Castle, Luxury Boutique Hotel For Sale In Marche

About the Property

Perched on a rocky spur on the border between Marche and Umbria, in an extremely panoramic position, medieval castle for sale. The property, finely renovated in recent times, is ideal for those looking for a building to be used as a boutique hotel or luxury private home, thanks to the presence of 8 spacious bedrooms and a beautiful wellness center. The castle is located in a very quiet location but close to basic services: the town of Acqualagna is in fact about 10’ drive from the property, while Cagli is a little further away (13 km). The location of the property is very convenient for visiting both Marche and Umbria, and the coastline is less than an hour’s drive away. DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDINGS, STATE AND FINISHES The keep (731 sqm – 7,865 sqft, 5 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms) is the heart of the castle, located at the highest part of the rocky outcrop, in an extremely panoramic position. The reception (with adjoining warehouse/wardrobe) is built into the projecting body and overlooks the castle terrace. Next to the reception is the manorial chapel, entirely renovated and tastefully furnished by Count Alessandro Ligi Luperti. On the ground floor of the castle are the common areas, consisting of a large living room, breakfast/convivial room, various hallways, dining room with adjoining kitchen, dressing rooms for employees and service bathrooms for guests. With separate access from the outside, in the projecting body of the building, is a large hall used for events and conferences (90 sqm – 968 sqft). The main staircase leads to the first floor, where a small hallway leads to the large living room, connected to a private office space. From the living room one can reach three luxurious bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms (one with a kitchen as well). Three beautiful original 17th-century frescoes by the school of Federico Barocci are preserved in the rooms. The second floor, created in what was the building’s attic, houses a central sitting room that connects to two en-suite bedrooms. The wellness center (also part of the keep) is carved out under the event hall, on two separate and independently accessible floors. The upper level houses the relaxation area with sauna and steam room, as well as locker rooms, while the lower level contains a large relaxation room with whirlpool and bath. The foresteria (139 sqm – 1,496 sqft, 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms) is located at the opposite end of the castle, lower than the fortress, and houses three elegant guest bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom. In the basement, accessible by a characteristic triangular staircase, are the castle’s old storage rooms, including the medieval “neviera”, an ante-litteram cold storage room in which food supplies were kept. Also within the perimeter of the castle is an independent technical room (17 sqm – 183 sqft) with a small staff bathroom. The archaeological area surrounding the fortress (over 4,400 sqm in total), enclosed by the perimeter of the old walls, underwent careful recovery and excavation work in the years 2008 - 2013. This work, with the assistance of the University of Urbino and the Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici, brought to light the traces of as many as twenty-eight rooms that constituted workshops, warehouses, stables, barns and dwellings in the past. The actual fortress, on the other hand, has undergone interventions, even heavy ones, already in past eras, and only a few parts of the original structure remain, replaced by stately rooms. The castle’s greenery has been fully restored and equipped with an irrigation system covering the entire area. Finally, in a defiladed position in the plain below the castle, not far from the fortress, there is a large agricultural warehouse (228 sqm – 2,453 sqft) that can be used to shelter vehicles and tools for use in the fields on the property. HISTORY OF THE CASTLE The castle, according to some recent studies, is supposed to date back to the 6th century AD and became an important bastion of the Siccardi family as early as the 11th century. In fact, the fort stands on a rise overlooking the Candigliano River valley and guards the road that in ancient times was the only communication artery through Massa Trabaria. In the first half of the 13th century the Siccardi were forced to subjugate the castle to the neighboring municipality, but the alliance was short-lived and several clashes ensued until Filippa Siccardi, despite strenuous resistance, was forced to hand the castle back to the municipality. In 1388 the castle was in the hands of the Mastini family, of noble ancestry and always linked to the Germanic emperors. The next two hundred years are poor in detail and little is known about the castle until the second half of the 17th century when the castle was reported to be owned by the Berardi family. EXTERIOR In addition to the gardens mentioned above, all of which are enclosed by the castle wall, the property can count on 27.6 hectares (68.2) of agricultural land arranged all around the mountain on which the fortress stands. Large expanses of arable and grazing land (17.9 ha in total) could be used to plant crops typical of the area for additional income, while the remaining area is covered by woods (9.7 ha) with truffle ground. Among other things, the property also includes 57 olive trees, already in full production. CLOSEST CITIES AND TOWNS Acqualagna (9km; 10’), Cagli (13km; 15’), Urbania (15km; 20’), Apecchio (16km; 15’), Urbino (26km; 35’), Città di Castello (43km; 50’), Gubbio (47km; 45’), Fano (52km; 40’), Corinaldo (57km; 1h), Pesaro (64km; 1h), Senigallia (76km; 1h), Perugia (98km; 1h 25’), Assisi (99km; 1h 30’), Rimini (103km; 1h 20’), Jesi (110km; 1h 25’), Ancona (120km; 1h 25’) CLOSEST AIRPORTS Ancona R. Sanzio (94km; 1h 5’), Perugia San Francesco (92km; 1h 20’), Rimini F. Fellini (95km; 1h 10’), Firenze A. Vespucci (175km; 2h 30’), Bologna G. Marconi (215km; 2h 15’), Roma Ciampino (273km; 3h 15’), Roma Fiumicino (288km; 3h 25’)