Description
This 13th-century castle is located in the hills of Cesena, halfway between the Apennines and the Adriatic Sea, in an extremely panoramic and convenient location. The imposing building (1,800 sqm) is not currently in use and is in need of complete restoration: a renovation project had been approved to convert the castle into a 25-key boutique hotel. The 13,812-sqm grounds host a scenic lookout (perfect setting for events) and a wooded park surrounding the entire castle.
The nearby town (4km; 5') offers all basic services, and the city of Cesena is still about a fifteen-minute drive from the castle. The Adriatic Coast and its best-known centers (Cesenatico, Cervia, Rimini...) is not far away and easily reached by car.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING, STATE AND FINISHES
The castle (1,800 sqm – 19,368 sqft) is first documented in 1216, when it was conquered by one Umbertino Deusdei. From here ownership passed first to the Malatesta family and then to the Comune of Cesena (as evidenced by a papal bull from 1465). Disputed for years between the Comune and the Papal States, the building passed to the local diocese at the end of the 15th century. In 1560 the entire complex was demolished and replaced by a majestic bishop's villa (epigraph dated 1684). The building's current appearance dates back to 1860 (excluding the north wing, built after World War II), and in the early 20th century it was used as a summer residence for seminarians.
In disuse for several years now, the building is in need of major renovation in order to be used. Restoration plans have been advanced over time (a very detailed one in 2006) that envisioned converting the building into an exclusive boutique hotel.
The ground floor would house the hotel reception, a restaurant with professional kitchen (connected to storage rooms, pantries and dressing rooms in the basement), guest bathrooms, four handicapped-accessible bedrooms with private bathrooms, and a studio apartment. Going up to the upper floors (by staircase or elevator to be built), one would then have access to the hotel itself consisting of three spacious apartments (living room with kitchen, bedroom and bathroom), five studio apartments, and twelve cozy bedrooms with private bathroom and loft.
The building is under protection by the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape, but a conservative restoration would allow the building's distinctive features to remain intact while still ensuring sufficient freedom for the new use.
On the northeastern side of the castle, between the two avant-corps and beyond the portico, is a beautiful terraced belvedere overlooking the valley below. On particularly clear days, the Adriatic Sea is visible on the horizon. At the center of the terrace are an original well and several trees that provide shade and shelter from the hot summer sun.
In total, the castle is surrounded by 13,812 sqm (3.4 ac) of land: in addition to the belvedere on the northeast side of the castle, the property has a park with mature trees, and part of the area could be used for the creation of a convenient parking lot for guests.
CLOSEST CITIES AND TOWNS
Town with services (4km; 5’), Cesena (10km; 15’), Savignano sul Rubicone (13km; 20’), Cesenatico (21km; 30’), Rimini (36km; 45’), Repubblica di San Marino (38km; 1h), Forlì (39km; 40’), Ravenna (47km; 45’), Faenza (55km; 45’), Pesaro (67km; 1h), Imola (69km; 55’), Urbino (90km; 1h 25’), Bologna (100km; 1h 15’), Ancona (145km; 1h 40’), Florence (212km; 2h 35’)
CLOSEST AIRPORTS
Forlì L. Ridolfi (32km; 35'), Rimini F. Fellini (38km; 40’), Bologna G. Marconi (105km; 1h 10’), Ancona R. Sanzio (121km; 1h 20’), Firenze A. Vespucci (200km; 2h 10’), Verona V. Catullo (241km; 2h 30’), Venezia M. Polo (254km; 2h 35’)
