Altavilla Monferrato, Piedmont 15041

The village of Altavilla is located in the very heart of the Monferrato, a Unesco distinguished heritage area of wine landscapes and a preferred destination for travelers exploring the culinary and oenological treasures of Italian Piedmont. Altavilla Monferrato is moreover home to one of the most famous and award-winning producers of grappa and spirits, products enjoying growing worldwide renown. In the very center of this charming village, set atop a hill surrounded by vineyards, stands the former residence of the counts of Altavilla. An entrance gate from a small municipal road opens onto the enclosed private garden of 1270 square meters with a spring well at its center.The two habitable floors and the attic as well as the staircase are contained in a solid brick structure. The property includes two adjacent sections: the ancient shop to the East an the haybarn to the West.The ground floor, with an entrance from the garden, is considered the noble part of the house consisting of three reception rooms and a hall with a wealth of original architectural and decorative features from the 18th century. There are the high vaulted ceilings, impressive fireplaces and windows with fanlights. The ground floor is connected with two adjacent external rooms which were formerly a store and workshop and make up another section of the house with an additional entrance from the street. Ascending the staircase decorated with original features we reach the first floor consisting of three bedrooms of which the main bedroom of the count is distinguished by still visible wall frescoes. The basement contains a wine cellar remarkable for its size and shape, with the propertys second a spring well. The cellar is a proof of the importance that wine making had and still has in the areas culture. The house has an attic with a completely restored and insulated roof, a space that is apt to be made habitable and boasts enchanting views across the hill landscape of the Monferrato. On the houses Western side there is a haybarn serving as a buffer between the house and the neighboring property.While maintaining its original features and inimitable charm, the house is in need of comprehensive restoration which makes it possible to remodel it according to the future owners needs and preferences.