<strong>Serravalle for sale:</strong> A citadel in the rolling hills of northern Italy's Emilia Romagna region is up for sale for about $2 million.
Serravalle for sale: A citadel in the rolling hills of northern Italy's Emilia Romagna region is up for sale for about $2 million.
Paolo Giacopini Immobiliare/Conforti Immobiliare
<strong>Gardens and greenery:</strong> The property, consisting of various buildings and part of a village, sits in a 14,000 square-meter park. <br />
Gardens and greenery: The property, consisting of various buildings and part of a village, sits in a 14,000 square-meter park.
Paolo Giacopini Immobiliare/Conforti Immobiliare
<strong>Rest & relaxation: </strong>"Not only is it very convenient, roughly down to 1,000 euros per square meter, it has enormous potential both as a private, silent retreat to unplug in, or as an investment to turn it into a resort," Paolo Giacopini of Immobiliare Giacopini, the real estate agency handling the sale, told CNN.
Rest & relaxation: "Not only is it very convenient, roughly down to 1,000 euros per square meter, it has enormous potential both as a private, silent retreat to unplug in, or as an investment to turn it into a resort," Paolo Giacopini of Immobiliare Giacopini, the real estate agency handling the sale, told CNN.
Paolo Giacopini Immobiliare/Conforti Immobiliare
<strong>Grand spaces: </strong>The property includes a 18th-century stately palace called Palazzo Boccadiferro, where the current owners occasionally live.
Grand spaces: The property includes a 18th-century stately palace called Palazzo Boccadiferro, where the current owners occasionally live.
Paolo Giacopini Immobiliare/Conforti Immobiliare
<strong>Location, location, location: </strong>"The charm and panorama are matchless, surrounded by vineyards, in a strategic location between the two top cities of Emilia Romagna, a wonderful region which is often wrongly eclipsed by Tuscany when it comes to castles and manors," says Giacoponi.
Location, location, location: "The charm and panorama are matchless, surrounded by vineyards, in a strategic location between the two top cities of Emilia Romagna, a wonderful region which is often wrongly eclipsed by Tuscany when it comes to castles and manors," says Giacoponi.
Paolo Giacopini Immobiliare/Conforti Immobiliare
<strong>Ready to occupy: </strong>The current owners live at the castle during summer months, says Giacopini, so it is already inhabitable with heating, kitchen, utilities, fireplaces, several bedrooms and bathrooms.
Ready to occupy: The current owners live at the castle during summer months, says Giacopini, so it is already inhabitable with heating, kitchen, utilities, fireplaces, several bedrooms and bathrooms.
Paolo Giacopini Immobiliare/Conforti Immobiliare
<strong>Make an offer: </strong>Giacopini, who takes interested visitors on guided tours, says the the 1.9 million euros price tag could be open to negotiation.
Make an offer: Giacopini, who takes interested visitors on guided tours, says the the 1.9 million euros price tag could be open to negotiation.
Paolo Giacopini Immobiliare/Conforti Immobiliare
<strong>The full package: </strong>Lavish Renaissance-style furniture, including paintings, are also potentially on sale.
The full package: Lavish Renaissance-style furniture, including paintings, are also potentially on sale.
Paolo Giacopini Immobiliare/Conforti Immobiliare
<strong>Worth fighting for: </strong>Serravalle is steeped in history. The fortification has for centuries been at the heart of territorial feuds and battles against invaders and neighboring fiefdoms.
Worth fighting for: Serravalle is steeped in history. The fortification has for centuries been at the heart of territorial feuds and battles against invaders and neighboring fiefdoms.
Paolo Giacopini Immobiliare/Conforti Immobiliare
<strong>Ghostly presences: </strong>The property is said to be haunted by a murderous lord and the ghosts of the wives he brutally dispatched.
Ghostly presences: The property is said to be haunted by a murderous lord and the ghosts of the wives he brutally dispatched.
Paolo Giacopini Immobiliare/Conforti Immobiliare
<strong>Preservation orders: </strong>Because the castle is under the supervision of regional arts authorities, there are restrictions on radical structural changes such as turning a bathroom into a bedroom, or vice versa.
Preservation orders: Because the castle is under the supervision of regional arts authorities, there are restrictions on radical structural changes such as turning a bathroom into a bedroom, or vice versa.
Paolo Giacopini Immobiliare/Conforti Immobiliare
<strong>Conference calls: </strong>The well-maintained estate is currently rented out for private events and conferences.
Conference calls: The well-maintained estate is currently rented out for private events and conferences.
Paolo Giacopini Immobiliare/Conforti Immobiliare
<strong>Room for improvements: </strong>While the castle is immaculately preserved, other parts of the property, such as the lookout tower, built in 1227 and modified in 1523, might require a few fixes.
Room for improvements: While the castle is immaculately preserved, other parts of the property, such as the lookout tower, built in 1227 and modified in 1523, might require a few fixes.
Paolo Giacopini Immobiliare/Conforti Immobiliare
<strong>Layers of history: </strong>The fortification, built on the ashes of an ancient Roman military outpost called Verabulum, was conquered and destroyed by the Lombard tribes in the eighth century.
Layers of history: The fortification, built on the ashes of an ancient Roman military outpost called Verabulum, was conquered and destroyed by the Lombard tribes in the eighth century.
Paolo Giacopini Immobiliare/Conforti Immobiliare
<strong>Historical hosting: </strong>Legend has it, the castle hosted Charlemagne on his way to Rome to be crowned emperor in the ninth century,
Historical hosting: Legend has it, the castle hosted Charlemagne on his way to Rome to be crowned emperor in the ninth century,
Paolo Giacopini Immobiliare/Conforti Immobiliare