Arpino, Frosinone, Lazio, Italy

Palazzo Marco Agrippa, a historic town mansion dating from the 1800s, is a unique property set in the heart of the historic centre, its terrace and garden seemingly suspended between heaven and earth, with sweeping panoramic views over the beautiful old town and across the valley towards the distant mountains. The private garden has lights for al fresco dining in the warm Italian evenings, and features olive and lemon trees and a vine-covered arbour.

The main entrance leads from the Via Marco Agrippa into a large, light entrance hall, with sweeping views. This level mostly comprises an elegant living area, decorated in pale and neutral colours, and with many windows and balconies allowing light to pour into the interior of the home, followed by spectacular sunset views, and then the enchanting vista of the lights of the old town at night.

To one side, there is a large living room, beyond which is the kitchen, which has a both a fireplace for cosy winters, and a large panoramic terrace for al fresco summer dining.

To the other side there is an elegant study with a flavor of antiquity and classicism, enhanced by its open fireplace framed in hand-painted decorated tiles and its large wooden wall bookcase. Beyond this, there is a ground floor guest bedroom with its own small balcony.

There is also a bathroom on this level, as well as a very large wall safe.

From the entrance hall, a wide staircase in beautiful light marble sweeps up the upper floor, and an antique stone flight of stairs leads down to the garden, entertaining area and cellars.

On the upper floor, a hallway decorated in Liberty style hallway with a splendid parquet floor leads on to the various rooms. A splendid living room of approx. 30 sq.mt. occupies the right hand side of the floor; here the terracotta d'Este porcelain stoneware flooring reflects the natural light that streams from the three windows, illuminating the entire space, and creating an atmosphere of warmth, spaciousness and complete connection with the outside through the view of the wonderful panorama.

There are two bedrooms on this level, and two bathrooms.

The lower level of the building can be reached internally by an antique flight of stone flagged stairs, or external by other of two ancient wooden doors, framed by stone arches. One leads directly into the garden, the other into the 'taverna' or entertaining area, which has a characteristic barrel ceiling and Tuscan terracotta-effect stoneware flooring. The finish is all in stone from this area. A magnificent place for entertaining friends and family, with guests able to arrive directly from the town without walking through the house. Dinner parties evolving between the private garden and the taverna are made easy by a corner kitchen (also featuring an antique oven, now used only as a display feature). Additionally on this level, there is a storage room, a woodshed, and a room for gardening equipment

This wonderful iconic home is a perfect for those who love living in ancient Italian villages, in the charm of history but with the benefits and luxuries of a modern era.


ARPINO AND THE CIOCIARIA

Arpino is one of the major medieval hilltop towns in the area of Italy called the Ciociaria, the name given to the fertile land that lies south of Rome but north of Naples, situated inland in the hills in the heart of Italy. The Ciociaria region is within easy reach of both Rome and Naples and their respective airports. A day's shopping in Rome is a common pastime, while an even shorter drive brings you to the charming beaches south of Rome. Alternatively, drive east, and the mountains of the Abruzzo National Park await with horse trekking in the magnificent beech forests, and sparkling mountain lakes and rivers where you can swim in the heat of the summer. And at the other extreme of temperature, although Arpino itself is temperate, less than an hour's drive brings you to the winter ski slopes.

Often overlooked, both by tourists and by those foreigners in search of an Italian home, in favour of the more publicised regions of Tuscany and Umbria, the Ciociaria remains largely an unspoilt gem with beautiful scenery and medieval hilltop towns. A home or second home in the Ciociaria, in the hilltop towns of Arpino, Veroli, Alatri or Alvito or in the rolling countryside that surrounds them, will afford you a setting where over two thousand years of history combine with an idyllic rural Italian lifestyle, where you can still discover the 'real' Italy and take time out from the busy crowds of the larger tourist cities, while being less than ninety minutes journey from central Rome or either of Rome's two airports.


VIA ROMANA Srls and CASE & CASALI REAL ESTATE AGENCY

Via Romana Srls is an Italian-incorporated company owned by a British/Australian Chartered Accountant and her photographer daughter, and offers a package of services to facilitate all aspects of the purchase and restoration of Italian property by overseas clients. The Via Romana team works in collaboration with various fully-licensed Italian real estate agencies including Case & Casali Real Estate Agency represented by Sig. Ciro Tomei. Sig. Tomei has been enrolled in the register of real estate agents at the Chamber of Commerce in Frosinone, Lazio since 2007, his agency is one of the largest and most highly-regarded real estate agents in the area and he has much experience in the international marketing of Italian real estate.