Original 18th Century Townhouse, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Many Antique Features, Stunning Wine Cellar, South Facing Courtyard Garden

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Between Canelli and Asti

Situation : This 18th century house enjoys a prime location in the historic centre of a small, well-known town in the heart of the Monferrato wine country. The town offers good day-to-day shopping facilities, cafes, restaurants, a bank and a post office, all in walking distance from the house. The attractive historic town of Asti with its excellent shopping facilities, hotels, restaurants, schools and hospitals, plus elegant coffee and wine bars, can be reached by car in fifteen minutes. The spectacular Palio of Asti - second in popularity only to the better-known one in Siena in Tuscany, but even more ancient - is staged there on the third weekend in September, followed by the Douja D'Or - a famous wine festival. The autostrada can be reached in about 30 minutes. The international airports of Milan, Turin and Genoa are within an hour's drive away.

The brick-built house is attached on both sides to properties of similar vintage and construction. It faces South, enjoys lots of light, wonderful views and a very romantic setting. It has both a front and back garden, and there is space to build a garage and a small pool. Behind the property are the town church and a small number of superior new apartments, also built in an antique style.

The rooms feature high brick-vaulted ceilings, both wooden and cotto tiled floors, open fireplaces and many original features. The house is in good habitable condition, and only needs some decorative attention. If a buyer wishes to make structural changes to the house, or to sand-blast the antique brick ceilings - which are currently plastered - we are happy to help clients find a competent geometra/builder who can supply a quote on request and then oversee the project.

Accommodation

Ground Floor: from the front garden the front door leads into a small entrance hall, which opens to the spacious living room - with an open fireplace - and doors leading to the courtyard garden to the rear. To the right, a door leads from the living room to a smaller sitting room. To the left a small corridor leads to a bathroom, and to the spacious, modern kitchen / dining room. The original stone stairs lead from the corridor up to the first floor. An impressive underground cellar, with beautiful vaulted ceilings, measures the entire length and width of the house. The cellar is only accessible from the rear garden.

The First Floor has 3 large bedrooms, each enjoying far-reaching views to the south and west, and each with doors leading onto a single long balcony. On clear days the Swiss and French Alps - including the famous peak of Monviso - can be seen from here as they tower impressively over the rolling Piedmontese countyside. Also on the first floor are a small bathroom and a small store room - which could be used as a further bedroom.

The gardens: a step leads from the quiet road to the grass-covered, fenced front garden - which has space to build a garage. The back courtyard garden is south-facing and enjoys lots of light. Currently it is rather negelcted, but can easily be made into a romantic mediterranean garden - there is also space for a small pool. The garden includes a small detached outbuilding - used for storage - and a free-standing brick-built pizza / bread oven. The back garden is currently fenced, but the fence could be replaced by a taller wall if greater privacy was required. There is also a gate that allows a car to be parked in the back garden.

Services: Both well-drawn and mains water; mains electricity, gas-fired central heating.

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.

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

Our personal opinion: A true gem of an antique townhouse in a romantic and convenient location: it would make either an excellent all-year-round residence or an easily-maintained holiday home.

More Pictures are available of this property.

For price information, contact us quoting reference P246.