Arpino, Frosinone, Lazio, Italy

Casa Giacchino enjoys spectacular panoramic views across the valley to the distant mountains with the medieval town of Arpino silhouetted on the next hilltop. This spacious 415 sq.mt. home, set in 2,000 sq.mt. of grounds, formerly had a restaurant on the lower floor while the owner's accommodation occupied the upper two floors. The restaurant could be re-opened and this configuration continued, or alternatively the complete property could become a family home, or as a further option, different commercial usages for the lower floor could be explored

The main living area on the middle floor under the current configuration enjoys a large living area with open log fireplace, a beautiful fully-fitted wood-finished kitchen, a separate dining area, further seating areas, a guest bedroom and a bathroom. French windows open from the rooms on to a long balcony from which to admire the magnificent views. The principal entrance to the property is to be found at this level with a drive leading through the private garden to the front door.

Attractive wooden stairs lead to the upper floor where there is the master bedroom, two further bedrooms, all with parquet flooring, and two bathrooms. French doors open from the bedrooms on to another long balcony, flooding the rooms with light from the vista below. This level also leads on to a large terrace with the same stunning views.

The 200 sq.mt. ground floor was formerly the commercial premises, and housed the commercial kitchen, pizza oven and storerooms. The private drive from the road curves down to the restaurant entrance on this level with ample parking in the grounds for the customers. The restaurant sat 90 customers in a single open-plan room with further seating in the summer in an adjacent marquee. There are also bathrooms and toilets, formerly for customer and staff, on this level.

The exterior of the house still requires partial plastering but the home is ready for immediate occupancy with all utilities connected.

Olive groves on the hillside below the house complete this lovely property. There would be ample space for a swimming pool (subject to the usual planning consents) adjacent to the marquee/gazebo.

Casa Giacchino is situated in a attractive residential area of Arpino called Collecarino just outside the historic centre. Two award-winning restaurants are located in Collecarino itself, and the shops, restaurants, cafés and services of Arpino are only a walk or a couple of minutes drive away. The property has excellent road access; the centre of Rome and Rome's main international airport can be reached in 90 minutes, while Rome's second international airport is barely an hour.

Energy classification: G


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 publicized 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 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 the CINELLI IMMOBILIARE 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 the Cinelli Immobiliare Agency. The Cinelli Immobiliare Agency aims at identifying unique buildings with outstanding locations in the beautiful Ciociaria region, including apartments, historic houses, villas, palazzos and farmhouses. Some of these properties are already renovated while others are to be restored. The Cinelli Immobiliare Agency also provides reliable and full service renovations focussed on the appropriate use of original materials, such as stone, wood and wrought iron, drawing on over 40 years' experience in the restoration sector of their partner company Cinelli Claudio Restorations and their technical office, headed by Ing. Valentina Cinelli.