www.knightfrank.com International homes

Castagnoli, Gaiole

Impressive hill top farmhouse

Boasting incredible 360°views of 7 Chianti Castles, this was originally an Etruscan site. There are two houses: one restored in 1973 of approximately 450m 2 and a second close by to be completely restored of approximately 400m 2 . An oval swimming pool set in mature gardens offers complete privacy. Barn to restore.

In all about 5 hectares (12 acres)

Guide price: €3,750,000

Apply: james.price@knightfrank.com London +44 (0) 20 7629 8171 To view this particular property visit www.knightfrank.com/rsi050223 rima@chianti-estates.it +39 0577 731 120
CONTENTS

Festa della Vara at Randazzo, Sicily. Find out more about summer festivals in Italy by reading this month’s feature, starting on page 60.

Festa della Vara at Randazzo, Sicily. Find out more about summer festivals in Italy by reading this month’s feature, starting on page 60.

LIVING ITALIA!

LAZIO €50,000–€100,000

PROPERTY FOCUS

Whether you prefer a property by the sea or a farmhouse set among the region’s rolling hills and stunning valleys, Lazio offers plenty of choice. And you’re not far from city life, either...

CASA SAN GREGORIO Large apartment needing some renovation in a large house about 15 kilometres from Rieti. The apartment is about 110 square metres and comprises kitchen, dining room, living room, two bedrooms and bathroom plus terrace. In the basement are store rooms. Price€60,000 ContactDionisi Property Search 􏰀􏰀 +39 0746 205588 www.dopropertysearch.co.uk

€100,000–€250,000

CAPOLATERRA Beautiful apartment in a fully renovated stone building 13 kilometres from Rieti and 90 kilometres from Rome. Comprising kitchen, living room, dining room, two double bedrooms and a bathroom, the apartment also has two balconies and a garden with a car park. All utilities are connected. The heating is gas-fired, for which there is an underground tank in the garden. The property enjoys beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and the Rieti valley. Price€125,000 ContactDionisi Property Search 􏰀􏰀 +39 0746 205588 www.dopropertysearch.co.uk

€100,000–€250,000

TUSCANIA This detached villa is situated in beautiful rolling countryside close to the medieval town of Tuscania in northern Lazio. Lake Bolsena is a 15-minute drive and the coast at Tarquinia is 30 minutes away. The accommodation totals 160 square metres, plus 40 square metres of attic comprising 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a large living room and a summer kitchen. The attic requires finishing and could provide further bedroom space. There are 2 hectares of fenced land with panoramic views. All services are connected. (Reference GTUS0058.) Price€250,000 ContactItalian Heartland 􏰀􏰀 +39 0761 434144 www.italian-heartland.co.uk

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DISCOVER ITALIA!

IN THIS ISSUE June 2006

€100,000–€250,000

SAN CLEMENTE Unique apartment located in an old historical centre just north of Rome. Some renovations have just been completed, including a new roof. All town amenities, such as churches, monuments, shops and restaurants, are within walking distance. The overall area is 70 square metres, plus a small terrace. The apartment is finished to a very high standard. Price€165,000 ContactRight Move www.rightmove.co.uk

€250,000–€500,000 COLONICA SELVAPIANA Lovely ruined farmhouse near Rieti in northern Lazio, an hour’s drive from Rome and 15 minutes from Rieti. Sitting on 12 hectares of land, this property benefits from beautiful views over the Rieti valley and mountains. The house is set on two floors and needs complete restoration. Price€270,000 ContactDionisi Property Search 􏰀􏰀 +39 0746 205588 www.dopropertysearch.co.uk

€250,000–€500,000 FARNESE When it was built in 1580, this building belonged to the Farnese family. The place was then sold or given to the Roman Church. At the beginning of the following century it was given to the Calvesi family for their help in overthrowing the Pope’s supremacy in the area. The apartment is located on the noble floor – the ground floor – and is completely restored. It has ceilings with astonishingly splendid frescos, plus an old tiled floor of rare beauty. In total the apartment covers 130 square metres and has a small private garden. Price€350,000 ContactRight Move www.rightmove.co.uk

€250,000–€500,000

COLLE RUCCIOLO Beautifully renovated portion of stone house set 1 kilometre from the medieval village of Labro, on the border between Lazio and Umbria. The size of the house is about 120 square metres and it comprises a kitchen, living room, dining room, two bedrooms and two bathrooms. There is also a garden and a swimming pool, which is shared with three other houses. The property enjoys spectacular views over the mountains and the Rieti valley. Price€280,000 ContactDionisi Property Search 􏰀􏰀 +39 0746 205588 www.dopropertysearch.co.uk

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PROPERTY 36 HOMES ON THE COAST Whether you’re looking for a holiday home or somewhere to relocate to permanently, a property by the sea holds plenty of attraction. Fleur Kinson goes beachcombing for bargains.

68 PROPERTY FOCUS: ROME AND LAZIO From luxury homes by the sea to farmhouses set among the region’s rolling hills and valleys, the property hunter in Lazio has a wide range of homes and landscapes to choose from.

HOLIDAYS 24 DISCOVER ASCOLI PICENO This ancient city in southern Marche has been a popular tourist destination among Italians for some time. Recently, though, it’s started to attract the attention of discerning foreigners.

ON THE COVER 16 News and views 24 Exploring Ascoli Piceno 36 Buying property by the sea 47 Venice by night 60 Celebrate summer the Italian way 68 Homes for sale in Rome 72 Fish dishes 78 Red wine from le Marche 90 Flight guide

DISCOVER

Ascoli Piceno Still known to mainly only the Italian cognoscenti, Kim van Woerkomshares the well-kept secret of Ascoli Piceno, an ancient city tucked away among the rolling hills of the southern Marche.

Variously known to Italians as the ‘city of art’ or the ‘city of 100 towers’, Ascoli Piceno has so far somehow escaped the attention of most of the 29 million or so stranierivisiting Italy every year. Its position, at the confluence of the Tronto and Castellano rivers, makes it resemble a moated castle, with its protected position and strong fortifications designed to keep out intruders. During its early history, however, this was not always successful, as Ascoli was unable to protect itself from various violent attacks, particularly by its expansionist neighbour Rome, whose main trading route, the Via Salaria, passed close to the town. Clearly, there was something about Ascoli Piceno that was worth fighting for, its impressive architecture attesting to the importance of the city even then. The exact origins of the city are not known; some date its founding at around the 6th century BC, others at 300 BC, but humans have existed in the area since prehistoric times. Its name could at least in part have been derived from the Italian word for woodpecker (picchio), based on the belief that the city’s first settlers, the Sabini, arrived in the area by following the bird

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52 DISCOVER VENICE LAGOON If you’re planning a holiday in Venice, consider staying on the water rather than finding a hotel on dry land. As Jane Gifford discovers, it is a unique way to see the magical city.

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