Entrance: Rastrello is a charming 14th century palace hidden away in a small Umbrian village

MATTIA AQUILA

Strolling through Panicale with Rastrello CEO Chiara Verdacchi feels like walking with a celebrity; We can barely pass the well-preserved cobbled streets, churches and squares of the small medieval shell-shaped town without Chiara being greeted by locals and visitors alike (including local Americans who are investing in historic vineyards and olive groves). It becomes apparent very quickly that the small B&B he runs in a restored 14th-century palace in Umbria aims to keep things local, from the food to the people. “No hotel worker lives or grew up more than 30 minutes away,” Chiara tells me.

View of Panicale, the small Umbrian town perched on top of a hill in front of Lake Trasimeno.

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The story begins with Christiane Wassmann, an American whose parents moved to Panicale more than 30 years ago. They bought a farmhouse that came with a 1,000-tree olive farm, with most of the trees on the property dating back 400 years, and began hand-pressing extra virgin olive oil. Fast forward to today and Rastrello, which is the Italian name for the small rake used to pick olives by hand, is an award-winning olive oil brand, and the newly founded luxury B&B of the same name is just five minutes away. drive from the olive grove.

MATTIA AQUILA

MATTIA AQUILA

Restoring a 500-year-old palace is not easy, especially this one, as it was abandoned and then used as a city storage space for years. It’s hard to imagine it as a storage space when you see the space now, with its original stone walls, beams, ironwork and beautifully restored fireplaces. Italian interior designers Pelizzari Studio were brought in to help with the transformation, working with local artisans to restore the historic building while introducing custom furniture and a color palette inspired by the Umbrian countryside. They have found the ideal balance between preserving its soul and bringing in some necessary contemporary elements.