Restoration of the Masseria LI RENI (XVI century)
with destination to receptive and agrituristic structure - Manduria (TA) - Italy
with destination to receptive and agrituristic structure - Manduria (TA) - Italy
2017
Built around the end of the 16th century, the "Li Reni" masseria (fortified farmhouse) originally belonged to the Troiani family, a noble house from Eboli. Starting from 1664, the physician Giacomo Antonio Troiani ceded first some lands and later the entire masseria to the Benedictine monastery of San Giovanni Battista in Casalnuovo (present-day Manduria), as the respective monastic dowries for his two daughters, Maria Evangelista and Ursula, the latter of whom later became abbess.
Following the Unification of Italy, the Italian State confiscated all ecclesiastical property under an 1866 law. In 1868, the masseria was put up for auction by the State Property Office of Lecce and awarded to the Società Ferroviaria Meridionale (Southern Railway Company), which in 1869 resold it to the Anglo-Italian gentleman Sir James Lacaita—a patriot, businessman, and refined man of letters who specialized in studies on Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. In 1896, following his father's death the previous year, his son Charles Carmichael Lacaita sold the Masseria to Baron Francesco Selvaggi of Martina Franca and his wife Fiorilla Arnò, Sir James's niece. In the 1940s, the production of quality wines began, which was suspended in more recent times in favor of an artisanal and artistic glassmaking business, alongside farmhouse hospitality (agritourism).
Acquired by the Vespa family in 2015, the "Li Reni" masseria maintains its hospitality function today, supporting a major production of Primitivo di Manduria wine.
Recent restorations, carried out with the intent of recovering the prestige of the masseria while respecting its historical significance, have restored the original volumes of the interior spaces, which are characterized by walls and vaults made of Salento tuff (local limestone). The materials used (bush-hammered stone, wood, glass, and steel) speak the language of traditional Apulian masseria construction, seeking a contrasting and fertile dialogue with the contemporary vocabulary of the furnishings and resin finishes.
Small extensions, made evident by structures and finishes that are clearly distinguishable from the historical core, house the service areas (bathrooms, kitchen, and utility rooms). The outdoor landscaping—both for the redevelopment of the courtyard and the creation of pathways and hierarchies within the green spaces (gardens, vegetable plots, dry-stone walls, etc.)—also sought a respectful dialogue with the ancient architectural layout.
Finally, particular attention was paid to the lighting design, aimed at enhancing the architectural features, creating emotional lighting scenes, and occasionally playing with chromatic contrasts.
Featuring four suites and common areas—including two large dining rooms and a living room with a grand fireplace—the masseria contributes today to the impressive array of hospitality facilities in the Apulian countryside and, more broadly, to the enhancement of its historic rural heritage.
CLIENT: Futura Agricola 2015, Roma - ITALIA
DESIGN: arch. Vincenzo Russo
COMPANY: Sedir S.r.l., Cerignola (FG)
LOCATION: Manduria (TA) - ITALIA
YEAR: 2017
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