Masseria Murgecchia-Fano
In the early 1800s, the noble Scippa family decided to build a residence that was elegant but firmly rooted in rural life. Casina Murgecchia was a place which combined rural labour with the quiet idyll of the countryside. In the middle was a large stable next to a cistern dug into the stone, essential for gathering water. Around this were rooms for agricultural work and accommodation for the workers who created a small community with their families. For decades the farm was a hub of activity. The days passed according to the seasons, with the pungent smell of pressed olives in autumn, the sweet aroma of almond blossom, and the rhythmic beating of hammers on barrels. Every corner told a tale of hard work and hope, the workers’ many hands transforming the fruits of the land into wealth. From the 1940s, however, the farm was abandoned. The doors were closed, the walls crumbled in the wind and only the stones remained to preserve the memory of the voices and footsteps that had once given life to the place. In 1993 the architect Giulio Fano saw potential in the ruined farmhouse.
With care and respect, he restored the old building into a blend of past and present. Thus Casina Murgecchia-Fano was born, a place where time seems to pass more slowly. Sheep, pigs and other farm animals graze among the olive and almond groves. Fresh and seasoned cheeses are produced as well as cured meats, preserves and other delicacies which evoke the flavours of the past. But the plan was not just to cultivate the land and breed animals, it was to share. The farm opened its doors to those wishing to experience the authentic rural experience, savouring the fruits of the land in the tranquil countryside. Casina Murgecchia-Fano tells a tale of roots and rebirth, where tradition becomes future, and the memory of rural life lives on, stronger than ever.