Description
Villa Volsci, and the surrounding estate, is the property of one of Italy’s greatest Princely families. It is a late 17th century villa with a beautiful ruined medieval castle, an English garden and scattered remains of ancient Roman ruins. The estate is situated on a vast private property of some 500 hectares (over 1200 acres) near the medieval towns of Cisterna and Cori, about 50 minutes southeast Rome and 30 minutes to the Lazio coast. It was remodeled by the famous architect Gae Aulenti, who was the architect and designer of the fabled Musée d’Orsay in Paris. She brought her genius and her inimitable mixture of elegance, refinement and architectural avant-garde to complement seamlessly and subtly the historical importance of this unique estate. The gardens, famous throughout Italy, were designed by two well-known landscape architects Dan Pearson and Stuart Barfoot. The property is divided into two parts: the Villa (1,520 sqm) and the Castle/Dependence. The Villa has four double bedrooms in total, while the castle a few meters away has three. The property can sleep up to 17 guests between the two structures.
The outdoor swimming pool has been ingeniously constructed at the foot of the medieval tower and can be heated upon request. The tower is climbable and there is a staircase and walkway with an iron railing. The views over the property and its hills and forests are quite extraordinary from this vantage point. This area is not advised for small children, however. There is a shower and WC inside one of the wings of the tower. The estate is encompassed by two hectares of English-style gardens, which are internationally known by gardening aficionados. Carefully designed to be wild and nurtured at the same time, there are lush flower beds, rose gardens, wisteria and jasmine trellises, and decorative pergolas climbing up the ruins. There is a small lake, a lily-pond, several pockets of ruins, and hidden corners everywhere with views of the villa for relaxing and enjoying the total peace and serenity offered by the estate grounds. Outside the gardens, the estate extends for hundreds of hectares. It includes a working farm with olives, grapes and arable crops, a few horses, as well as a large herd of endangered cows. Several farm houses and stables are nearby for the farm workers and their families, and there is a large vegetable garden that provides fabulous fresh fruit and vegetables to the villa. The working estate is only visible from a small part of the garden, and in no way impinges on the privacy and total tranquility of the guests. It is actually very interesting to visit the farm, and the owners have a golf cart that can take guests around the grounds. Other interesting buildings on the estate include the remains of a ruined medieval chapel, a lake with swans, and the remains of the medieval castle’s moat.
Villa Volsci\'s ecosystem includes a variety of habitats with forests, clearings and other permanent grasslands, which enhance the development of a lush biodiversity. The exceptional archaeological and ecological interest of the area was recognized in 2007 when it was classified as a \"Natural Monument\", thanks to the support of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The estate is registered as a protected area by the European Environment Agency (EEA), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). There are over 625 acres of woodland on the estate with a wide variety of flora and fauna, including 12 different species of the oak family, and a large number of wild animals such as, foxes, pheasants, hares, porcupines, badgers, hedgehogs, blackbirds, turtle doves, quails, woodcocks, warblers, thrushes, owls, peregrine falcons, hawks, and the (very occasional) wolf.
Towels and linens can be changed as desired during your stay.
The two parts of the property can be rented separately, please inquire.
The Villa: A shallow wide flight of stairs lead up to the ground floor featuring a superb entrance with high vaulted ceilings capping a long hallway with rooms leading off from it. At one end of the hall is a double bedroom with a large bathroom with sunken tub and separate WC, and a twin room with ensuite bathroom, usually used for children. At the other end of the hall is another double bedroom with ensuite bathroom, a cloak room and a guest WC. Also on this floor is a small, cozy living room. A gorgeous spiral staircase designed by Gae Aulenti connects the three floors. At the garden level is a spacious, well-equipped kitchen with French doors opening onto the garden, a breakfast room, a large dining room seating up to 30 guests plus two large, round tables, a pantry, and a utility/laundry room. On the first floor is the Master Suite with large ensuite bathroom (sunken tub, stand-alone shower, separate toilet),dressing room and fireplace. This floor also contains a large study and a vast drawing room with sofas, books, tables. There is a small elevator running from the garden level to the first floor.
Castle/Dependence: A few meters away a section of the medieval castle has been meticulously restored to provide an independent, self-contained apartment for up to six guests (plus an in-house staff apartment on the ground floor). There are three double bedrooms, three bathrooms, an open plan kitchen/dining room, living room, wine cellar, and an enormous library/media room with projector.
Nearby activities/sights: Latina is the Pontine capital and its province in Lazio boasts beautiful beaches that overlook the Tyrrhenian Sea, along with charming villages and the natural setting of the Parco Nazionale del Circeo (Circeo National Park). The coast and the Islands of Ponza and Ventotene are the main tourist attractions of the area, thanks to a pristine sea. Small lakes can be found along the coastline, including Lake Fogliano and Lake Sabaudia, perfect venues for a swim or a picnic. The area is also rich in historical ruins and ancient lore. The nearby medieval town of Cori is perched on a hill just outside the estate gates. There are several restaurants, bars and shops. Sights include the Temple of Hercules (a 1st century National Monument), a couple of churches built over Roman temples, and a Roman bridge. About a 30 minute drive from the estate are the long, sandy beaches of the Sabaudia coastline. Sabaudia is a modern little seaside town and is very lively in the summertime.
