Italian castle, palace and village for sale for $2 million

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CNN - Ever dreamed of having your own secret fortress town in a beautiful region of Italy, walking its fortified walls like a monarch surveying his kingdom?

Now, for the price of a townhouse in the center of London or an attic apartment in the historic center of Rome, this dream can become a reality. The medieval castle and village of Serravalle, located between the cities of Modena and Bologna in the northern Emilia-Romagna region, is for sale for 1.9 million euros, or about $2 million. The castle is ready to live in and has heating, only minimal repairs are required and the price is negotiable.

The castle is set amongst green hills and includes part of the village that bears the same name and was formerly part of its feudal estate. Yours will be the original, overhanging ancient fortification of 1800 square meters, located at an altitude of 400 meters. The property includes a grand castle built on the ruins of pagan settlements, a three-story 18th-century palace called Palazzo Boccadiferro where the current owners sometimes live, a hunting lodge with a woodshop, a four-story observation tower, a stunning panoramic walkway and a lush 14,000-square-meter park.

"Not only is it very comfortable, at around 1,000 euros per square meter, but it has huge potential both as a private, quiet retreat to disconnect from the world and as an investment to create a resort," Paolo Giacopini of Immobiliare Giacopini, the real estate agency handling the sale, told CNN.

Secret tunnels and heated rooms

"The charm and panorama are impeccable, surrounded by vineyards, in a strategic location between the two main cities of Emilia-Romagna, a remarkable region that is often unfairly overshadowed by Tuscany when it comes to castles and mansions." The well-maintained estate is now rented out for private events and conferences, but the current owners, who wish to remain anonymous, can no longer cope with managing the expansive property. They live in the castle during the summer, Giacopini says, so it's already habitable with heat, a kitchen, utilities, fireplaces, several bedrooms and bathrooms. The two-story hunting lodge, built like a farmhouse, is also heated. While the castle is impeccably preserved, other parts of the property, such as the lookout tower, built in 1227 and modified in 1523, may need some repairs. Luxurious Renaissance style furnishings, including paintings, are also potentially for sale. Giacopini, who gives tours to interested visitors, says vendors are open to suggestions. He explains that, given its historical and artistic value, the castle is under the supervision of regional art authorities, who have restricted radical structural changes, such as turning a bathroom into a bedroom or vice versa. Some historical features add extra mystery. A secret underground corridor connects the tower to the palace and was once used by guards during enemy attacks. The corridor is cool in the summer but ice cold in the winter. Giacopini says an American client who visited the estate with him claimed his feet were almost frozen inside his sneakers.

Blood and glory

Serravalle is steeped in history.

The estate has been modernized several times over the years. The palace, named after the Boccadiferro family (meaning "iron mouth" in Italian) who ruled for four centuries, has been transformed from an ancient covered loggia into a grand noble house. As well as the castle park, which is an ancient moat surrounding the village and adorned with horse chestnuts and ash trees, there is also a large garden on the heights and courtyard grounds, ideal for evening drinks and sunset walks. There is a mysterious atmosphere here. According to local lore, the castle and estate are haunted by the ghosts of one of the owners, Boccadiferro, who is accused of murdering 12 consecutive wives. Their tormenting spirits, screaming and writhing, roam the corridors and halls at night seeking revenge, leaving the odors of their perfume in the air. Giacopini dismisses these stories as mere narratives. "The deceased brother of the current owner wrote a research brochure about the history of the place and discovered that Boccadiferro was so in love with his wife that he portrayed her several times in different clothes, so it seemed to be a multitude of women, but it was always just her," he says.

Serravalle is ideal for nature lovers as well as those who want to sample the culinary delights of the region.

The property is surrounded by farm taverns called agriturismos, which serve succulent homemade tagliatelle al ragu and tortellini. It also produces premium Pignoletto and DOC wines from Colli Bolognesi vineyards. There are trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding in the countryside, and an 18-hole golf course nearby.

For more information and to arrange a viewing: https://www.paologiacopini.it/ | https://www.confortiimmobiliare.it/