History and Restoration
Corte Manfredi
In Alessano’s past, alongside its economic growth, noble arts such as philosophy, literature, and science flourished, practiced by illustrious residents. Among these were Cesare Rao and his illustrious friend, Don Anselmo Manfredi, Canon of the Cathedral of Alessano and founder of one of the most illustrious families of the time. A street is named after the latter, now called Corte Manfredi. Little is known about Don Anselmo Manfredi. Maggiulli writes of him: “From Alessano – 16th century – he studied law in Padua. He was a contemporary and friend of Cesare Rao, a fellow citizen of his, who held Manfredi in such high regard that he would read his works to him before publishing them.” Such esteem was explicitly expressed by Cesare Rao himself, as evidenced by the homage “Anselmus Manfredus Alesanensis ad Lectorem,” published in the “Meteori” series, dedicated to Don Anselmo Manfredi.
In any case, the name of the street and our accommodation, Corte Manfredi, derives from him and his family.
Today, Corte Manfredi is a paved alley in the oldest part of Alessano’s historic center, and it still retains one of the architectural features typical of historic centers of that era: the flying buttress.
The flying buttress is an asymmetrical architectural element, once used to contain and distribute lateral and outward thrust from the upper parts of buildings, preventing them from sagging. These architectural elements of the past can be found in the oldest areas of historic centers. In Corte Manfredi alley, two are still visible, giving it a unique appearance. In fact, it is the street in Alessano’s historic center with the highest density of such structures.
In the past, the alley ended at a complex of buildings used both for residential and religious purposes, of which only a few elements remain today. Specifically, at the end of the alley, on the right, is a complex of buildings that has fully retained its original 19th-century layout, featuring a shared courtyard, currently accessed through a single arched entrance directly from the alley.
The internal courtyard, once even larger, overlooks three ancient buildings, historic residences inhabited by descendants of the Manfredi family. These buildings have now been reunited into a single, renovated accommodation facility, named Corte Manfredi.
All the buildings still feature the typical vaults of the past (barrel or angular), all perfectly and expertly restored.
In one of these homes, a perfectly preserved ancient mosaic floor is still clearly visible. The mosaic features a peripheral frame and a central decoration depicting a sort of stylized lily, possibly the coat of arms of some important family who once lived there.
In the spirit of preserving but above all enhancing the property’s valuable features, the mosaic has been finely restored, and the central frieze has been incorporated into the Corte Manfredi logo, reinforcing the strong continuity between past and present that Corte Manfredi seeks to express.
The warmth of the past has also been preserved through the presence of ancient fireplaces. These were the only heating source for the buildings of the time, some made of tuff, others of Lecce stone, and have also been carefully restored.
Here are some images of some of Corte Manfredi’s fireplaces, before and after restoration:
The idea for the Corte Manfredi accommodation facility, therefore, was born precisely from the past of this alley and these spaces, so rich in history but abandoned to decay.
During 2020 and 2021, the managing company received State Aid published in the RNA Transparency Section amounting to €119,956.81 (Granting Authority: Puglia Region – Department of Economic Development; Measure Title: [Title II – chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Puglia regional regulation for exemption aid (Regional Regulation no. 17 of 09/30/2014-BURP 10/06/2014) – Aid for regional purposes).
Social
