A lavish Italian Villa built in the 17th century and used to host royalty has now gone up for auction – with no reserve.
The highest bidder for Villa Litta Carini will become the new owner of the 16 bedroom, 16 bathroom property, situated just 45 minutes from Milan.
Designed by famed architect Giovanni Ruggeri, the residence is filled with incredible features including stunning frescoes, 17th-century fireplaces and a historic silk-spinning room, or “filanda”, nearly 40 meters long with vast cathedral-like vaulted ceilings.
And if potential buyers want even more grandeur, the sale also includes a triple-height ballroom, which holds 160 people, and all the chandeliers throughout the property.
Outside, there are intricate terraced gardens with mosaics, multiple courtyards and incredible views of the bucolic countryside. Buildings outside the main house include a private chapel, an ice house, a museum and stables.
“From the sweeping triple-height ballroom on the grand “piano nobile” to the opulent private apartments, every inch of this spectacular property pays homage to its proud historical roots,” agent Concierge Auctions said.
“Walking around this majestic country villa will leave you with an inescapable feeling that you are taking part in a period drama.”
It’s not surprising that in its heyday, Little Carini hosted influential guests including King Umberto 1 and Giacomo Puccini.
The residence was originally the home of Count Antonio Cavazzi della Somaglia and when he died in 1688, his great-grandson, Paolo Dati, inherited the estate.
Paolo increased the size of the Villa by adding a wing, elevating it to one of the most coveted holiday destinations for many of eighteenth-century Italy’s brightest stars in the literature and cultural worlds.
The Dati Somalia family sold the home in 1824 but it continued to be a sought-after destination until around 1887.
For the next 83 years, the grand features were left to slowly decline until it was purchased by the current owners in 1970, who have slowly restored much of the estate.
With many areas still needing some work, Litta Carini could be used in a host of ways – a hotel, spa, restaurant, corporate training centre, care or retirement home, an education space, or just as a private home.
Concierge Auctions added: “Probably the most agreed upon scenario is some form of continuation in its present guise, albeit with a degree of enhancement, as a combined working venue (events, conferences, parties, and weddings) and as a luxury private residence.
“One thing that is agreed upon; however, is the location of Villa Litta Carini, with its remarkable proximity to Milan and major airports, as a primary benefit to all future enterprises, which could include any of the above, a museum, or facility for the film, arts, music and other creative industries.”
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