Historic palazzo in Umbria
Brief description
Historic, stately palazzo, fully restored maintaining its original architectural features, with panoramic terrace, in the historic centre of Amelia. Measuring 2197 sq.m in total, it is currently being used as a hotel, with various impressive living spaces, 11 bedrooms, 19 bathrooms, tasting room, cellars and storage spaces, cave and original mosaic flooring dating from the Roman period.
Geographic position
Situated just an hour’s drive from Rome (90 km) in the hills overlooking the Umbrian valley, the picturesque city of Amelia is an architectural treasure with a thousand years of history.
The historic centre, protected by a long, imposing city wall with 4 ancient gates, is full of monuments and important 14th and 15th century palazzos. The property is on the east side of the wall and was built on a pre-existing Roman palace, evident in its black and white mosaic floors from that period, which can be seen in the current cellar, in a fragment of ‘opus reticulatum’ brickwork and in a tunnel from the Roman period which was discovered during the renovation of the cellars.
Situated along the Via Amerina, one of Umbria and Central Italy’s main thoroughfares since the Roman period, Amelia is less than an hour’s drive from Terni (24 km) and 20 minutes from Orte (15km) and Narni (14 km).
The nearest airports are Rome Ciampino (107 km) and Fiumicino (124 km), around an hour and a half’s drive away.
Description of buildings
The Palazzo, based on several architectural elements, dates back to the second half of the 15th century, and was built on top of a pre-existing Roman building, using the original rooms and structure as a foundation.
The residence measures around 2197 sq.m in total, which includes:
Main Residence - Ground and main (first) floors
Picturesque hallway with vaulted ceilings, providing access to the main residence which has two wings:
The left wing features a large kitchen/breakfast room with fireplace and antique washbasins, bedroom with en-suite bathroom and a further large bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and two private bathrooms.
The right wing features a study, richly decorated sitting room, dining room, hallway, two bathrooms and a kitchen.
At the end of the entrance hall there is a door which opens onto a large, panoramic terrace/courtyard measuring 155 sq.m, overlooking the hills below and an ideal space for an open-air breakfast or lunch.
From here, there is access to two other buildings: the largest features a large living area with exposed brickwork, a professional kitchen with mezzanine, a bathroom and on the basement floor, a garage. The other is used as a laundry/utility room, with bathroom.
Also at the end of the corridor, a large stone staircase leads to the floors above. On the main floor there is a large reception room, with mosaic floors and frescoed ceilings, then, in the right wing, there is a sitting room, a large bedroom with in-room tub, a hallway, a living room with a bathroom and another bedroom with en-suite bathroom.
In the left wing there are two sitting rooms, a bathroom, a living room with fireplace and a bedroom with en-suite bathroom.
Lastly, the top floor is home to three apartments:
- the first apartment, with one floor, features kitchen/living room, bedroom, bathroom, bedroom with private bathroom and mezzanine with average height of 1.70 metres;
- the second, with two floors, with kitchen/living room, two bedrooms, a bathroom and another bedroom with bathroom on the top floor;
- the third, also with two floors, with sitting room, kitchen and bathroom, and a bedroom with bathroom on the top floor.
On the basement floor of the property there are various rooms used for food and drink, with a pretty restaurant area with its own entrance, with access down into an old cave, a bar area, a kitchen, an old well perfect for storing wine, a sitting room, and the cellar, from which a stone staircase leads to an attractive room where the impressive black and white geometric mosaic dating from the Roman era still remains.
The property is completed by 4 further storage spaces, on the ground floor of a building situated at the back of the palazzo.
State and finishing
The palazzo is in excellent condition; it has been restored maintaining its original architectural features, accentuating the precious and attractive historic and architectural elements which remain including the mosaic floor from the Roman period, part of the wall with ‘opus reticulatum’ brickwork, the well, the decorations and the frescoes on the ground and main floors and several fine quality floors.
The restoration was carried out with a view to making the most of the space available, creating three unique, separate apartments on the top floors and installing tasting rooms in the old cellars.
External areas
The property benefits from a spacious, panoramic terrace measuring 155 sq.m, accessible from the ground floor and overlooking the surrounding hills.
The space, which is paved, is perfect for outdoor dining and also for hosting meals and events, due to the building which is home to a large living space with professional kitchen next door.
Use and potential uses
Perfect as a hotel or high-end guest accommodation, this property is also ideal for those looking for an impressive, beautiful private residence to host events, exhibitions or private viewings.
