Perhaps you’ve heard the legend of Solomeo, the 14th-century Umbrian citadel that has been painstakingly resurrected by Brunello Cucinelli. But have you actually been there? Well, a select group of MR PORTER customers have now ticked off this bucket-list experience.

Carved from filaretto, a local stone that – like this part of Italy itself – seems to sparkle in the sun, Solomeo was a shadow of its current form just 40 years ago. However, the man that lent his name to his luxury knitwear brand saw the potential of this tiny, hilltop ruin. And today, this glorious hamlet has been reborn as the headquarters of Brunello Cucinelli.

The Solomeo Renaissance Festival held towards the end of July celebrates this historic site with pageantry, traditional food and folk music. And this year, guests from MR PORTER were invited to join the revelries. As well as a guided tour of the hamlet itself, they also got a sneak peek at Brunello Cucinelli’s AW26 collection.

Because, as special as this place is, what is central to this brand is people. And whether it’s a sweater or an entire town that you’re passing on to future generations, it’s really people that you’re investing in.