3 bedrooms historic house, 212 m²

Arpino, Frosinone (province)

PALAZZO MARCO AGRIPPA, ARPINO

Palazzo Marco Agrippa is located in one of Italy's most beautiful medieval hilltop villages, a short distance from the Piazza Municipio (the central square of Arpino) with its bronze monument to Cicero and its architectural complex of Palazzo Boncompagni.  Palazzo Marco Agrippa, a historic town mansion dating from the 1800s, is a unique property set in the heart of the historic centre, its terrace and garden seemingly suspended between heaven and earth, with sweeping panoramic views over the beautiful old town and across the valley towards the distant mountains.  Conveniently the property can be accessed from either one of two streets, the main entrance is on the Via Marco Agrippa while a secondary entrance from Via Salita dell'Arco opens into a private garden of 50 sq.mt., and also into the large ‘taverna' entertaining area of the home.

The property consists of:
a LOWER GROUND FLOOR used as a taverna, cellar, woodshed and storeroom, with a total surface area of 190 sq.mt., 
a GROUND FLOOR of 105 sq.mt. configured as a spacious sun-filled living area with stunning views, and also with a guest bedroom for anyone preferring ground floor sleeping accommodation; 
a FIRST FLOOR configured both as the bedroom zone and with a second spectacular sitting room.

Such historic mansions always appear imposing, but the interior of Palazzo Marco Agrippa also has hidden corners of private paradise with absolutely exclusive views of the entire landscape, from the Piazza Municipio to the splendid bell tower of the Church of S. Michele.  The private garden has lights for al fresco dining in the warm Italian evenings, and features olive and lemon trees and a vine-covered arbour.  

THE LOWER GROUND FLOOR:  The lower entrances to the palazzo are accessed through either one of two pairs of ancient, solid wood double doors, framed by huge stone arches.  One of these entrances opens into the private internal garden with its breath-taking vista of the splendid architectural panorama of the town. The second leads into the superb entertaining area - a taverna and wine cellar with a characteristic barrel ceiling and Tuscan terracotta-effect stoneware flooring.  The finish is all in stone from this area.  A magnificent place for entertaining friends and family, with guests able to arrive directly from the town without walking through the house. Dinner parties evolving between the private garden and the taverna are made easy by the well-fitted corner kitchen. Additionally on this level, there is a storage room, a woodshed, and a room for gardening equipment; a staircase allows direct internal access to the ground floor.

An imposing entrance door leads from the Via Marco Agrippa into the GROUND FLOOR, an elegant living area, the fulcrum of the house, decorated in pale and neutral colours, and with many windows and balconies allowing light to pour into the interior of the home from every angle throughout the day, followed by spectacular sunset views, and then the enchanting vista of the lights of the old town at night.  

A spacious entrance hall of approx. 20 sq.mt. accesses on the left: the staircase down to the taverna and cellar entertaining area; a study of 16 sq.mt. with a flavor of antiquity and classicism, enhanced by its open fireplace framed in hand-painted decorated tiles and its large wooden wall bookcase.  Beyond this room we find ourselves in the 17 sq.mt. guest bedroom with its small balcony. 

The right of the entrance hall opens into the magnificent  20 sq.mt. living room, a 19 sq.mt. fully-fitted kitchen with a fireplace and with external access to the 20 sq.mt. panoramic terrace, and finally to the 9 sq.mt. bathroom for the living area.

Positioned to the left of the first entrance hallway is the sweeping staircase in beautiful light marble leading to the FIRST FLOOR where the Liberty style hallway with its splendid parquet leads on to the various rooms. The first 4 sq.mt. bathroom with shower,  the master bathroom of 8 sq.mt. with bathtub and double vanity unit, its black ceramic, a shade synonymous with luxury and elegance, sober and captivating. A play of contrasts with the cherry-coloured wooden fittings enveloping the entire space, and enhancing the window and natural light;  a refined environment with a vintage touch, the wood creating a simple but timelessly classic effect.  Then we reach the first bedroom of approx. 21sq.mt.  and then the master bedroom of 24 sq.mt., a succession of splendid environments, with warm colours and natural brightness coming from the balconies and from the windows. A splendid living room of approx. 30 sq.mt. occupies the right hand side of the floor; here the terracotta d'Este porcelain stoneware flooring reflects the natural light that streams from the three windows, illuminating the entire space, and creating an atmosphere of warmth, spaciousness and complete connection with the outside through the view of the wonderful panorama. 

This wonderful iconic home is a true lodestar for those who love living in ancient Italian villages, in the charm of history but with the benefits and luxuries of a modern era.

ARPINO AND THE CIOCIARIA

Arpino is one of the major medieval hilltop towns in the area of Italy called the Ciociaria, the name given to the fertile land that lies south of Rome but north of Naples, situated inland in the hills in the heart of Italy. The Ciociaria region is within easy reach of both Rome and Naples and their respective airports. A day's shopping in Rome is a common pastime, while an even shorter drive brings you to the charming beaches south of Rome. Alternatively, drive east, and the mountains of the Abruzzo National Park await with horse trekking in the magnificent beech forests, and sparkling mountain lakes and rivers where you can swim in the heat of the summer. And at the other extreme of temperature, although Arpino itself is temperate, less than an hour's drive brings you to the winter ski slopes.

Often overlooked, both by tourists and by those foreigners in search of an Italian home, in favour of the more publicised regions of Tuscany and Umbria, the Ciociaria remains largely an unspoilt gem with beautiful scenery and medieval hilltop towns. A home or second home in the Ciociaria, in the hilltop towns of Arpino, Veroli, Alatri or Alvito or in the rolling countryside that surrounds them, will afford you a setting where over two thousand years of history combine with an idyllic rural Italian lifestyle, where you can still discover the 'real' Italy and take time out from the busy crowds of the larger tourist cities, while being less than ninety minutes journey from central Rome or either of Rome's two airports.


VIA ROMANA Srls and CASE & CASALI REAL ESTATE AGENCY  

Via Romana Srls is an Italian-incorporated company owned by a British/Australian Chartered Accountant and her photographer daughter, and offers a package of services to facilitate all aspects of the purchase and restoration of Italian property by overseas clients. The Via Romana team works in collaboration with various fully-licensed Italian real estate agencies including Case & Casali Real Estate Agency represented by Sig. Ciro Tomei. Sig. Tomei has been enrolled in the register of real estate agents at the Chamber of Commerce in Frosinone, Lazio since 2007, his agency is one of the largest and most highly-regarded real estate agents in the area and he has much experience in the international marketing of Italian real estate.