Description
A yellow convertible Beetle, Bob Marley music playing, all around us, alternating shades of green, yellow, and brown from the plowed and cultivated fields, while above us the sky is the color of baby blue. Before visiting the property, we stop in the center of Gonzaga, a small rural town in the Po Valley, halfway between Mantua and Reggio Emilia, which gave its name to one of the most illustrious Italian families of the Renaissance. There's always something to discover, and the local cuisine and wine never disappoint. Today, I'm curious to visit; I love old country houses and I love seeing how they've been restored. My expectations are not disappointed, and as I drive up the driveway, an imposing two-story adobe house awaits, with striking petrol-green shutters. A paved pedestrian entrance flanked by multicolored hydrangeas leads us to the finely restored double wooden front door, a pleasant contrast with the glass and iron door that allows natural light into the reception area. Yes, because the ground floor has been expertly converted into a B&B with welcoming, spacious rooms offering breathtaking views of the plain, equipped with fireplaces and en suite bathrooms, and a spacious kitchen for entertaining. On the first floor, accessed by an internal staircase, is the master apartment. It features three large bedrooms, a spacious kitchen—the heart of the home, in keeping with the rural family tradition—and two warm and inviting living rooms heated by antique terracotta stoves from the early 20th century. A final flight of stairs leads to the attic, a further spacious space to design and reimagine. This farmhouse is a perfect blend of old and new, where the renovated blends with the restored in a welcoming harmony that makes you feel instantly at home. Three other buildings surround the main farmhouse, forming a square with a well at its center. What I call the "casalino" (little house), a two-story structure that could become an outbuilding with two or more residential units, is the old dovecote, and an additional building currently used for storage and tool shed. The potential uses are many: I could easily imagine a restaurant, perhaps using the outdoor spaces for weddings and ceremonies in true rooftop style, or expanding the B&B with additional themed rooms or two-room apartments in the little house. Or even creating spaces for educational workshops, perhaps with the addition of typical farm animals. And why not, even maintain the existing farm and dedicate yourself to breeding dogs. For those who love the countryside, this property already has everything you could wish for: stars in the window, ladybugs on the tree, and a bottle of white wine in the fridge. All it takes is a little imagination to transform it into your place of life and passion.
