Villa Castelli is located in the heart of Menaggio, only steps away from everything in town.
The Palazzo, built in 1731, is part of an important period of history for Menaggio and has recently been renovated to very high standards.
Within the Villa, antique, pop, modern and vintage furnishings come together with the original frescos to create a cool and uniquely original atmosphere.
Private parking in the heart of town for 2 cars (a rarity!) and a shared swimming pool all in a very central position tops off the plus features of this amazing property.
A luxury apartment in an infamous villa! Recently modernized to a high standard, Villa Castelli boasts four bedrooms, a great room with living and dining, a den, two private large courtyards (bbq, outdoor eating/entertaining) and a large shared pool. Recently featured in two prominent design magazines, the decor is stunning. Hand painted frescoes serve as a backdrop to an eclectic mix of historic and modern unique furnishings.
The villa comes complete with two parking spots (which are worth their weight in gold) but you won't need your car as the villa's second massive benefit is the proximity to the town square and lake. Literally steps from both. Menaggio is especially magical because it is one of the only towns with a true town square. Festivals, markets and musical events occur every weekend during the summer months. Public transportation (bus service, ferry to Bellagio, Varenna, etc) are also steps from the villa.
Details:
As you enter the Palazzo from the pedestrian entrance, you will encounter the main staircase leading to the first floor entrance of the apartment. The staircase and ceramic tiles in the entrance are all original to 1731. An elevator has been added for those who need use of one.
Up to the first floor of the Palazzo and into the apartment, you will be welcomed by the large living room. It was the original "Great Room" of the Palazzo and its' frescoed walls have been renovated and reinstated. With Pop art, an antique Library table (from Lincolns Inn Fields in London) that hosts up to 12 and a sitting area that can easily host a full party of 8. This truly is a great room for enjoying each other's company as it is very relaxing and unique.
Directly from the living room is the kitchen. It also has frescoed walls, ample counter space, fully equipped with appliances and all you need to prepare your meals. This room also offers vintage features such as the shop cabinet as a part of the kitchen unit and an original carpenter's work bench!
The kitchen flows to the den, a small but light and airy room, with original frescos and painted wood ceilings. This room opens out onto the private garden that offers garden furniture ample enough to host all 8 guests both at the table and lounge. It also includes a BBQ pit to top off your cooking facilities. From the private garden, you can access the communal area of the condo and the shared swimming pool to cool off on the sizzling summer days!
The Villa Castelli offers 4 bedrooms. Two are located just off the living room and on the main floor so perfect for someone that has mobility issues as no stairs are concerned. The other two are reached by going down the original feature stone spiral staircase… going down these steps is like going back in time!
The description of the bedrooms are as follows:
Butterfly Room: overlooking the cobbled stone Via Castellino da Castello from the balcony, it offers a Super King Size bed, antique glass bedside tables and wardrobe and the Butterfly chest. The room is also decorated with beautiful butterfly paintings. The en-suite bathroom has double sinks and a large freestanding bathtub and wc.
Pink Room: also overlooking the cobbled stone Via Castellino da Castello, accented with Pink soft furnishing and copper lamps. The soft colours give a delicate and very relaxing touch to this bedroom with King size bed. The en-suite bathroom has a walk-in shower, bidet, basin and wc.
Roman room: down the stone spiral staircase you reach a very large bedroom room with access to another outside space, perfect to enjoy your last glass of wine or first coffee in the morning! This bedroom is furnished with antique shop cupboards that act as wardrobes, unique vintage objects and is a perfect sanctuary to get away from it all! Right next door is a large bathroom with tub/shower, basin and wc.
Library Room: the twin bedroom with 2 antique twin beds and furnished with a bookcase tapestry and library step ladder! This bedroom shares the bathroom with the Grey Room or can also use the shower room at the top of the stairs.
As mentioned there is a swimming pool that is shared with other 10 apartments, however all are holiday homes so not all used at the same time so never very busy! Two parking spots come with the Villa just in case you have 2 cars! A private parking spot in Menaggio, you will realise, is very important!
We are sure you will love this place as much as we do, totally amazing features and furnishings envelope you and make you feel at ease and comfortable!
Now to that infamous history:
Villa Castelli has a rich and varied past and is a very important part of Italian history. The Castelli Family was one of the most important families in Menaggio, owning the Castillo at the top of the hill and the villa at the bottom. The two buildings are connected by a secret underground passage that went from the Hamlet of Castello to the Palazzo and down to the Fortezza by the lake and marina. They still exist today but are no longer in use.
One of the more infamous moments occurred near the end of the second world war when Mussolini, trying to escape pursuit by the allied forces, stopped to rest at the villa on his way to the Swiss border. Later, when he reached the border, he was turned away by the Swiss authorities and returned to the Villa Castelli for the night. In studying the villa, it seems most likely that he slept in this part of the property. Mussolini was captured the next day when partisans stopped the group and recognised part of his entourage. Two days later he was executed in the town of Dongo. The last four days of Mussolini's life, including his days at Villa Castelli, have been captured in an article published in Life magazine on Jan 12, 1948
