Oriolo Romano, Viterbo, Lazio, Italy

Willing to consider a "best of both possible worlds" apartment 45 minutes from Rome in the Tuscia countryside? - then this apartment is your chance. Located in the town of Oriolo Romano (see the attached map for relative setting), sitting in the historic center of the town, as the first of the possible worlds, the apartment has all the characteristics of a typical mid 1800's building with its ground floor entrance like a vestibule, then staircase to 1st floor relaxing/sitting space, then 2nd floor living area (kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, then stairway to 2 mezzanines. The total floor area of 120 square meters gives ample living space.
The second of the possible worlds is that this historically characteristic space has been, and is at this moment, renovated to bring the space to the 21st century. First in 2005, and now currently, the mechanical systems (plumbing, electricity, heating) are to European code standards. TV, digital and phone connections in every room and are new and to date. The roof is new. Floors are a combination of terracotta and wood. So, you have the modern world enclosed in the historical world. Indeed, the best of all possible worlds. There remains some renovation work to do this spring.
After entering from the street to the vestibule, and ascending the first set of stairs, you get to the 1st floor living/relaxing space - open plan living room, partially separate office space, built-in bookcases and TV digital area enclosed in the former fireplace.
Second floor is the main living area, encompassing galley-style, eat-in kitchen, pantry which has laundry fixtures, 3 bedrooms with built-in wardrobes, 2 renovated bathrooms and 2 mezzanines for various possible uses.
Surrounding the location of the apartment in the historic center and the "ideal" town itself is the geography of Tuscia - the Lazio countryside stretches out to the Sabatini mountains. Centuries-old woods fill the landscape, and only a short distance away the amazing Lago Bracciano awaits you.
Oriolo Romano as a town dates from the 16th century AD, centered about the family Altieri, although people have lived in this area generally from Etruscan times (pre-Roman). As was usual in those days, civilization coalesced about the defensive fortress built by the family, and is a tourist attraction to this day. A feature also in that century of learning, great care was taken by the Altieri family to plan the town as it grew outwards from the fortress - hence Oriolo Romano is characterized as an "ideal" town because of its physical organization. Wide open spaces, piazzas, artistic placement and design of important buildings, as well as availability of services - it is all still there, and makes Oriolo Romano a special place to live.