Antognolla

Castello di Antognolla lies a half an hour’s drive north of Perugia city centre and it dates back to the 12th century, when the crypt below the castle’s chapel was part of a Benedictine monastery which once housed the remains of Ercolano, the patron saint of Perugia.

The castle and its 500-hectare estate passed from Ruggero di Antognolli and his heirs to Cornelius Oddi then onto the Gugliemi family between 1836 and 1921 but the property has since changed hands several times – it was once an asset of the Agnelli family – before its acquisition by Russian investors.

And so, a new chapter in the history of Antognolla is under way, with the castle and estate earmarked for transformation into an exclusive international resort which will feature a luxury hotel and a small number of resplendent residences, the first project of its kind in Italy.

At the centre of the development is an 18-hole golf course which has been completely remodelled by Robert Trent Jones Jr. The course originally opened in 1998 so the outdated, 20-year-old irrigation system was replaced with a modern computer-controlled version.

Because the course sits in a valley with clay-based soil, a new network of drainage pipes and sand-slits was installed to provide Antognolla with year-round playability and ensure quick drying surfaces. Drainage water is both captured and recycled, greatly boosting Antognolla’s eco-credentials.

Some of the old bunkers were removed, others were relocated and all the bunkers have been completely redesigned and rebuilt using the capilliary concrete lining system. These sand hazards are now far more more visually attractive, whilst still blending sympathetically into their natural surroundings.

Finally, grassing lines have been improved on all the holes and areas of rough and semi-rough have been modified and fescue grasses introduced. New tees have lengthened the course in certain parts, enhancing the playing experience for many.