Castello sulla Valle

Description

In Umbria, in the valley of the Chiani river, in a green and flat area close to the border of Tuscany, stands the small village where Castello della Valle is located, a fascinating manor dating back to the year 1000. A noble residence between the 15th and 16th century, the castle is divided into four rectangular bodies around the central cloister open into loggias. The property includes an exclusive garden of 330 sqm.

The work, initially Roman, was modified in the Middle Ages and gradually took the form of a noble residence; the Filippeschi family, owners of the castle, lived there until 1602. The castle retains its layout from the Renaissance period: it is built around a courtyard with a well, with square columns with arches that support the galleries on the upper floor, with the imposing stone staircase on one side. Around the end of the 16th century, the history of the castle is intertwined with the history of the Counts of Marsciano, to whom we owe the facade overlooking the square and the related rooms, the monumental entrance embellished by the balcony supported by sculpted corbels, of which the central one bears the Marsciano coat of arms and the redecoration of the Sala Caminata, with the monumental fireplace in pietra serena bearing the name of the then owner, Horatius Martianus, engraved on it. After Orazio, the castle passed to the eldest son and remained in the hands of the Marsciano family until 1866. Castello sulla Valle is a true treasure chest, waiting to be discovered. The main entrance is on the ground floor, directly from the town square; from here you access the driveway courtyard with internal porch. On one side we find a first wing of the castle, with rooms that follow one another: a living room, a study, a kitchen, two bedrooms, a bathroom, a laundry area, two closets, a warehouse and a garage; on the other side of the courtyard we find another wing with two living rooms, a lounge, a living room entrance, a dining room, a kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom and a toilet. The first floor is accessed via the large stone staircase. The floor is made up of eight bedrooms, four bathrooms, two toilets, two studies, a living room, a wardrobe room and the Sala Caminata entirely decorated on the walls with mythological themed pictorial cycles. Of notable value is the family tree of the Marsciano family which is located right in front of the large stone fireplace; on the upper band there are the coats of arms of the Counts of Marsciano alternating with scenes of biblical subjects. The hall retains decorated coffered ceilings and has the Paris de Philippensibus engraving on the door jambs. The frescoed ceilings of the rooms on the floor are splendid. Also on the first floor we find the chapel dedicated to the Blessed Vanna, belonging to the Filippeschi family, who was born in the Castle in 1264. The first floor is completed by a terrace of approximately 5 sqm which is located above the monumental door. The second floor is used entirely as an attic which extends over the entire surface of the floor, which is connected to the first floor by the main internal staircase and a characteristic stone spiral staircase. On the third mezzanine floor we have two storage rooms and a panoramic terrace of approximately 15 sqm created inside a pitch of the roof. In the basement there are rooms used as storage and warehouse, technical rooms, a tank for collecting rainwater and other rooms. Castello sulla Valle is a fascinating architectural and artistic jewel, ready to be exploited to its full potential.