Our History

The restoration of the borgo

Ten years in the making, the Tenuta Santi Giacomo e Filippo is the splendid outcome of a meticulous restoration project that took the dwellings of an ancient farming community, or borgo, that dates from the Middle Ages and turned it into a one-of-a-kind vacation resort, perfect also for destination weddings, as well as events of all kinds. The rescue and restoration of the borgo, which is located close to the Renaissance hill-town of Urbino in the lovely region of the Marche in central Italy, was informed by the idea of respecting the environment. Sustainable materials have been used wherever possible, as well as renewable energy sources, ensuring that the ancient buildings and their setting continue to live in harmony with the present, just as they did with the past.

In the grounds of the Tenuta are the remains of several tower-houses. These include the Ca’ Lombaia, the Ca’ Lanciamolino, and the Ca’ Rosello. These testify to the medieval process whereby the towns laid claim to the arable land in their local vicinity. To head off conflicts, the town’s watchtower was rebuilt outside the town walls, to stand guard over the work in the fields, and keep an eye on the approach of anyone or anything that might pose a threat. This tower, a silent sentinel, was chosen as the logo of the Tenuta Santi Giacomo e Filippo.

Raphael’s home land

As documented in the Italian State Archives in Urbino, one part of the land on which stands the Tenuta Santi Giacomo e Filippo belonged to the Renaissance painter Raphael’s paternal grandmother. Her name was Isabecta De Lominis. She was the mother of Giovanni Santi, who was in turn Raphael’s father. The town archives provide proof positive that Raphael, or to call him by his “real” name: Raffaello Sanzio, came here with his patron, the Duke of Montefeltro, who had a hunting lodge in the area. Here is the text in the original Latin, which was the language used in official documents at the time:

“In tertia vero parte posuerunt unam petiam terre vineate positam in dicta villa, cum domo / ipsi contigua, mediante via, iuxta res Batiste Lominis a duobus lateribus et viam, cum parte macine ad / guatum; item unam petiam terre canetate positam in dicta villa iuxta viam et res dicti / Batisti; item unam petiam terre silvate positam in dicta villa iuxta res dicti Batisti; / item duas cuplas terre de campo, qui vocatur el campo grande, iuxta stratam rigalem, viam, / res dicti Batisti et res fabrice Episcopatus, et masaritias que sunt in castro Montis Fabrorum, / videlicet unum scrineum et unam cassam; item unam petiam terre fenate positam in dicta villa / iuxta res domini Angeli de Gallis, andamentum et alia latera, et duos ducatos sibi promissos / per dictam Magiam pro ellectione dicte prime partis. Quam tertiam partem dicta Isabecta, cum / consensu et volunctate dictarum aliarum suarum sororum, cum aliis quinqueginta ducatis habitis per eam / de bonis dicte hereditatis in dotem et pro dote hoc modo, videlicet in denariis et pannis triginta ducatos et / unam petiam terre culte positam in curte Colburdoli iuxta andamentum, res ecclesie Sancte / Marie Murciole et res heredum Andree Renti, quam dixit habuisse pro extimatione Xxti ducatorum, ellegit, / asumpsit et acceptavit et de ea se tagictam et contentam vocavit cum consensu et voluntate dicti / sui mariti.” (Estratto Forcuini. Italian State Archives, Urbino, Fondo Notarile, not. Vanni Simone di Antonio, vol. 4, c. 153r – 154r, particolare di c. 153v.)

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