La Canonica
La Canonica is a unique estate of historical importance. Its stunning location above the Nestore river is peaceful and private, with no light or noise pollution, yet it’s just moments from the nearest village.
La Canonica is an incredible place, not only because of its beautiful location on the brow of a hill surrounded by ancient fields and woodland, but also because the property itself has been so carefully restored, revealing unique and interesting details round every corner.
The estate is first mentioned in documents dating back to 1750 and from then until the middle of the 19th century the original farmhouse and most of the surrounding land belonged to Saint Peter’s Benedictine Monastery in nearby Perugia. When Italy was unified, the farmland and buildings came under the control of the Fondazione Agraria, an agricultural foundation.
The second farmhouse was added at the beginning of the 20th century and La Canonica was a working farm until the last farming family left in 1982, after which it remained empty for many years.
La Canonica was listed as an Italian historical heritage building in 2005. The current owners fell in love with the estate and have spent 15 years transforming it, restoring the properties with passion and energy, honouring the integrity of the buildings and the land using local materials and techniques, and renovating in as sustainable a way as possible through reusing and repurposing. The result is a harmonious blending of ancient and modern.
The buildings are split into five apartments – three in one and two in another - although one apartment in the larger farmhouse is yet to be finished. Each apartment has its own individual character thanks to original features such as three beautiful south-facing arched windows in what was originally a pigsty. In another apartment is a single pivoting 4m-high metal-framed glass door made by a local blacksmith for what was formerly a barn entrance and now leads from a sitting room to a terrace. The result is a graceful modernity that is found through honest design.
The apartments have private terraces and land immediately surrounding the property has been tamed to just the right degree, resulting in pretty gardens and pockets of surprise. A lower terrace provides a private setting for the 15m x5m rock-lined infinity pool which has undisturbed views across the valley and offers the perfect summer spot to look for shooting stars.
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