3 bedrooms self-contained apartment, 230 m²

Arpino, Frosinone (province)

Absolutely charming old house of 230 m² with panoramic views of the stunning Italian hilltop town of Arpino. Nested in cobbled streets, winding alleyways and ancient arches, in the historic heart of beautiful Arpino, birthplace of Cicero and site of the iron age walls of the hilltop Acropolis, mere steps away from Piazza Municipio and the historic centre, we find this wonderful property. Accommodation is distributed across three levels and the building, although part of the very fabric of the town, is independent of other properties above and below. On the ground floor we find the main entrance, through an ancient carved stone portal and a 12 m² cellar cave, an excellent area for storage of wine and for wood for log fires on colder winter nights. From this level we ascend via a stairway to the two floors above.

The Primo Piano, the first and main floor, has hallway connecting space, a generously proportioned living room with recessed lighting and room for both dining and relaxation. Also on this floor there is a tavern area with a fireplace, a kitchen and a bathroom. On the second floor there is a comfortable hallway landing, three bedrooms, a second kitchen and dining room and a second bathroom.

The modern heating system is thermo autonomous methane gas and the windows are double glazed. Most of the rooms enjoy a wonderful view of the town delightfully laid out across the hillsides, the Civita Falconara district is particularly picturesque and distinctive with at its heart the beautiful Church of Santa Maria di Civita, a visual delight. With independent entrance, spacious interiors and generous proportions and in an enviable location both convenient and attractive this house has much to recommend it.  

Arpino is one of the major medieval hilltop towns in the area of Italy called the Ciociaria, the name given to the fertile land that lies south of Rome but north of Naples, situated inland in the hills in the heart of Italy. The Ciociaria region is within easy reach of both Rome and Naples and their respective airports. A day's shopping in Rome is a common pastime, while an even shorter drive brings you to the charming beaches south of Rome. Alternatively, drive east, and the mountains of the Abruzzo National Park await with horse trekking in the magnificent beech forests, and sparkling mountain lakes and rivers where you can swim in the heat of the summer. And at the other extreme of temperature, although Arpino itself is temperate, less than an hour's drive brings you to the winter ski slopes.  

Often overlooked, both by tourists and by those foreigners in search of an Italian home, in favour of the more publicised regions of Tuscany and Umbria, the Ciociaria remains largely an unspoilt gem with beautiful scenery and medieval hilltop towns. A home or second home in the Ciociaria, in the hilltop towns of Arpino, Veroli, Alatri or Alvito or in the rolling countryside that surrounds them, will afford you a setting where over two thousand years of history combine with an idyllic rural Italian lifestyle, where you can still discover the 'real' Italy and take time out from the busy crowds of the larger tourist cities, while being less than ninety minutes journey from central Rome or either of Rome's two airports.