Italian Property from Piedmont Properties

300 Year Old Stone Cottage with Lots of Character in Beautiful Hillside Location with Fine Views, Lovingly Restored, 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Grounds with Space for a Swimming Pool

Near Santo Stefano Belbo

Situation : The property enjoys a peaceful rural location 10 minutes by car from the famous wine town of Santo Stefano Belbo, one of the commercial centres of the Piedmont wine trade with very good shopping facilities, banks, restaurants, bars and enotecas. The antique stone cottage benefits from a hillside position with gorgeous far-reaching views.

The property is approached by a small country lane that is only used by local residents, and shares the first part of the gravelled drive with its neighbour. There is a parking area belonging to the property above the house, and there is space to build a garage if desired. From the property the motorway can be reached in about 30 minutes, and the international airports of Milan, Turin and Genoa are little more than an hour's drive away.

The Cottage: Originally a two-storey farmhouse with a stable and hayloft, the cottage dates from the 18th century: it is built in a style more usually found in nearby Provence in France. It is entirely constructed of stone and has enormous charm: it has been imaginatively renovated and converted over many years by its current owner, and great care has been taken to maintain the original character. The cottage has a total floor area of about 250 m² (2500 ft²).

Accommodation

Ground floor: The entrance door opens from the courtyard into a hall with stairs leading to the first floor. A door to the right leads to a spacious room - with an attractive open fireplace - that can be used as a study or a bedroom. The entrance hall opens into a generous reception room with another impressive stone fireplace and the original wooden-beamed ceiling. A door leads from this reception room into a large loggia that provides a much-loved al fresco dining area. An archway leads from the entrance hall into an intimate dining room with a traditional brick-vaulted ceiling and direct access to the cosy farmhouse kitchen. At the back of the house, accessible from the courtyard, are a guest bedroom and bathroom plus a small sitting area. Also accessible from outside is a spacious underground cellar, suitable for wine or other storage. Internal stairs lead up from the reception area to the accommodation on the first floor.

First Floor: the stairs lead up to a small landing, three double bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. All these rooms have lots of character and beautiful views over open countryside.

Outside: The grounds measure in total about 5,000 m² and feature a well-maintained garden area well-stocked with ornamental shrubs and trees, including some fruit trees. Opposite the house is a roofed outdoor sitting area that provides welcome shade during the hot months of the year. There is plenty of space for a swimming pool

Services: Telephone, alarm system, gas-fired central heating, mains water and mains electricity.

Sporting facilities: There are a number of golf courses in Southern Piedmont: the nearest, Le Colline near Acqui Terme, can be reached by car in 20 minutes. Tennis courts can be found nearby, and horse riding is also very popular, with stables not far away. 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 within one to one-and-a-half hours.

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

Our opinion: A very attractive property with an excellent location, fine views and lots of character. The well-renovated cottage offers flexibility in the use of its internal space. The house would make a perfect all-year residence, but would also be ideal as a holiday home or for renting out on a weekly basis.

More Pictures are available of this property.

For more information contact us quoting reference P233.