4 bedrooms 4 bathrooms 300 sq/m accommodation
A fully-restored village house of great character dating back to 1623 with a walled convent garden and panoramic views.
Casa del Confessore is an independent stone house, on 3 levels, located adjacent to an ex-convent, which it once formed part of, at the summit of the walled medieval village of Portaria in southern Umbria. It was tastefully restored in 1991, preserving its most important features, and has been further improved and maintained by the present owners.
Portaria is mostly pedestrianised so we should point out that access to the house is on foot from car-parking outside the village walls - about 150m away from the house.
Accommodation comprises:
Ground floor:
- Double height entrance hall with staircase and tiled understairs half-bathroom
- Eat-in kitchen with a range of fitted units, marble work surfaces and Smeg appliances. Fireplace with log-burning stove, beamed ceiling and terracotta floor tiles
- Adjacent dining room with beamed ceilings and closeable access to lower ground floor apartment
- Study/media room/bedroom with views over countryside from the window
- Spacious living room with south-facing glass door giving access to stairs to the garden. Fireplace with log-burning stove.
First floor:
- Landing with full-height library/study area
- Double bedroom with high ceiling and window to village street
- Double bedroom with countryside views from window and mezzanine deck
- Spacious fully-tiled bathroom with wc, shower cubicle, hydro-massage bathtub, marble vanity unit and skylight window
- Laundry room/half bathroom
Lower ground floor:
The lower ground floor is a self-contained apartment, accessible either from the garden, or from an internal staircase.
- Dining room with an interesting ancient wine press in one corner
- Cosy living room with fireplace, beamed ceiling and exposed stone walls
- Double bedroom with south and east-facing windows and doors to garden
- Fitted kitchen and bathroom
- Store/workshop, with access hatch to two vaulted late-Roman grottoes, once used for making and storing wine
The apartment is well maintained but would benefit from a little freshening of the decor
Gross area: 300 square metres (excluding cellars)
Garden and Jacuzzi:
Comprised of a sunny dining terrace, bordered on one side by the high stone walls of the convent and with a mature tree for shade and, to the front, a small area of clover lawn with borders and shrubs. To the front is a magnificent view over rolling countryside from the walls of the village. The garden is very private and sheltered.
In one corner of the garden is a stone cistern of about 2m x 3m, converted into a dip-pool with hydro-massage jets.
Services:
- Heating by 2 independent mains gas central heating systems and 2 log-burning stoves
- Mains water, electricity, telephone with broadband internet access
- Air conditioning in living room and one bedroom
- Security doors
Location:
The picturesque unspoilt stone-walled village of Portaria has a bar, Post Office and restaurants. Further shopping is available in Aquasparta, 5km away and at nearby Terni, one of Umbria's two provincial cities.
The village is 5 minutes from the E45 arterial road, leading to Rome in just over an hour and to Perugia, Assisi and Spoleto in a little less. There is a regular train service to Rome from Terni. Airports at Rome, Perugia and, soon, Viterbo offer many options for low-cost flights throughout Europe and further afield.
There is an excellent cultural and gastronomic agenda in the area, as well as fantastic hill-walking and opportunities for water sports.
