Description
Here on the outskirts of a small historic village, with 1,200 sq. m. living room, ideal as business address or Art Gallery above the border town of Ponte Tresa and with panoramic views of the romantic hill and lake landscape of Lombardy and as far as Lugano/Switzerland is a significant, highly professionally refurbished palazzo for sale, situated in a park of approx. 8,500 sq. m. The stately mansion in the style of a Palazzo d’Epoca is listed in a publication about villas in the area and in the province of Varese and described as a significant building in Liberty style (Italian art-nouveau style).
The small village on the hillside above Ponte Tresa lies about 480 m above sea- level (approx. 200 m above Lake Lugano) and approx. 3 km from the Italian-Swiss border town of Ponte Tresa; it is about 60 km away from Milan and about 50 km from the airport Milan- Malpensa. Lugano in Switzerland lies approx. 18 km away, Lugano airport in Agno 13 km.
The Centre of the small village is made up of its narrow, historic old part with quaint houses in Lombardy style; on the outskirts of the village is a row of large villas in Liberty and art deco style with beautiful sub-tropical gardens. Formerly, due to the mild climate, that is also pleasant in summer, and the easy accessibility, these villas were the summer residences of the nobility and some of the wealthy citizens of Milan.
The period villa lies on the edge of the historic Centre of the village, in a prominent position above the village itself and with distant views of the romantic hill and mountain landscape of Lombardy, as far as the Monte Brè of Lugano in Switzerland and a little of Lake Lugano. It stands in park-like grounds, approx. 8,500 sq. m. in size with centuries-old mature trees such as copper beeches, palms, cypresses, holly, lime trees, magnolias, rhododendrons, camellias, jasmines, hydrangeas, roses etc.; in the park there is a bocchia court and a small romantic pond.
The villa comprises 2 grand storeys with high ceilings with numerous historic frescoes and fireplaces. Above these is a completely extended attic in the high roof. Altogether on these three floors there are approx. 1,200 sq. m. of living area; in addition to this a basement or cellar with a further approx. 400 sq. m. utility space. All 4 levels are connected with one another via a lift and via spacious open staircases and stairs.
Apart from the representative main entrance on the front elevation of the building, there is a second entrance at the rear of the house near to the tower.
The bel étage, ground floor, is divided as follows: entrance area with impressive pillars made of pink porphyry from Cuasso, a spacious reception room, TV room and library with antique fireplace made of high-quality marble and a wide treble-arched window, office, conference room, large room with frescoes, room with bathroom, impressive granite staircase, lift to the upper floors, various side rooms as well as a cloakroom and sanitary facilities. Next to the tower there is a side entrance to the house.
The first floor, with its likewise high ceilings and numerous frescoes, has the following layout: salon with antique marble fireplace, reading room with antique tiled stove, panoramic portico with wall frescoes, dining room, kitchen, larder, 2 rooms with bathroom, guest WC, master bedroom with bathroom boasting top- quality fittings as well as hydro-massage bathtub, shower, sauna and Turkish bath, cloakroom. The sanitary fittings were installed with only products by reputable designers such as Philippe Starck, Teuco e Effegibi etc.
The villa has been refurbished several times during the past decades. The most extensive refurbishment work was carried out between 2004 and 2008 whereby almost all the frescoes on the ceilings and on the approx. 4 m high walls were restored, the bathrooms and the kitchen replaced, the wrought-iron gate and fences abrasive-blasted; with the exception of a part of the tower all the façades were completely renewed. The splendid inlay parquet floors were stripped and sealed. Also a large part of the electrical fittings and conduits; the period wooden windows with wooden shutters were restored. When the bathrooms were renewed, only the best quality marble was used for panelling and for the floors; the sanitary fittings were installed with only products by reputable designers such as Philippe Starck, Teuco etc.
The attic in the roof was extended in 2008; it was built in modern, architectural style and is flooded with light. The attic can also be reached by lift or via a staircase. The living area on this floor is divided up as follows: entrance area, large library, divided into several rooms, also ideal as an office or as a separate apartment, guest WC, kitchen bar, guest room with bathroom. In addition a gallery and sun terrace.
From the attic or from the bel étage one can reach the tower via a small staircase, or rather a tower room with high windows and a panoramic terrace above it that has a glass roof and is secured on the sides by a balustrade.
On request, the terrace can be covered with a glass roof, the permit for building is available..
The basement accommodates the former kitchen with fireplace, storage rooms, boiler room, a large and modern laundry, cellar, wine cellar, wood store, etc. Through the windows there is sufficient daylight.
Within the framework of the extensive refurbishment measures in 2007/2008 the roof substructure and the whole of the roof covering were completely renewed, and where necessary, walls and ceilings renovated, reinforced or replaced.
The flagstone paths and all paved pathways were also renewed with natural stone paving in Lombardy style made of pink-coloured, grey and black porphyry from Cuasso.
The whole estate is surrounded by a high antique, natural stone wall, the gates and fences were abrasive-blasted and one of the high wrought-iron gates electrified. A paved driveway leads up to the main entrance to the house.
From all windows, balconies and terraces and from the tower there are distant panoramic views of the mountains and of Lake Lugano as far as the Monte Brè of Lugano. On the plot can be built garages and a further building of approx. 100 sq. m. A second wrought iron gate already exists.
