Fortified medieval palace in northern Italy for sale for nearly 2 million euros

Fortified medieval palace in Italy now for sale on idealista idealista

15 December 2022, 15:37

The village of Castello di Serravalle is located halfway between Bologna and Modena in northern Italy. Its privileged location in the area, on a hill 320 metres above sea level, made it a strategic military point halfway between northern Europe and Ancient Rome. Its history dates back to the time of the Caesars, although the oldest standing fortification was erected in the 16th century. The 18th century palace with its gardens, medieval tower and guardian's house is now for sale on idealista for 1.98 million euros.

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The restoration and maintenance works have allowed Boccadiferro Palace, which takes its name from the noble family that owned the property until the 19th century, to be kept alive and to be lived in. The total area offered for sale is 14,812 m2, including the more than 10,000 m2 of the castle park, a landscaped area where the old moat that surrounded the village used to be.

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The palace has an area of 1,150m2 with 20 rooms, while the guardian's house has a surface area of 308m2 on two floors. The medieval tower, which is currently used for events and celebrations, has an area of 296m2.

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A place steeped in history

Since ancient times, the fortification has been at the centre of countless disputes. In Roman times it was known as Verabulum and was one of the fortifications used to protect the borders of the Empire. It was later conquered and destroyed by the Lombards in the 8th century. Rebuilt on its old foundations, it saw Charlemagne pass through in the 9th century on his way to Rome to be crowned emperor.

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Until 1109 it was the domain of Matilda of Canossa, the Great Countess, one of the most influential Italian nobles of the Middle Ages. After her death it was a hotly contested place between the Ghibellines of Modena and the Guelphs of Bologna because of its obvious strategic military importance. Of the ancient fortification, today only the medieval gate and the medieval tower, built in 1227 and restored in 1523, remain.

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The stately palace, known as Palazzo Boccadiferro, was one of the residences of this noble family until the end of the 19th century. For opera lovers, the composer Gioachino Rossini married his second wife Olympe Pélissier here in 1846, and it was the setting for part of the opera 'Amore e Morte' by composer Gaetano Luporini in 1921, which tells the story of the ghosts of the wives of the 'cruel Boccadiferro'.