Former manor house - Casa Colonica - with small annexe (in need of complete restoration), courtyard and surrounding land.
The house for sale is called an ex colonica because it is considered, architectonically. to be a "casa padronale" and not a typical farmhouse.
This house is already present on maps dating from 1843.
The house is described as one of the best examples of rural architecture in
the region, constructed in part with locally obtained natural materials such as tufo
stone (extracted from the caves under the big Villa belonging and in part in brick.
The house was restored to some extent in the 1800s.
The roof, recently restored as of 2005, is described as a tetto a padiglione (hipped
roof) and has beautiful, characteristic, ornate wooden eaves. The roof is sound, as
are the walls and the floors. The windows and doors characteristically framed in brick, as well as the beautifully made brick staircase and the corner pilasters on the outside of the house, also made of brick, are distinctive indications of the substantial value of the structure.
Another indication of the solid (and modern, for its day) planning and the extra expense put into the construction of this house is that the house is has a rectangular plan and that the pitched roof has four under-layers.
The house measures 282 square meters and is constructed on two floors, each floor
measuring 141 square meters.
Ground Floor
once home to the winery and stables (horses and carriage). It has independent access to the outdoor yard, easily convertible into a separate apartment. It is a marvellous space which can be transformed into various kinds of accommodation according to desire and need. This floor is divided into four areas of varying shapes. The ceilings have a slightly varying height, from 3.40 to 3.31mt.
Upper Floor
Climb a stone and brick external staircase. This is a typical, picturesque feature of Marchigiano country houses. The staircase leads to a small landing with a brick parapet (3mt48x1mt58) that opens onto the living-room with fireplace, measuring 4mt59x5mt16. There are 4 bedrooms measurements:5mt16x4mt41, 3mt97x4mt41, 3mt17x3mt77, 3mt78x5mt95. The kitchen measures 2mt21x2mt87 and the two bathrooms measure 3mt38x2mt87 and 1m752x2mt49. The ceilings have their original wooden beams, which are beautifully preserved. The maximum height of the ceiling on the top floor, in the center of the house, is 433meters, sloping down to 287 meters on the sides.
Annex
The little annex, for restoration, measures 42.68 sq. m. It is built of antique bricks
and has two small rooms (3.76x4.18 and 3.27x3.82) plus a storage area measuring
2.77x1.34 and stands on a corner of the ample (500 sq. mt.) courtyard, with grass
and beautiful trees, that surrounds the house on three sides.
Land
The land is splendid. It is terraced, in total 4.5 hectares. There are several olive and elm trees as well a few of pines and other healthy shrubbery. The land is clearly fertile, covered in tender grass, suitable for gardening and fruit trees and has been used in the past as pasture for sheep and for grazing horses.
The land could also host a second road and there would be plenty of room for a large, secluded pool on a plateau underneath the house, overlooking the same magnificent panoramic view that can be seen from the house proper: countryside, hills and orchards, with mountains and the Adriatic Sea in the distance.
Location
Nearby towns with shopping and service facilities are Osimo, once the Roman city of Auximum, and the medieval village of Offagna, home to a wonderful summer medieval festival. The Adriatic seashore, called La Riviera del Conero, the Monte Conero, the city of Ancona (and the very handy train station) and the Falconara Airport, with frequent flights to the UK, are all approx. twenty minutes away by car.
One can fly very cheaply to the Ancona Airport from Stansted.
Due to its important location, the farmstead and its surroundings (and the little annex) offer many possibilities for transformation. As the property is so hard to come by, this is also an excellent investment. Property is rarely sold on Montecerno.
On Montecerno it is possible to be close to a town (and therefore all of the amenities) and still enjoy the country. There are several good restaurants and trattorie inside the walls of Osimo itself, excellent trattorie and pizzerie in Offagna and many more within walking distance or with a short trip by car.
The shops are lovely and there are several designer clothes shops. There is also a theatre, a cinema and another concert hall. There are numerous wonderful delicatessen and grocery shops.
Osimo was called Auximon in Greek and Auximum in Roman times and was the richest town in the region. It is steeped in history and some of the original Roman walls survive, though some are mediaeval.
The beaches nearby are lovely and the coast is called the Adriatic Riviera. Sirolo, a small
fishing village is delightful (with wonderful fish restaurants) and the views from the
headland, the Conero, are unbeatable and mountain ski resorts are only one hour away.
Further details available.
