u201d explains Joy Ulfane. \u201cIt was impossible to walk through.\u201d<\/p>

They purchased the fortress, which apparently belonged to an aristocratic family at the time, for an disclosed sum that same year, and soon got to work on what would turn out to be a four-year renovation process.<\/p>

Once they began tearing down the vegetation covering the castle, a tower was discovered that hadn\u2019t been visible previously.<\/p>

The Ulfanes later decided to purchase some of the rundown houses in the surrounding hamlet, and began renovating them once they\u2019d completed most of the work on Castello di Fighine. This process took a further eight to 10 years.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>

They\u2019re very proud of the entire project and consider it to be a real feat, particularly as they to constantly had to liaise with local town hall San Casciano dei Bagno and Soprintendenza delle Belle Arti, the Italian government office responsible for heritage properties, throughout the process.<\/p>

\u201cThe castle is classified as a historical property so without the necessary permits from the Belle Arti we couldn\u2019t even overturn a single stone,\u201d adds Joy Ulfane.<\/p>

According to Italian law, any structural changes that could alter the original architecture and purpose of a historic property must be supervised and green lit by the appropriate office, placing many restrictions on the type of work that can be done during this type of overhaul.<\/p>

But the couple focused on restyling the rooms and making the property habitable again.<\/p>

While the renovation process was far from simple, the Ulfanes\u2019 perseverance paid off, and they are very happy with their beautifully restored fortress. The rooms inside the castle have been completely overhauled, with stunning results.<\/p>

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The rooms, which were once filled with rubble, have been completely restored<\/sub>.<\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>
Read more here<\/a><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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