Description:
As soon as I park my car and start to walk along the ancient stone street that leads me to Palazzo Parreschi, I immediately feel the reasons why the owners have lived here for so long. The hustle and bustle of daily life in the city of Arezzo is somewhat calmed by the history that surrounds me. I pass traditional shops and cafés on my way. There are groups of Italians exchanging their daily hellos outside a local food market and children are playing in the nearby piazza before being called in for lunch.
I follow the numbers that mark the stone buildings until I come to the main door of the Palazzo in question. Towering over me on three floors, I reach to ring the bell of the cream rendered home. The door clicks open and I am instantly impressed as I walk into the front foyer that has been elegantly finished. A wonderful start to my tour indeed! I am greeted by the owner who cordially guides me.
Before heading up to the first floor, I am led past the spacious garage and to what was once the central courtyard of the home. Now covered by a sunroof, this area has been converted into an entertaining area complete with kitchen, stone fireplace and an old stone well feature. Back at the main foyer, I note the old staircase and the iron rod railing that elegantly runs up the three floors. The first floor or the "noble floor" as it is traditionally known, holds the main reception rooms of the home. I walk into the sitting room complete with fireplace and with its' traditional high ceilings and old floors. Beautiful warm colours have been used to adorn the walls and two large windows add a light and airy feel to the room.
The library, which can be accessed from both the stair and the sitting room, is a cosy area for reading. Back at the hallway I am lead to a room for staff accommodation complete with en suite bathroom. The present owners use this room to house their laundry facilities. Across from this room I walk into a beautiful traditional dining room. Coloured a wonderful Pompeian red, and with high exposed beam ceilings, I can imagine many elegant dinners here. A large French door opens onto the garden from this room and allows for natural light to fill the room for afternoon lunches. The kitchen is located at the end of the corridor and here I am pleased to see a traditional, rustic area. Again, the large door floods the room with light to make this an important area of the home. Closely tied to the outdoor eating terrace and the rest of the garden, the owners have spent many summer evenings enjoying the inside and outside space from the kitchen.
Now that I am outside, I decide to take a stroll around the garden before going to the second floor of the home. There are 250 sqm of garden here that includes a Jacuzzi, a wonderful covered pergola for dining and ample space those who have a green thumb! The whole garden is enclosed by an authentic stone wall with a small door that accesses another traditional stone roadway.
Back in the house, I go to the second floor where the night quarters are held. Here I find four bedrooms. All with high ceilings and and a great deal of light. The master bedroom has a large en suite bathroom while the other rooms share another complete bathroom. The tower room, not currently being used, is another large double bedroom that can easily be converted into an office or an art studio if needed. Needless to say, there are many architectural features here. Old wooden floors, hand made terracotta floors and ceiling tiles, exposed wooden beams and stone surrounds are only to mention a few. Services and utilities are in excellent working order - as one would expect in a house of this luxury and elegance. All amenities are at ones' finger tips here. Arezzo is full of shops, cafés and excellent restaurants - not to mention museums, and special events like the antique fair that is held every first weekend of the month. Arezzo is the largest town in Western Tuscany, north of Cortona and west of Siena. Arezzo is known for its medieval architecture and has an evocative old quarter.
- www.goitaly.about.com
My thoughts: Palazzo Parreschi is definitely a luxurious town home. It is the perfect choice for those who want a manageable garden with all of the benefits of city life. It is at a reasonable price point for its' finish and overall appeal. Great use of space and perfect as a luxury city B&B.
