Nestled within the lush landscape of Umbria – a region known as the ‘green heart’ of Italy – is Reschio, a 3,700-acre pastoral estate with a 1,000-year-old castle at its core. It has observed twists and turns of history, from the passage of pilgrims, interest from emperors and popes, world wars, mass migration, and today, as a boutique hotel, boasts a star-studded guestbook full of names of those seeking an escape from Hollywood.

Exploring its past and present, writer and journalist Steven King and publisher Rizzoli present Reschio: The First Thousand Years, an archival account of the Italian history that is embedded in this grand estate.

Reschio was purchased in 1994 by Count Antonio Bolza, and in the years since, his son, London-trained architect Count Benedikt Bolza, and his wife, Donna Nencia Corsini, have reimagined and restored over half of the estate’s 50 ruined buildings, while working alongside owners of other properties to make sure authentic design is celebrated throughout.

Carefully selected antiques, vintage furniture and artwork now adorn eight houses that are available to rent across the estate, each with its own charm and character. At the end of May 2021, the estate opened its 36-room Reschio Hotel restored within the walls of the tenth-century castle.

Bound in linen and presenting more than 200 images, the new book offers an A to Z history of Reschio. Through chapters with titles including ‘King and Queen of Italy’ and ‘Nostalgia’, readers are immersed in its history and more recent transformation.