Short rent villa in quiet zone Gravellona Toce Piemonte

Stay in this prestigious ancient residence to live an exclusive experience, in an enchanting area of absolute privacy with a dream view.

The space

This elegant luxury residence is located in the historic center of Gravellona Toce, in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in Piedmont. This fascinating natural area is located in a strategic junction between the three provincial areas, where to the east is the great Lake Maggiore, immediately south the characteristic Lake d'Orta San Giulio, and immediately north Lake Mergozzo.

In this territory woven of beauty rises our vintage villa, just overlooking the Strona Torrent, which flows under the town and gives the present its fresh sound bloom.

The historic residence has hosted important tourist events and events over the years, thanks to the breathtaking view that can be enjoyed from its garden and the beauty of its precious interior spaces, with classic art objects and period furniture. A path below the house leads us along the slope to the creek below, in which in summer you can bathe in its cool waters. Enjoy unforgettable days of pure relaxation in the romantic garden of the house, you can also enjoy a refined breakfast on the terrace overlooking the river and the surrounding mountains.

Access to the historic residence through a door that overlooks a covered atrium, whose staircase leads upstairs. Here you are welcomed in a hallway that leads to the left in the interiors of the historic residence. We welcome two beautiful living rooms with beautiful period furniture and fine paintings. The light that penetrates illuminates the spaces and relaxes the spirit of the happy guests.

Continuing you enter the kitchen on the right and the large balcony on the left, which embraces the entire living room and gives a direct beautiful view of the river and the valley with the mountains, as well as the large terrace where you can enjoy pleasant morning breakfasts or magical aperitifs at sunset.

Proceeding towards the sleeping area leads to the two main bedrooms. The first, with a double bed, is equipped with two large wardrobes and an internal bathroom with a complete bathroom and bathtub. The second bedroom has a double bed. There is an external bathroom with a shower and a complete bathroom.

Entering an internal staircase you enter the last floor of the building, finely restored to maintain the ancient beams of the roof, an ancient truss of unique beauty. From here you can access the last bedroom, the third bedroom of the house, with its double bed. Next door there is a bathroom with a shower and a full bathroom. On this floor, there is also a laundry room.

On the ground floor, you can also enjoy another room that overlooks the panoramic garden: the large tavern with a spacious master table and important period furniture, in which to host convivial dinners or sumptuous lunches.

Access for guests

Guests have access, in addition to the entire autonomous interior space, also to the enchanting outdoor space, a large garden that stands on the river and the valley. The garden is shared with the owners' family.

Other things to keep in mind

It is advisable to park your vehicle in the free public parking 100 meters from the house. Alternatively, there is the possibility of parking in front of the house, but it should be noted that the road leading to it is located in the historic center and is narrow and not easy for large cars.

THE HISTORY OF THE "CASTLE HOUSE"

In 2005, the ancient residence, known as Palazzo Pirinoli, was recognized as a historical building and included in the "Catalogue of Cultural Architectural Heritage" by the Municipal Administration of Gravellona Toce.

Beautiful images of the Palace were broadcast by "Piccola grande Italia" in the service dedicated to Gravellona Toce. (visible on the institutional site of the City).

The first nucleus that has been seen in the centuries widenings with annexations of other buildings and new constructions datable between the XV and the XVI centuries, has been born like "casa forte" to the garrison of the passage on the river Strona.

On the river, are still visible the bases of a bridge of Roman origin, that allowed the crossing to access the village of Baraggia right through this first fortified stone structure of medieval origin where you paid the duty for access to the village. The loopholes through which the transit was controlled are still visible. Visible are also two sharp red brick arches; this nucleus seems coeval to the castle of Cerro (Castrum Cerri) always in the territory of Gravellona Toce, mentioned for the first time with the nearby Romanesque church of San Maurizio in 1023, when Count Riccardo da Castello and his wife Anselda, ceded three-quarters of the court of Cerro and the church to the Abbey of Arona.

Little remains of the ancient Castrum Cerri because it was destroyed in 1310 by the Ghibellines of Novara fighting against the Guelphs supported by the counts of Crusinallo. Inside the church of San Maurizio, there are frescoes of the XV and XVI century.

On the hill of the Motto, a few hundred meters from our ancient residence, there is another castle, always contemporary. It is mentioned for the first time in 1028 in a document of the liberation of the servant Griberga by Count Riccardo da Castello who acts "infra castro Gravellone". Of the Da Castello are therefore the castle of Cerro and that of Gravellona, present a short distance from each other and, probably, also our tower, united to the castle of Gravellona with fortified walls found on the right side of the river Strona.

Located at a height of 325 meters above sea level, the castle of Gravellona, called "Castle of the Motto", from the hill on which it stands was used as a fortress garrison of the territory for several centuries. From the summit, you can see the entrance of the Ossola Valley that leads to Switzerland, Lake Maggiore, the road to Milan, Crusinallo, and access to Lake Orta and Cusio.

A second document of 1190 testifies that the ownership of the castle passed to the sons of Manfredo Da Castello who allied with Vercelli, specifying that they were engaged with the Milanese not to wage war against the Lombards, using this military building.

In the second half of 1300, the Visconti of Milan collapsed the structure to make it unusable. In 2014 - 2015 the Chair of Christian and Medieval Archaeology of the University of Turin and the Superintendence of Archaeological Fine Arts led two campaigns of cleaning and archaeological excavation that have brought to light another building and new finds. Towards the river, a very large area was surrounded by walls up to our tower that became part of the castle.

Between 1500 and 1600 with the squared blocks of granite coming from the demolished castle, two housing units were built, one of these adjacent to our watchtower and the first nucleus of the ancient dwelling.

In 1600/1700 they were united with a fourth portion bearing the noble coat of arms and a granite balcony with wrought iron parapet. The large wooden door below allows access to the entrance hall finely frescoed and supported by two granite columns and the garden overlooking the Strona River below.

A large granite staircase was then built to access the main floor of the building.

In the garden, the shed where the Count’s carriage was kept is now used as a hall for parties.

The horse feeders are still visible.

Over the centuries the palace has become the property of the Pirinoli family, doctors and lawyers who also owned a paper mill. Giuseppe Pirinoli was a politician who promoted the construction of the banks along the Strona River in 1870.

In 1994 the house, now abandoned for years and after being the headquarters of the command of the German troops during the Second World War, was purchased by the Bernardini - Ronco family.

The restoration work lasted five years, for the search for the original materials necessary for the restoration. Today it is available for those who want to live unforgettable emotions and experiences in environments full of charm and mystery.