Renovated Country House in Piedmont Italy

Superb Renovated Antique Country House in Stunning Hillside Position with Magnificent Views, 3 Double Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Outbuilding with Development Potential, ca. 1.9 Ha Grounds, Very Private, Space for Swimming Pool, Village in Walking Distance

Near Canelli

Situation: This substantial, secluded gated property enjoys a stunning hillside location: accessed from a quiet country lane via a private driveway, it is within walking distance of a small hilltop village that offers some basic shopping, a post office, a bar and some sporting facilities. The famous wine town of Canelli can be reached by car in a few minutes: Canelli is one of the main commerical centres of the Piedmont wine trade, and many famous wineries - including Gancia, Riccadonna and Bosca - have their headquarters there. Canelli's historic cellars are a UNESCO World Heritage site and a popular tourist destination. The town also offers very good shopping facilities, banks, restaurants, schools, bars and enotecas. The motorway is about 30 minutes away, and the international airports of Milan, Turin and Genoa are within little more than an hour's drive.

The views from the house and grounds over the rolling Monferrato hills are stunning - on a clear day you can see the magnificent peaks of the Swiss Alps 90 Km (56 miles) away.

The property includes a substantial detached house, a detached outbuilding, a spacious courtyard and a garden. The grounds extend to about 1.9 Ha (5 acres) in total, and include a hazelnut grove and a beautiful gently-sloping meadow - a perfect space to build a swimming pool. The house is to be sold furnished.

The Buildings: the main house, about 200 years old, is of solid natural stone construction, and has been sympathetically renovated by the present owner over the last decade. The outbuilding, formerly used for agricultural purposes, offers interesting development potential.

Accommodation

The Main House

Ground floor: The main entrance from the courtyard leads into a small hall with stairs leading to the first floor where the main accommodation is located. There are currently 2 spacious, adjacent rooms on the ground floor that overlook the courtyard - these are currently unrenovated, but could easily be converted into independent guest accommodation. There is a very large garage - which could also be developed - and a cellar.

First floor: At the top of the stairs a door opens onto a corridor: to the right of this is a very spacious, sunny living/dining room with an open fireplace and large windows offering magnificant views over the rolling Monferrato hills. A door from the living/dining room leads up to a large attic, currently a look-out room with windows on 2 sides, which could be turned into additional accommodation if required.

Adjacent to the living room is a spacious kitchen with doors leading to a small terrace. A few steps lead down from this terrace to a garden area at the side of the house, where a wooden pergola overgrown with old vines provides a perfect spot for al fresco dining.

The main house has three double bedrooms: the two overlooking the sunny courtyard have traditional vaulted ceilings that can be sand-blasted back to the original brick surface. The third double bedroom, situated at the end of the corridor, has a window looking west. Also on the first floor are two fully-tiled modern bathrooms - both have a shower, bidet and WC; one has double washbasins, the other a single washbasin.

The house has central heating, an alarm system, traditional wooden double-glazed windows and doors, and good quality terracotta-style floor tiles throughout.

The Outbuilding comprises a small unrenovated stable on the ground floor plus a portico which is used as a outdoor dining area. The attractive first-floor attic, used by the current owner as an artist's studio, has a new insulated roof. This outbuilding could be used in various ways - as a pool house, for example, or as further accommodation.

The Courtyard & Grounds: the gate at the end of the driveway opens onto a spacious courtyard in front of the house. The courtyard is lined with flowering shrubs and features some mature trees that provide pleasant shade: a particular feature is the 80 year old bay tree next to the main entrance to the house. From the well to the side of the courtyard, a footpath leads to the outbuilding and to the large meadow area beyond: a perfect place to create an infinity pool with stunning views. At the back of the house there is a hazelnut grove, and the remaining grounds are maintenance-free Mediterranean woodland.

Services: Mains water, mains electricity, central heating, telephone, alarm system.

Sporting facilities: There are a number of golf-courses in Southern Piedmont. The nearest, Margara in Felizzano, can be reached by car in 35 minutes. Tennis courts can be found in the local towns, and horse riding 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 60 to 90 minutes.

Our opinion: a very secluded property in a prime location, that could also generate an immediate rental income.

More Pictures are available of this property.

For more information contact us quoting reference P285. Please note that all quoted measurements are approximate.