Real Estate in Italy - Piedmont Properties

Medieval house in Historic Hilltop Village

Near Nizza Monferrato

Situation: The house is located in the historic center of a hilltop village dominated by an impressive castle. It enjoys a south-facing aspect, with fine views over open countryside to the rear of the house. The front of house overlooks the small village square and the church. The tarmac-surfaced road on which the house is located leads only to the castle and the church, and has very little traffic. A car or two can easily be stored on the property, but for day-to-day parking there is plenty of space on the opposite side of the street in the village square. The village offers good day-to-day shopping facilities and is a short drive from the busy market town of Nizza Monferrato, a centre of the wine trade that has excellent restaurants, supermarkets, a hospital, schools etc. The motorway near Alessandria can be reached by car in twelve minutes. The international airports of Milan, Turin and Genoa can be reached within an hour.

The house: built in the 15th century, the two-storey brick building is attached at each side to other medieval buildings which have already been renovated. Beneath the house there is a magnificent wine cellar that is said to have a secret underground passage leading to the castle. All rooms of the house have generous proportions, original ceilings and doors, and lots of light. The house is in good structural condition, but in need of renovation: it currently has no bathroom or central heating. We are happy to recommend the services of a local geometra/architect/builder who specialises in the renovation of antique houses, and who will oversee the project if requested.

Accommodation

Ground floor: A lockable gate opens from the village square to an arched passageway through the house that leads into the back garden of the property. Inside this passageway is the entrance door to the house that leads to the kitchen, which has doors opening into the back garden. There are 2 further spacious rooms and a smaller room on the ground floor. There are high ceilings throughout - some rooms have vaulted ceilings, and some still have the original wooden beams. From within the arched passageway another door leads down into a well-preserved wine cellar, where temperatures are constant throughout the year.

First floor: A gothic arched stairway leads to the first floor. Here there are four spacious bedrooms all offering fine views. One of the bedrooms to the front of the house has a balcony overlooking the village square. Access from one of the bedrooms to a loft that offers further development potential.

Garden: At the back of the house, surrounded by a wall, is a small grassed courtyard that could be turned into a lovely mediterranean village garden. Within this part of the grounds there is a working well, a workshop and a vine-covered pergola. A small gate leads to a short stairway that opens onto a sloping plot, currently overgrown, that features a beautiful mature fig tree and several fruit trees. This part of the property extends down as far as a small lane that runs along the lower boundary and terminates behind the neighbouring house. The grounds measure approximately 2,000 sq m (0.5 acres) overall.

Services: Mains water, electricity and gas.

Sporting facilities: There are a number of golf courses in Southern Piedmont: the one nearby, "Margara" near Felizzano, can be reached by car in 20 minutes. Horse riding is also very popular, and there are good riding facilities in the area. The nearest tennis courts can be found in Nizza Monferrato and Canelli. The beaches of the Riviera are one hour's drive away.

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

Our personal opinion: A very rare opportunity to acquire a truly unique property with enormous character, charm and potential in an excellent location in the heart of South Piedmont.

Many More Pictures are available of this property.

For price information contact us quoting reference P202.