This enchanting castle, dating back to 1217, is still habitable but requires restoration with knowledge to bring back its former grandeur

This enchanting castle, dating back to 1217, is still habitable but requires a loving touch to restore it to its former grandeur. Despite the passage of time, its timeless beauty is still palpable, and with the right care, it has the potential to shine once again.

A little bit of history: The first document we have relating to the Castle is a parchment from 1217 which concerns the sale of this property by the Counts Gianni di Greve, preserved in the State Archives of Florence. The Castle was certainly abandoned and probably destroyed after the Battle of Montaperti in 1280, and only in 1600 did the Altoviti family rebuild the Castle as a Villa to celebrate (and as a wedding gift) the marriage between an Altoviti and a Medici; on this occasion the chapel was built including the portraits of the spouses among the frescoes. There are carved stone symbols of the Altovite coats of arms on the fireplace and other stonework in the Villa. In 1700 it was sold to the Cajani family and in 1850 to Moisè Pardo of Florence who renovated the first floor with the internal decorations currently present. He also painted the frescoes with a tempera, creating a greenhouse with birds and vines, which has only been partially removed to reveal the original frescoes underneath.
Since 1870, this property has been in the hands of the current owners’ family, serving as a cherished country residence. In recent years, the south side of the building has been restored, with three apartments created to generate income. The ground floor is rich in captivating stone features, including a medieval stone arch, intricate stone sculptures, and a grand fireplace. The first floor boasts walls and ceilings adorned with tempera paintings from 1850, alongside a beautifully frescoed chapel dating back to the 16th century. The main living room floor is paved with handmade terracotta tiles from the Chiocciola furnace, dating to 1850. On the second floor, you’ll find typical Tuscan design elements: terracotta floors, stone window frames, and exposed beam ceilings, with some rooms featuring charming chestnut box ceilings.
The state of art 2025 is that the Castle has no constraints imposed by the “Fine Arts”: the development of the villa, the addition of bathrooms, the modification of internal divisions and more are permitted. The total surface area is approximately 980 m2 divided between 3 floors and the cellars. The first and second floors are urban residential with an A8 (catastral classification for luxury) apartment on each level; the ground floor is urban residential with 2 A3 (Catastral classification of normal) apartments. Other real estate unit: cellar, with probable possibility of transformation into residential, as well as gardens considered condominium for all the different units, but private for the whole Castle.
Adjacent to the villa is approximately 4.5 hectares of land, including chestnut and pine forests. Terraced areas are home to a mix of fruit trees and ancient “chioppi” vineyards. Until the 1960s, the villa produced its own Chianti del Castello wine. Although the land has not been maintained recently, it holds great potential for restoration, particularly the vineyards, as the elevation is ideal for producing exceptional grapes. The cellars, with their large doors opening to the outside, offer a unique opportunity for repurposing, whether for wine production or workshops.
As mentioned above the Castle needs in two thirds a solid renovation, partially structural, in big parts also electricity and plumbing. The estimated cost is an additional 900.000 Euro not considering luxury refinements and materials. The potential is absolutely huge and the gem could shine again. With the restoration the value will more than double the costs of it plus the price of acquisition. One could move into the renovated parts and follow the works on the other parts of the Castle. It needs someone to fell in love with it, like I did and who is not afraid of doing the works.