Italy Accommodation - Piedmont Real Estate

Spacious, Antique House in Hilltop Village with Walled Garden and Splendid Views

Near Acqui Terme

The Situation: positioned on a hillside in the centre of a very sought-after Piedmontese hilltop village, the house enjoys a very convenient location: the main square - la piazza - is only a few steps away and day-to-day shopping facilities are close at hand. The house dates from the 18th century, and is attached on one side to another residential building. The property occupies a spacious corner plot with a good-sized partly-walled village garden, large enough to accommodate a swimming pool. The house faces South and all rooms enjoy lovely views over the lush Monferrato countryside with its hills, vineyards, and villages. The well-known Roman spa town of Acqui Terme with its medieval town centre is nearby - Acqui Terme offers excellent shopping facilities, exquisite restaurants and enotecas, plus a popular spa and recreation centre. The motorway can be reached from the property within 20 minutes, and the international airports of Milan, Turin and Genoa within 60 to 90 minutes.

The House: even though the house is located in the centre of the village, it has the typical features of a South Piedmontese farmhouse, a so-called cascina, in which the living and working areas are under one roof. Architectural and functional changes are here quite straightforward: the wine cellar and former stable, attached to the house at a right-angle to give the building an L-shape, could easily be integrated into the main accommodation to nearly double the size of the residental part of the house. This area could also be converted into a showroom for a business venture. The house is structurally in good condition and is habitable, but it needs some renovation and modernisation - we are happy to assist clients in engaging a competent geometra/builder who will supply a quote on request and oversee the entire project. All rooms of the house have lots of light, and original features can still be found - for example, there are barrel-vaulted brick ceilings that can be sandblasted to restore their original character.

Accommodation

Ground floor: The entrance door opens from the street into a hall with doors leading to two spacious rooms, a spacious modern bathroom and a cloakroom. Extended at the back of the house, and overlooking the garden, is a kitchen with access via stairs to the garden below. The stairs also lead down to a large cantina/wine cellar and former stable. Below the ground floor is a further workshop/storage area that is only accessible from the garden.

First floor: Stairs lead from the hall up to two spacious bedrooms, one of which has a balcony. A door opens from the second bedroom onto a large flat roof above the stable. This area could be used to extend the house and create a further bedroom and bathroom. Both bedrooms face South, have lots of light and stunning views.

Outside: The property is enclosed on two sides by a wall, and on a third side by a wire fence - easily replaced by a further wall if required - that runs along a quiet village lane. A gate leads from the lane into the garden - a garage could be accommodated here. Currently the garden is mainly used to grow vegetables, but there are also several fruit trees and a grassy area. The garden has enough space for a swimming pool and could be converted into a beautiful Mediterrenean village garden.

Services: mains water, mains gas and mains electricity.

Sporting facilities: There are a number of golf-courses in Southern Piedmont. The nearest, Le Colline in Acqui Terme, can be reached by car in 20 minutes. Tennis courts can be found in the nearby towns, and horseriding is also very popular, with stables nearby. The excellent network of small, tarmac-surfaced country roads makes the area very popular with cyclists. The beaches of the Italian Riviera are a one hour drive away, and popular Italian ski resorts can be reached by motorway within a one to one-and-a-half hour drive.

Viewing: Strictly by appointment with the sole agents, Piedmont Properties.

Our opinion: A great opportunity to acquire a spacious village property with lots of development potential, either private or commercial.

More Pictures are available of this property.

For price information, contact us quoting reference P201. Please note: any quoted measurements are approximate.