REF. CODE: 1923 TYPE: medieval tower converted into a luxury residence CONDITION: restored POSITION: hilly, panoramic MUNICIPALITY: Cortona PROVINCE: Arezzo REGION: Tuscany SIZE: 600 square meters (6,456 square feet) TOT. N° OF ROOMS: 10 BEDROOMS: 4 BATHROOMS: 3 FEATURES: stone walls, terracotta and stone floors, wooden beams, stone fireplaces, vaulted stone ceilings, stone staircases, garden, swimming pool, pergola ANNEX: several buildings (garage, warehouses, lemon houses) ACCESS: excellent POOL: 12 × 6 m ELECTRICITY: already connected WATER: private well TELEPHONE: already connected ADSL: yes GAS: LPG HEATING: radiators GARDEN: yes, well-maintained and fenced LAND: 2.0 hectares (4.9 acres)
NEAREST TOWNS
Cortona (9km; 15’), Castiglion Fiorentino (20km; 25’), Passignano sul Trasimeno (25km; 25’), Montepulciano (27km; 40’), Torrita di Siena (35km; 35’), Arezzo (37km; 45’), Città di Castello (51km; 50’), Pienza (52km; 1h), Perugia (53km; 45’), Montalcino (71km; 1h 10’), Siena (76km; 1h), Florence (128km; 1h 45’)
NEAREST AIRPOTRS
Perugia San Francesco (62km; 50’), Firenze Vespucci (140km; 1h 40’), Pisa Galilei (200km; 2h 20’), Bologna Marconi (222km; 2h 30’), Roma Ciampino (223km; 2h 30’), Roma Fiumicino (237km; 2h 25’)
PRICE
EUR 1.740.000,00
DESCRIPTION
MEDIEVAL TOWER FOR SALE NEAR CORTONA, TUSCANY
Not far from Cortona, in panoramic position, this imposing medieval tower offers roughly 600 sqm of gross surface for a total of 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Several annexes (currently used as garages, tool sheds and lemon houses) complete the property together with the 12 × 6 m swimming pool and the fenced 2.0-ha garden.
Services are all available in the nearby town of Cortona (9km; 15’) and the property is located in a position where several towns of Umbria and Tuscany can be reached in less than two hours: among these Montepulciano, Pienza, Perugia, Montalcino, Siena and Florence.
The closest airport is Perugia (62km; 50’) and for international and intercontinental flights the most convenient alternatives are Pisa, Bologna and Rome.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDINGS
The tower (roughly 450 sqm – 4,842 sqft, 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms) is the heart of the property and is laid over four floors in total. The building boasts the typical batter and thick stone walls usually seen in medieval fortifications. Interiors boast classical finishes such as stone and terracotta floors, wooden beams and terracotta tiles.
The building was already documented in the 14th century, when it is first mentioned in a document allowing for the construction of the nearby church. The protruding walls on top of the building point out how the building was probably supposed to have a further floor, no longer existing.
The remaining buildings (roughly 150 sqm – 1,614 sqft in total) are currently used as garages, firewood shelter, tool sheds and pool house with bathroom and dressing room.
A beautiful vine-covered pergola offers a convenient outdoor area for al fresco dining or just to relax and enjoy the pleasant climate of Tuscany.
EXTERIORS
The tower is located right at the center of a 2.0-ha plot of land, fully fenced and covered by a well-maintained garden which also accommodates the 12 × 6 m swimming pool.
The term Castle derives from castellum which, in turn, derives from Castrum, a Latin term that refers to a military settlement. It is, in fact, in Roman times that we find the first elements of castles, architectural structures that become even more important with the advent of the barbarians. These peoples, nomads and mostly devoted to hunting and war, were also particularly ferocious and it was therefore required to fortify the already existing military facilities.
With the fall of the Roman Empire and the advent of the Middle Ages the decentralization of power required the creation of different types of fortification. At the beginning the scene was dominated by the watch towers whose purpose was primarily military.
The different economic and social structure, typical of the Middle Ages, then, required the creation of fortified towns. The castle became, therefore, the nucleus of a decentralized economy that, from the city, now moved to the countryside. That’s why the castle appeared as real fortified village.
In modern times, with the advent of various forms of fortification, the castle lost its defensive role. The various castles began, therefore, to be converted into residences for noble families.
Currently many of the castles in Italy and Europe are in need of renovation and therefore represent an unique opportunity to give a new life to a piece of history.
Owning a castle, live in a castle and, even more, to revive a castle is surely one of the most exciting experiences of life.