Slott 8 sovrum, 847 m²

Cortona, Arezzo (provins)

A wonderfully romantic hilltop castle with it‘s own  renaissance chapel and seperate  guest cottage set in the beautiful, tranquil hills behind the city of Cortona—famous from Under the Tuscan Sun and, more recently, the HBO series Succession.

This remarkable building has 11th-century origins and Renaissance additions, including the charming chapel. All the rooms feature high ceilings supported by solid chestnut beams and terracotta tiles, the thick stone walls make the structure exceptionally robust. The windows and terraced garden offer breathtaking panoramic views of the rolling countryside, stretching all the way to the Sibillini Mountains in the far distance, beyond Assisi.

This is a rare opportunity to revive a genuine piece of Tuscan history. The property is perfectly liveable—I’m here now—but it does require  renovations.

Property Layout and Exterior Features:
Entry to the property is via a stone-pillared gateway, opening onto a charming courtyard.
* The Cottage: Located on the left of the courtyard, this self-contained cottage offers two rooms on the ground floor and three rooms plus a bathroom on the first floor. It is in need of restoration.

* Stable Block: Situated to the right of the courtyard, the stable block also requires restoration.

* Main Castello Approach: A broad, stone-paved ramp leads directly to the main entrance of the castle.

* Lower Level of Castello: To the right of the ramp are three large cantinas, two of which are barrel-vaulted, providing ample storage or potential for conversion. At the far end, a covered area houses the old bread oven, hinting at the property's rich history.

* Renaissance Chapel and Gardens: At the front of the castello, a pretty Renaissance chapel, surrounded by a lawn and elegant cypress trees, adds to the property's charm and historical significance. To the side an elegant  terraced garden is connected to a lower terrace by an grand stone stairway. Adjacent to the garden lies a terraced olive grove .

The Main Castello: A Blend of History and Potential:
The castle itself is divided into a north and south wing, separated by an internal courtyard.
South Wing (16th Century Late Renaissance):

The main door leads into the 16th-century, late Renaissance south wing. This section underwent significant modifications in the early 20th century, introducing elegant features such as cantilevered stairways, Gothic-style windows, delicate iron balustrades, terraces, and a charming  balcony.

* Ground Floor: The entrance hall features a barrel-vaulted ceiling. Two principal rooms boast high ceilings and Gothic French windows. One opens onto a delightful Juliet balcony, while the other leads to a large terrace, both offering expansive panoramic views towards the Sibillini mountains. The latter room is particularly notable for its huge stone fireplace, dated 1570, adorned with a carved coat of arms of the Medici family. Between these two principal rooms is a small, high room with its own Gothic-styled French window leading to the main terrace. To the side of the fireplace, steps descend to two smaller rooms.

* First Floor Southwing: An elegant stone staircase, constructed in 1916, sweeps up from the entrance hall, linking the south and north wings. On the first-floor landing, to the left (south wing), there is a self-contained apartment. This comprises a master bedroom with access to a modern bathroom, a second bedroom, a living room, and a kitchen. All windows in this apartment are double-glazed, and it benefits from central heating. The ceilings on this floor have been sandblasted, exposing the original beauty of the chestnut beams and terracotta tiles.

* First Floor Northwing: Accessed from the main landing, to the right (north wing first floor), is a large drawing room. This room features impressive double-aspect windows with deep bays, formed from the castle's exceptionally thick walls, offering beautiful near and far views. Behind this drawing room are four additional rooms, two of which have en-suite shower rooms. The ceilings on this floor have also been sandblasted, revealing the original chestnut beams and terracotta tiles.This section needs modernisation and new windows.

* Top Floor (Second Floor of North Wing): The stairs continue from the landing to the top floor, which largely replicates the layout of the floor below. This area has been partly restored to a builder's finish.
. Notably, two of the rooms have been opened up to create one large space, connected by an impressive Serena stone arch. The ceilings on this floor have been sandblasted, revealing the original chestnut beams and terracotta tiles.All the floors have been laid with reinforced concrete.

* Attic: Above this floor, there is an attic.

The castello has a solid stone structure but is in need of more renovation—the main task being the replacement of the roof and gutters, particularly in the south wing. The north wing’s roof is in better condition but will also need replacement in time. Many windows and doors require replacement, and general modernization is needed throughout much of the building.
On the top floor of the north wing, the plaster has been removed to reveal beautiful bare stone walls. The floors have been laid with reinforced concrete, and conduits for electrical cables have already been installed—essentially, a shell waiting for a new life.
That said, although there is significant work to be done, aside from the major project (the roof), other tasks can be completed gradually—con calma—while actually residing in the castello. Even during the roof work, it’s possible to continue using the space, as there is an attic above the living areas.
The first-floor south wing apartment features a modern bathroom, two bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen, all equipped with central heating and double-glazed windows. Meanwhile, the north wing on the same floor includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a library, and a large living room with a modern working fireplace. Although it lacks central heating and double glazing, it does have windows, and the wood-burning fire is very effective—comfortable in summer, a bit spartan in winter, but entirely livable.