Let me start at the beginning. As I wrote earlier, I got up early on Monday morning to be the first in line at the Housing Office. I was there 40 minutes before it opened and I was second in line! I started talking to the lady in front of me and discovered she had picked the exact two houses as we had to look at. That meant I didn't get to look at them. After chatting checking in to housing we decided to look at the one Les was the most interested in. I wasn't impressed with the outside but the inside seemed pretty good. At the same time we were making arrangements to go see that house, Sonya, the lady I had met in line, was making arrangements to see the houses we wanted to see. The landlady of the old one that I was the most interested in was hard to get an appointment with, so Sonya invited us to go with them to see it if we wanted to. That was so nice of her and we took her up on that offer. She also offered to contact her friend, that lived in the villa area right next to it, who was moving at the end of this month. Her friend said she was happy to show us her place as well. Later we met the landlord of the house Les was interested in and drove to the duplex. It was brand new, with two kitchens, an alarm system that Fort Knox would appreciate, a bathroom for each bedroom plus another one on the main level. A big room in the basement with a fireplace and one of the kitchens. It had a garage and more parking if we wanted it. It over looked a field and had a small yard. It was great. Just not what I wanted to experience for 3 years. It felt like a modern hotel room suite. Les was ready to sign the lease! He loved it. It had what we needed just was missing what I felt my heart needed.
Tuesday we met with our realtor and looked one of the older buildings I had found on-line that looked charming in downtown Vicenza. It had beautiful Venetian marble floors and intricate ceilings, but it seemed run down and frankly, a money pit for us. So, that was out. Next our realtor took us to another house that was just OK for me. Nice backyard, uninspiring area, weird front room that was a converted garage and closed off from the rest of the house. Nope! Then we saw a newer place that had some charm. It was a converted farm house that consisted of several townhouses. It was pretty small with the kitchen just a small wall of a few cabinets, sink, cook top/oven, and dishwasher. The bedrooms were fun. They had lofts in each one. The boys would have liked that. No place for my office and they wanted way too much for it. So, again, no go!
We hurried back to the hotel, had some lunch, and then we were off to meet Sonya to see the two other places. We saw her friends place. Very fun with wood beams, lots of room, tiny old Italian kitchen (I had a hard time seeing me really doing my kind of cooking in there) and an great garage. On the way out, we met her landlord, the Count Schio, who owns the villa and winery. We told him we may be interested in that place and he said it was already being given to someone else but he had another one ready that he could show us. We said we had an appointment across the street but could be back in thirty minutes. He agreed and we went to look at the old one I had been salivating over.
I am no longer salivating. It had some great things, like a pretty courtyard and a terrace that looked over the Count's garden. But it was run down and had three kitchens, one on each floor with nothing more than a sink in it and the sizes of a closet. Some of the floors were like wallpaper or laminate they had placed there to look like wood. Who knows what was underneath that. So, dream dead. I was discouraged at this point. Five houses and nothing that inspired me. I was ready to take the house we had seen on Monday.
Side view of our villa. You can see part of it is in the mountain.
We went back to the villa and met the Count who explained that this house he was going to show us was "complicated". I thought "how in the heck can a house be complicated? We'll see" (I'm a skeptic in my head. It's a good thing most of you don't hear what I think initially!). He let us up some stone steps, past his villa and up to the top of the hill. There was a beautiful house sitting there, with jasmine vines climbing up over the front porch area, an outdoor fireplace we can BBQ on and a shade we can pull out.
Patio with awning, fireplace and ground entrance to dining room.
Dining room fireplace. The granite it was made from is from the mountain and caves where the house is located. Made in the 16th century.
I sigh just thinking about it. To the left was an old Italian kitchen but it was clean and good sized. I could romantically envision myself listening to Italian music (or Il Divo) while making something delicious for my family.
One side of the kitchen where the stove will go. Notice the domed ceilings. It is a room enclosed within a room, as the Count describes, so there is no condensation.
Spiral staircase that goes up three floors. You can see the rock from the mountain on the back side of it. Me and Grayson don't have to duck! Haha. Pays to be short sometimes!
On this floor is a library, yes, a real library with built in bookcases and a fireplace.
Library (and an Italian realtor!)
Yummy! Through a door from the library is a room that would be our master room. It's not very big but it would hold our bed. (not much else). On the other side of library is the "fresco" room. Yep. This room is an historical landmark with fresco, part of the rock from the mountain as the room, sculptures from the famous artist that used it has his studio.
Fresco Room. View from front door. I don't know how to decorate with furniture yet, but it's unique and Italian. You can see the back part of the wall and ceiling are part of the cave.
It also is the main door for "pedestrian" visitors. Then we ascended the circular staircase again and on the third floor are two bedrooms and two bathrooms and the door to go out and up to the garage.
Room that will be Grayson's. We get to paint any room except for the fresco room and the library.
Room that will be Landon's bedroom. Again, we'll strip the wallpaper and he wants to paint it grey.
Complicated? yes!! Original? A resounding Yes! My home!! The Count had grown up in this house and said he only wanted to lease it to a family that fell in love with it. I think he liked me!
Grayson above our roof in a special place you can eat breakfast and look at the view. Part of our property.
The landlord showed us into his cave where he keeps his casks of wine then deeper into the cave where he makes his wine. Then he offered us 2 bottle of wine, which we declined but Sonya and her family took them. The Count said he didn't drink either, which I found funny since he makes it. At least I know we didn't offend him.
What a crazy road to get to this place. It wasn't even on the Housing list yet. God intervened for us, I have no doubt. It isn't going to be a "convenient" house, but the view is unbelievable and the gardens and the surrounding areas are more than I dreamed of. We are right next to the church so we'll hear the bell sound each day. Sonya has lived here 7 years and both she and her husband said they've never seen anything like it. Rare opportunity.
View from our house. Priceless!
Rest of the view. This is the "Italy" experience, right here.
If you want to read about this historic home click here:
While we were looking at the house I got a call from the couple missionaries to join them for a symphony concert at the Community theater. We got home from looking at houses, made sure the boys were good and head to downtown Vicenza. The concert was beautiful, the music riveting. I especially loved the Aaron Copland "Appalachian Springs" pieces they played. They also played Bernard Herrmann's "Psyco" from the Alfred Hitchcock film. It ended wonderfully with Mozart's "Sinfonia in Re maggiore, K. 385". What a wonderful end to a blessed day. My well is starting to fill up!
I can see why you would fall in love with this home. It is so intriguing, I guess is the word. I was glad to see the radiating heat available. I told Dad this is your dream come true.
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