A scattered hotel and a gastronomic destination that enchants the Molise Apennines.
The village and the project
Are you looking for silence, nature, ancient beauty, and great cuisine? Borgotufi is a scattered hotel in Castel del Giudice, with its feet in Molise and its gaze on Abruzzo. A masterpiece in the wild heart of the Molise Apennines, where time seems to have stood still, a project that has become a symbol of rebirth for the small village in the province of Isernia. Born from the restoration of abandoned stables and barns, today it welcomes guests with new suites, a panoramic swimming pool, a wellness center, and two noteworthy restaurants.
The story of Borgotufi can be described as a modern fairy tale. When the rural area of Castel del Giudice was in danger of falling into oblivion, three visionary entrepreneurs—Enrico and Gianfranco Ricci together with Ermanno D'Andrea—took up the challenge set by Mayor Lino Gentile: to breathe new life into the village. Thus, from the ruins of disused stables and barns, an urban and social regeneration project was born, restoring dignity to an area otherwise destined for depopulation. In the summer of 2025, Borgotufi reopened to the public with some important new features: four new dwellings have been added to the 32 existing stone houses, reinterpreting the traditional style with exposed stone walls, beams, and natural wood, but in a minimalist and contemporary key.
It is not just a tourism project, but a social and cultural experiment: it shows that the fragility of inland areas can give rise to a model of sustainable development, where identity and modernity intertwine. The scattered hotel thus becomes a way of restoring meaning to places, but also of restoring dignity to a community that has decided not to succumb to oblivion. In an Italy that is seeing entire villages empty out, the experience of Castel del Giudice takes on the value of a collective narrative. It is not a nostalgic operation, but an act of the future: an attempt to transform a village into a cultural, economic, and human laboratory.
Borgotufi embodies the model of sustainable tourism with its zero-kilometer vegetable garden, organic apple orchards, community apiary, and collaborations with local producers that make every stay an authentic and sustainable experience. It is a virtuous model of responsible tourism that combines quality hospitality and respect for the environment, transforming the risk of abandonment into a story of rebirth. And then there is the gastronomic experience at Borgotufi, which is divided between two signature cuisines.
The gastronomic offering
The Ristorante del Borgo, led by the young and affable chef Gianluca Bellano, offers traditional Molise dishes revisited with elegance. From caciocavallo cheese to truffles, organic apples to local honey, each creation tells the story of the region. The menu features specialties such as cacio e uovo pallotte (cheese and egg balls), fresh rintrocilo with truffles, and local rabbit with cheese and eggs baked in the oven, not to mention the wonderful interpretation of the typical dessert “pizza dolce” (sweet pizza).
And then there is Mia, the restaurant of chef Marco Pasquarelli, a haute cuisine laboratory where creativity meets Molise products. “We're not saving lives, we're cooking,” is the simple but meaningful phrase that Abruzzo-born chef Marco Pasquarelli likes to use to remind himself and his team of the essence of their work: cooking as an act of care, passion, and respect, without forgetting humility. His passion was born in his family; his father was a chef all his life in Roccaraso. “I tried studying architecture, but it wasn't my path. In the evenings, I worked as a dishwasher and waiter until I had the opportunity to attend Niko Romito's Academy. It was there that I truly understood what cooking meant, not only in terms of technique, but also in terms of values.” After his training, he embarked on a journey that took him to different regions of Italy, working in restaurants and luxury hotels.
The most important stage remains La Bandiera by Marcello Spadone: “Two years there were like home, a family. I learned so much from them, more than from any other experience.” His meeting with Pier Giorgio Parini was also decisive, to whom he owes much of his creative background. Although he does not consider himself a born traveler, he does not shy away from challenges: from Trentino, where he finds himself in an almost entirely German-speaking environment, to Brazil, where he recently represented Molise at an international event dedicated to Italian cuisine. “Every time I leave, it's a test for myself. It's not just work, it's personal growth,” and so the real turning point came with the opening of Mia, his restaurant.
“It's not a possessive name. I chose it because it evokes art and music, from Mia Martini to Mia Wallace. For me, it's a way of saying that this cuisine is a personal expression.” At Mia, the local area takes center stage: lamb, sheep, fresh pasta, seasonal vegetables. The menu features dishes that have become symbols, such as sheep tortelli, suckling pig, and poached eggs. All full of flavor and sensitivity, a bit like Pasquarelli himself. “I always keep these dishes on the menu because they represent me and because I see that customers want them.” The approach is clear: use modern techniques only when necessary, without distorting tradition.
He loves autumn and spring, seasons that are less crowded but rich in colors and raw ingredients. “Fresh broad beans and peas excite me every time, even though they don't sell well here. But they are ingredients that tell the story of the land.” The portrait that emerges is that of a chef who has chosen to remain faithful to his path, building step by step a sincere, local cuisine with a strong identity. A cuisine that does not seek to impress at all costs, but to go straight to the heart. Don't miss the marinated beef, turnips, mustard, and hazelnuts, and Antonello Marzano's pairings.
Walking and eating through the narrow streets of Borgotufi, you get the impression of an authentic village that today welcomes curious travelers, often in search of a lesser-known Italy, far from the glossy postcards. Welcome to the most beautiful Italy.
CONTACTS
Borgotufi
Via Borgo Tufi, 80, 86080 Castel del Giudice IS
Phone: 0865 946820
