Casa Marrucina

This newly refurbished large farmhouse has been renovated and decorated to the highest standard and has been featured in ‘Italia’ magazine.

It is situated on the plateau ‘Piano La Roma’ in the middle of the important archaeological site of ‘Cluviae’ between the hilltop towns of Guardiagrele and Casoli. It has panoramic views, being situated on the edge of an escarpment – to the south, a long view over the village of Palombaro, the lake and 12 th century tower of Casoli, and on to the mountains of Roccaraso. To the east, a sea view, to the west, the majestic Maiella mountain and the Parco Nazionale, and behind the house, its own grove of 1000 olive trees. It is in a tiny hamlet of farm dwellings and barns, and the immediate area is completely agricultural and unspoilt.

The house itself comprises (with terrazzo floors throughout):

Ground Floor – Hallway

Spacious Entrance Hall

Book-lined Study (18’x 20’ approx) with enamelled wood-burning stove, TV/DVD player, comfortable seating, antique desk, reading lamps.

Drawing Room (55’ x 16’ approx) with huge antique stone fireplace, three comfortable seating areas, card-table, drinks cabinet, antique and modern furniture and lighting.

Kitchen (35’ x 14’ approx), fully fitted with double fridge-freezer, professional cooker with double oven and six hot-plates, separate deep fat-fryer, 2 sinks, dishwasher in large central island. Bespoke red lacquer cupboards and black granite surfaces throughout. Dining table to seat 12 – 14, plus seating area and desk looking out onto garden.

Utility Room with Belfast sink, washing machine and tumble dryer.

(The Entrance Hall, Drawing Room and Study are all wood-beamed).

First Floor – (5 double bedrooms and en-suite shower/bathrooms)

Master Bedroom facing south and west, with lobby and large en-suite shower-room (2 hand-basins, Bizazza mosaic tiles and marble surfaces). Antique furniture ( including large linen-press, japanned dressing table and chair and a large french gilt mirror), lined and interlined curtains, comfortable chairs, hand made rug, large double bed with upholstered headboard.

Guest Bedroom facing south and east (with private ‘wrap-around balcony’) en-suite shower room (tiles and surfaces as before). Antique furniture ( including chest of drawers, desk and chair), lined and interlined curtains, comfortable chair, hand-made rug, double bed with upholstered headboard.

Guest Bedroom facing east and north (access to large sun-terrace) en-suite shower room (tiles and surfaces as before). Two antique victorian wooden bedsteads, with antique chest of drawers and occasional furniture, also small two-seater sofa-bed.

Guest Bedroom facing north with antique victorian half-tester double bed and bedhangings. Large breakfront wardrobe, 2 victorian buttoned bedroom chairs, lined and interlined curtains and small dressing –table. Tiled bathroom as previous, shared with

Guest Bedroom facing west. Two single beds with upholstered headboards, chest of drawers, comfortable chair, lined and interlined curtains. (These 2 rooms share a lobby as well as a bathroom and could constitute a separate ‘suite’ for parents and children if required).

All furnishings are top-quality – English hand-sprung mattresses, hand-sprung sofas and chairs, and an eclectic mix of modern and antique furniture with both modern and traditional art.

Gas central heating.

Double glazed windows, with integral mosquito nets and shutters.

The Garden and Swimming Pool comprises a large ‘courtyard’ garden adjacent to the house with a view both south as described above, and north over the olive groves. There is a pergola for outside dining with barbecue as well as a ping pong table. It is stocked with a variety of fruit trees (a huge shady fig tree just outside the kitchen, plus apple, medlar, pear, cherry and apricot) as well as vines and pines. The pool area has lawns as well as paving, with oleanders, palm trees and beds of lavender and rosemary. There is parking for 4 cars.