Baiano di Spoleto, Umbria 06049

Charming estate with restored 16th-century historic villa, ancient dovecote tower, private chapel, agricultural outbuildings with the possibility of change of use to a dwelling and about 14 hectares of land with garden, arable land and small olive grove. Ideal as a location for events and manifestations or as a luxurious private residence. Possibility of building a swimming pool.Geographic positionIn the heart of Umbria, surrounded by woods and olive groves, stands Villa Galileo, an elegant noble residence dating from the 16th century with a fascinating history.It was here that Galileo Galilei stayed on his way to Rome, and splendid frescoes depicting the cycle of the seasons were commissioned for the occasion, with enigmatic symbols and highly valuable artistic details.Situated on the edge of a small town, a reference point for daily shopping, the villa is only 8 km from Spoleto, one of the region's best-loved historic centres, famous for the Festival of the Two Worlds, From the villa, it is possible to reach Todi (37 km) and Assisi (52 km) in about 40 minutes by car, Perugia (69 km) in less than an hour and Orvieto (74 km), in about 1 hour and a quarter.Rome is only 120 km away and can be easily reached either by car or by train (thanks to the train station located just 500 metres from the property), in about an hour and a half.The nearest airport is Perugia, 60 km away (45 minutes by car), while the airports of Rome Ciampino (138 km) and Rome Fiumicino (154 km) can be reached in about 1 hour three quarters.Description of buildingsThe property consists of the main villa (690 square metres net), the dovecote tower (52 square metres net), an annex with private chapel (82 square metres net) and a further annex for agricultural use (40 square metres net), for a total net surface area of 864 square metres.The villa was first built in the 16th century as a hunting lodge around two pre-existing dovecote towers. Other rooms were later added, incorporating one of the two towers and transforming the building into an elegant noble country villa, with a private chapel and two buildings used for agricultural purposes. Among the events that took place over the centuries in the villa, the most important is certainly the stay of Galileo Galilei who, on his way to Rome, stopped at the property at the invitation of the owner.On the occasion of this important event, the owner commissioned the valuable frescoes that we can still admire today.Manor Villa - 759 sqm on 3 levels + balcony15 rooms - 6+2 bedrooms - 10 bathroomsThe villa is on three levels and has been recently restored. Thanks to the ample space available, it lends itself to both private and tourist accommodation use as a location for events.Ground floor- large double-height entrance hall- large living room with cross-vaulted ceiling, fireplace, a fountain with traces of frescoes and, on the ground floor, a gutter feeding water from the private spring;- large room (approx. 50 sqm) currently used as a warehouse, with the possibility of changing its use to a kitchen, with water and gas connections already in place- large double room (approx. 100 sqm) currently used as a warehouse, but with the possibility of changing its use into a living/living/dining room;- hallway;- 3 bathrooms;- 3 storage rooms;- column prepared for the installation of a lift to connect with the 2 upper floors.First Floor- Large living room with adjacent small room with water connection already prepared, for the installation of a kitchen;- room in which Galileo Galilei stayed, with frescoes, used as a study;- large room (approx. 27 sq m) with en-suite space already prepared for the installation of a bathroom;- room with mezzanine (usable as an additional room) and en-suite bathroom;- large room (approx. 50 sqm) with fireplace, en-suite room already prepared for the installation of a bathroom for the disabled and direct access to the rear garden;- column prepared for the installation of a lift. Second floor- large living room with frescoes, fireplace (approx. 33 sqm) and balcony of approx. 13 sqm- bedroom with hallway and en-suite bathroom;- bedroom with adjacent room (in correspondence of the ancient dovecote tower incorporated in the villa) already prepared for the installation of a kitchen or convertible into an additional bedroom or study.- bathroom on the upper floor of the tower (accessible by a steel staircase from the compartment below);- further bedroom with mezzanine, which can be used as an additional bedroom and en-suite bathroom;- utility room with provision for service bathroom;- column prepared for the installation of a lift.From the hallway of the room in the left wing of the villa, a small bridge leads to the second dovecote tower, not incorporated in the villa.Torre Colombaia - 58 sqm gross + 23 sqm terrace - To be internally renovated2 roomsThe dovecote tower, which is in excellent structural condition, has a basement with tall, slender arches that once served as the entrance to the property.The building still retains its original finishings and houses a room with large arched windows on all four sides, measuring approximately 30 sqm gross, a further room measuring approximately 28 sqm gross on the upper floor and, on the top level, a terrace measuring 23 sqm.Annexe with chapel - 90 sqm gross - To be restored8 roomsIn front of the villa is a small chapel, built in 1623 and dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. The church is still consecrated and for private use.To the rear of the church we find a storeroom and a wood-burning oven, followed by 6 further rooms, also for storeroom use.This building, in need of restoration, can be subject to change of use, with the possibility of creating further rooms or a spa. Additional agricultural annexe - 44 sqm gross - to be renovated1 roomAt the rear of the villa we find a further building, also for agricultural use, with a gross area of 44 sqm on one level.Also for this building, to be restored, a change of use is possible in order to create living space.The surface area is calculated on the basis of the net floor area including interior partitions and increased by a 10% incidence for load-bearing walls.State and finishingCarefully restored, the villa offers ample space ideal both as a private residence and as an exclusive venue for events, cultural retreats and representation activities.The rooms and other spaces on the first and second floors have not yet been used.The only work to be completed is the choice and laying of the floors in the two large storerooms on the ground floor (for which a change of use is possible) and the choice and laying of some sanitary ware in the bathrooms.Villa Galileo is of particular historical and architectural interest, as it retains its original 16th-century layout substantially unchanged. In the 17th century it was the seat of an important cultural coterie, to which the Dutchman Giovanni van Ekh, one of the promoters of the Accademia dei Lincei, was a guest of Benedetto Gelosi.The austere and elegant main faade, facing north-west, towards the valley, is adorned by the beautiful portal framed by pilasters and surmounted by the balcony on which a French door framed by 18th-century style mouldings opens.The entrance hall preserves a beautiful wooden ceiling with decorations and coats of arms of the family and the Municipality of Spoleto.In the adjoining hall there is a fireplace with, to its right, a fountain with traces of frescoes and, to the left, a gutter on the ground that draws water from a private spring located in the land uphill.In the room where Galilei slept, during the recent restoration, some paintings representing the cycle of the seasons were brought to light, with a pavilion vault decorated in faux marble, with other bucolic allegories and the signs of the zodiac in the centre. In the window recess, St. Francis receives the stigmata at the top and hunting scenes at the side.In the hall on the second floor is a beautiful stone firepla