Property for sale in Gropparello, Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Built in the 12th century, the Montechino castle is located in Gropparello, Piacenza, and enjoys a dominant position on Mount Occhino. It was initially owned by the Confalonieri family, who were granted the feudal investiture of the land in 1393. The history of this prestigious property stems from 1441 when the Duke of Milan invested the Nicelli family with the county of Montechino. The Farnese, a powerful family of the Italian Renaissance, and the Marazzani Count were also owners. In 1955 it was turned into a monastery. It is now privately owned.

Renovated several times over the centuries, in the last twenty-five years it has undergone a thorough restoration, in respect of its history and original structure, combining the allure of historic Tuscan residences with the ancient Maisons provinces.

The castle is located on the first hills of Piacenza, in a perfect state of preservation and maintenance, and consists of 1100 sq m, completely independent and in the utmost privacy. The villa is surrounded by 27 hectares of botanical gardens as well as a park with ancient trees and woods. The property includes two residential units consisting of a farmhouse of 300 sq m, and a house of 200 sq m located before the beautiful gate of the park, used by the villa's keepers.

A long driveway gives access to the main unit's entrance. This historic house built in stone, has a two-storey structure on a rectangular plan, with a square corner tower. The original joints of the bridge and drawbridge are still visible. A charming flight of steps leads to the heart of the castle, where a centuries-old olive tree stands in the centre of an inner courtyard. The arches on one side of the garden connect the area to a large patio.

The layout includes a double entrance on the right side which leads to a bedroom with a parquet floor, a fireplace and a private bathroom with a bathtub. A second annexe is also equipped with a sleeping area and en-suite bathroom. From the courtyard, a staircase leads to secondary access and opens onto a wonderful and spacious living room with a fireplace, parquet floor and exposed beams, which is connected to the library studio with mahogany bookcases.

The side wing of the castle is spread over two floors. On the lower level is the large Provencal-style kitchen with simple white tiles, a large fireplace, and a wood-burning oven. The kitchen leads to the laundry room and two double bedrooms with bathrooms. A large dining room with terracotta floors and vaulted stone ceilings complete the floor, as well as the charming cellars with internal well and stone walls.

On the upper floor, the living area includes a private sitting room, a cosy tea room with exposed beams and a bathroom. The sleeping area includes a principal bedroom with parquet floors, an internal fireplace and access to a private bathroom with a tub, connected to a second bedroom. A wooden staircase leads up to the attic, from which there is further access via a ladder to the terrace of the turret, with a panoramic view over the entire valley.

Please note all distances and measurements are approximate and for security reasons, are not representative of the exact location of the property. For more information on the precise location of the property and its surrounding area, please contact the listed Property Adviser.