Britons dreaming of escaping the daily grind and starting a new life on the continent have been offered the chance to buy their own fairytale home – if they can afford it.
Valdengo Castle, just xx kilometres by car from Turin, is on the market for £664,959 (€790,000), the same price as a three-bedroom terraced house in Ealing, west London.
A majestic manor house surrounded by rolling green hills, this palatial property looks like something straight out of a charming romantic comedy or period drama.
But those looking to buy it might need an army of staff to keep its 29 bedrooms and six bathrooms clean and tidy.
Anyone hoping for absolute peace and quiet may be disappointed, as only part of the castle is available for habitation.
It also needs some repairs, the listing admits that the building’s fixtures and bathrooms need to be “modernized” and do not have modern plumbing.
On top of that, ‘the roof and some floors need to be completely redone,’ which would be an expensive project that many Grand Designs fans would be opposed to.
At first glance, the list seems perfect for anyone who wants to live their dreams.
Only a part of the castle is available for habitation and over the years it has fallen into disuse.
Sotheby’s property listing describes the castle as situated on a “gentle hill from which one can enjoy a 360-degree view.”
It stretches from the Biellese Alps to Monviso, from Baraggia to the hills and plains of Novara and the village of Valdengo in the foreground.
Potential buyers will be interested to know that 30 minutes away is the Magnano Biellese golf course, the Betulle, one of the most beautiful in Italy.
Also nearby are the tennis clubs of Rosazza and the Beeches of Biella.
As for skiing, there are the Biellese Alps, the famous ski areas of the Aosta Valley, Lake Viverone for water skiing and wakeboarding, as well as walks to the oasis of Burcina or Zegna.
The brightly frescoed and detailed ceilings have remained “untouched” over the centuries, and the rooms feature magnificent fireplaces and historic furnishings.
Some of the rooms even have perfectly preserved parquet floors, but some will require restoration work.
The rooms feature beautiful historic fireplaces and furnishings.
The bright and detailed ceiling frescoes have remained “unloaded” over the centuries.
All rooms facing southwest have French windows opening onto a long balcony that borders the entire apartment.
The second floor, with a reduced layout and access to the turret via a comfortable staircase, houses some bedrooms and bathrooms.
The listing has sparked debate online, with some suggesting it would make a great Airbnb.
One X user said: ‘Would make a great Premier Inn…’ while another posted: ‘Would you like to form a club for great timeshare?’
But a third joked: “You’re right about the price… although I was hoping for at least 50 rooms in my Italian castle. Shame.”
“A castle? It looks like a village!” commented a fourth.
This comes after a survey revealed that Italy is the most popular choice for a cost-effective life among Britons.
The listing has sparked debate online, with some suggesting it would make a great timeshare property.
This is despite the fact that many Italian cities are known for their high spending.
YourOverseasHome, which conducted the study, said: “Italy is by far the cheapest place to live long-term when you don’t spend like a traveller.”
Italy’s super-cheap house legend (helped in part by the 2017 1 euro house initiative) was devised to reverse depopulation in rural areas and address the problem of abandoned buildings.
But the reality of buying an abandoned house is much less tempting, as the cost of the major renovations needed can be high, especially if you’re trying to fix up a castle.
However, compared to the exorbitant costs of buying property in the UK, this may be preferable.