CASA A CORTE
A luxury residence in Puglia
From fashion queen Anna Wintour to Nardò
Anne Benichou has bought a house in the small town in the province of Lecce and turned it into a luxury residence. Ms Benichou's career began at Vogue, or rather Condé Nast: first an internship at Vogue Spain in 1999, then in the offices of Vogue Italia, and finally in the Paris offices of Vogue America and Anna Wintour. The next step took her to the Ritz, where it was Wintour herself - who stays there during fashion week - who introduced her to the editor-in-chief.
Instead of denaturing the interior, they enhanced it, developed a restoration that lasted a few years, kept the baroque bed, the limestone friezes and Mrs Gina's rosaries, as well as the authentic floors.
The atmosphere of the place was already there; the couple have simply enriched it with antique furniture, sheets and homemade soaps. They are masters of refinement, Bénichou and Grenier, after all. And she has an impressive CV: before arriving at the Ritz in Paris, where she was Director of Communications and External Relations, she worked alongside Anna Wintour, the undisputed ruler of world fashion.
When you stay at Casa a Corte, you are invited to relax and feel at home. The house offers its guests the best experience for a perfect holiday in beautiful surroundings. With five spacious bedrooms, including two superb large bedrooms, each with its own unique style, the house can accommodate up to ten people. There is also a generous living room and a fully equipped kitchen that open onto a private courtyard and a charming swimming pool where you can relax under the orange trees.
"The special feature of the house is certainly its authenticity: it dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries and is one of the oldest in Nardò. Ancient stone carvings have been uncovered and carefully preserved". There is also a 'generous' living room and a fully equipped kitchen, but Anne and Sylvain can provide a chef on request. Their intention is above all to offer a relaxing holiday "with those we love", whether devoted to discovering the beauties of the region or simply "doing nothing".