Luxury Restored Castle For Sale In Umbria

In a very panoramic position in the hills of Umbria, a few kilometers from Umbertide, restored medieval castle for sale. The building (over 2,600 sqm) boasts a history dating back almost a thousand years and has been finely restored by the current owners, who have turned it into a luxury residence with 14 guest bedrooms. Over 55.0 ha of land surrounds the building and includes a tennis court, infinity pool, and olive trees.

The castle can be reached by paved road and is less than five kilometers from Umbertide, where all necessary services and excellent restaurants can be found. The location on the border with Tuscany and not far from Reschio Castle is also very convenient for visiting some of Italy’s most fascinating art cities (Siena, Montepulciano, Perugia, Orvieto, Montalcino, Pienza...).

DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDINGS, CONDITION AND FINISHES

The castle (2,364 sqm – 25,437 sqft, 14 bedrooms and 18 bathrooms) is an imposing medieval building, divided into several interconnected areas, structured on five floors.

- Basement: historic cellars and guest WC for tree-house dining;

- Ground floor: formal dining room with spectacular outdoor terrace, custom kitchen by Riccardo Barthel, games room, large play room, laundry, guest WC, two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and garage to be renovated and several rooms (currently used as a storage which could be restored to create new bedrooms and/or common areas);

- First floor: reception hall and music room, guest bathroom, wood-paneled library, billiard room, staff’s apartment (kitchen, living area, bedroom and bathroom);

- Second floor: galleried living room, master suite (living room, bedroom, two bathrooms and two walk-in closets), guest suite (living room, bedroom and bathroom) and independent suite with en-suite bathroom and private entrance from courtyard;

- Third floor: guest suite (living room, bedroom and bathroom) and four bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms.

A lovely guesthouse (262 sqm – 2,819 sqft) on three floors is accessed through a separate staircase on the northern side of the castle and is made up of a living room with fireplace, studio and three guest suites, each with its own bathroom.

A short distance from the castle, through the manicured gardens and olive grove, are a tennis court and infinity-edge 18 × 5 m swimming pool, served by a pool house (36 sqm – 387 sqft) which includes guest WC and changing rooms.

Just steps from the castle, is a stunning adult-size tree house: this unique outdoor space can easily accommodate up to 25 guests and offers a spectacular dining area for the summer.

The two towers of the castle, located on the east and west sides respectively, are in need of full renovation. The one on the east side has been consolidated at the structural level and is currently in an advanced builder’s state, thus lacking only finishing work.

The three-story cottage (198 sqm – 2,130 sqft) entirely to be restored and located a short distance from the castle, where three bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms for guests could be created. A large workshop (72 sqm – 775 sqft), entirely to be restored but very suitable as a recreation center and/or wellness center, and the technical room (32 sqm – 344 sqft), located next to the castle, complete the property.

HISTORY OF THE BUILDING

The original core of the castle can be traced back to a watchtower built around 1152 to defend the hills of Umbertide. The building was certainly expanded in 1399 with the construction of the large tower visible today. In the same year, the now numerous inhabitants of the castle received permission to build a small church named after San Lorenzo, of which only the ruins remain today (visible about 200 m from the castle).

The fortress played an important role in the war between the Medici of Florence and Pope Urban VIII, and in 1643 it was occupied by Florentine forces, who then succeeded from there in conquering the nearby town and much of the Upper Tiber Valley.

The castle was enlarged on several occasions between the 17th and 18th centuries until the building was inherited in the second half of the 19th century by Count Francesco Guardabassi, first a deputy then a senator in the newly formed Kingdom of Italy. The family remained owners of the castle until 1965, using the building as a management center for their agricultural holdings and summer home. The only interlude was the German occupation of the castle in May and June 1944, at the height of World War II, when the building was requisitioned by German Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, who made it sort of a logistical center for the defense of Umbertide against the Allied advance.

The building has recently been tastefully renovated, keeping most of the finishes intact and transforming it into a luxury residence.

EXTERIOR

The estate surrounding the castle stretches for about 55.1 hectares (136.1 acres), all on a gentle hillside. The area around the building is entirely given over to parkland (about 13,500 sqm) and includes tall trees, flower beds, and manicured walkways, right down to the swimming pool and tennis court. A gravel parking lot is located directly in front of the castle.

A notable feature of the castle is the presence of beautifully manicured gardens all around the castle, which offer some stunning outdoor areas for both recreation and events.

The rest of the property, on the other hand, is mostly covered by woods (27.4 ha) and arable land (25.2 ha partly covered by trees), with a small olive grove (about 1.0 ha) producing an excellent extra virgin olive oil. South of the castle is a private lake with a pier.

CLOSEST CITIES AND TOWNS

Umbertide (5km; 5’), Città di Castello (27km; 25’), Monte Santa Maria Tiberina (29km; 35’), Tuoro sul Trasimeno (35km; 40’), Perugia (37km; 35’), Castiglione del Lago (47km; 50’), Anghiari (47km; 40’), Cortona (44km; 50’), Castiglion Fiorentino (52km; 1h), Assisi (54km; 45’), Montepulciano (65km; 1h 10’), Pienza (81km; 1h 25’), Urbino (86km; 1h 30’), Siena (109km; 1h 30’), Orvieto (113km; 1h 40’), Florence (149km; 2h), Rome (206km; 2h 35’), Lucca (229km; 2h 40’)

CLOSEST AIRPORTS

Perugia San Francesco (37km; 35’), Ancona R. Sanzio (125km; 1h 40’), Firenze A. Vespucci (170km; 2h), Grosseto C. Baccarini (174km; 2h 15’), Bologna G. Marconi (216km; 2h 30’), Roma Ciampino (218km; 2h 25’), Roma Fiumicino (232km; 2h 30’), Pisa G. Galilei (230km; 2h 40’)