16th-century Noble Estate For Sale By Lake Iseo

Along the road that runs along Bergamo's shore of Lake Iseo, at the foot of the Alps and opposite Monte Isola - the highest lake island in Europe and part of the most beautiful villages in Italy - this elegant 16th-century estate is for sale on a private slope that touches the lake, occupied by a wonderful nature park designed by the biologist and agronomist Luigi Fenaroli.

Built around the middle of the 16th century and projected in the direction of the lake, so as to enjoy a direct view of the lake waters, in its approximately 1,500 sqm of interiors the main villa preserves intact all the elements and finishes typical of the noble homes of its time, including whose large halls with high frescoed vaulted ceilings, original terracotta floors, wooden beams, authentic stone fireplaces and big glass windows light up the rooms, offering a splendid view of Lake Iseo.

Distributed over three floors and with large panoramic terraces overlooking the lake, it boasts a total of nine existing bedrooms, as well as the possibility of creating additional ones, and six bathrooms. The property is therefore well suited both as a luxurious private home and as a structure for accommodation. At the back, on the edge of the botanical garden, a 135-sqm annex on two floors is added. The structure, made of stone with a wooden roof and original tiles, is currently used as a warehouse and tool storage. Immediately below there is also an old water storage tank, fed by the property's natural spring which forms a whole network of small waterways.

The entire property is protected by a boundary wall which encloses a courtyard paved in terracotta and gravel at the front, while at the back of the building there is an enchanting 2-hectare botanical garden with rare and exotic plants, crossed by picturesque paved paths, paths outlined by stone walls and enchanting escarpments with waterfalls.

Designed by the botanist and agronomist Luigi Fenaroli (1899 – 1980) who experimented for the first time with the possibility of growing kiwis in Italy in this garden, the park hosts particular exotic plants from various corners of the world that do not grow in any other area of Lombardy, including bamboo, camphor, giant sequoia and ginkgo biloba.

This prestigious villa, with five bedrooms and three bathrooms, dates back to the mid-16th century and is a three-storey building remodeled and modified during the 18th century, taking on its current appearance.

The ground floor is characterized by high ceilings that reach 3.6 meters: here there are three big reception rooms with a splendid external veranda, a kitchen with a pantry and a bathroom. Among the service rooms on the floor, also equipped with independent access, we find various cellars and warehouses.

The height of the ceilings, which exceeds three and a half metres, also affects the first floor, reachable via a magnificent staircase in local stone and divided into a living room, two studies, a library with a reading room, five bedrooms, two bathrooms and a splendid veranda with terrace overlooking the lake and the garden.

On the second attic floor, the rooms currently present could be reorganized to accommodate additional bedrooms and bathrooms for the villa.

The three floors of the villa also include three apartments with independent entrances of 82, 84 and 94 sqm respectively. All covered with terracotta flooring, they boast a living room with a kitchen and a bedroom with a bathroom, except for the largest of the three, with two bedrooms.

The setting is the lush one of an important botanical park that gently slopes down to the lake, offering a panoramic view of the lake scenery and the beautiful Monte Isola.