Accomodation

Main House (Sleeps 6)

Ground Floor: there is more than one entrance to La Vecchia Scuola although the most commonly used one is adjacent to the car park (parcheggio). This leads into the living room (soggiorno) with fireplace (imported from Australia!) and inviting Italian designed leather couches, together with an entertainment unit containing a brand new television with satellite service, DVD and sound system. A library of recent and favourite dvd movies and music cds is constantly updated by the owners. 

Adjacent is the spacious kitchen/dining area, complete with a magnificent granite and wooden island bench containing cook top, large oven, dishwasher and microwave together with sufficient crockery, cutlery, glassware etc to entertain on a grand scale. The impressive chestnut dining table was designed and made by a local artisan (along with the beds, built-in wardrobes, and other furniture) and can extend to seat 12.

Also on the ground floor is a bathroom and separate laundry, the latter fully equipped with brand new washing machine, dryer, iron, vacuum and laundry tub.

Upper Floor: moving upstairs via the stunning atrium foyer, the spacious main bedroom with soaring ceiling and imposing beams was actually a former schoolhouse. It now houses a magnificent hand-made matrimonial bed, another comfortable Italian leather couch and beautiful wooden built-in wardrobes. Adjacent is the ensuite bathroom of similarly generous proportions, with a large shower, full bath and double basins. 

The second and third bedrooms each contain two single beds which can be combined to use as a double bed, depending on requirements, bedside tables and a chair and small table. There is a full bathroom adjacent with shower and bath. Each of the bedrooms provides glorious views over the picturesque countryside.

Cassetta: Sleeps 2    
The “little house”, formerly stables, has been set up so that it may be used completely independently if required. The living area has a comfortable sofa which effortlessly converts to an exceptionally inviting double bed, two chests of drawers which double as bedside tables, a small table and two chairs and a large wardrobe. An AM/FM radio with IPod playback capability has been provided.

Leading off from the bedroom/living area is a small, self-contained kitchen, complete with small cook top, refrigerator and its own washing machine. There is also a separate bathroom with shower.

Outside 
Beautifully designed and maintained gardens lead down from the entrance gates, past the house and pool to the hedged surroundings. There is a sun-drenched terrace on the south side and at the rear of the house is a spacious loggia (covered terrace) from which the view across the valley to the towers of Regnano and Paterno is simply stunning.

Eating outdoors in either location is a delightful experience, with glorious vistas wherever one looks.  A solid teak outdoor dining table and seating has been provided to enable this al fresco dining. When one hears the bells chiming in the distance from the little church towers positioned on the other side of the valley, it is a truly memorable experience.

The grounds include flowers, fragrant hedges, a herb garden and the beginnings of an orchard. The silver-leaved branches of numerous olive trees are metres from the garden. The classically shaped (10 metres x 5 metres) glamorous black pool is meticulously maintained, and solid teak sun lounges, deck chairs, umbrellas etc are all provided, giving the place the air of a luxury resort – albeit an extremely peaceful one!  

The Restoration

As fas as has been ascertained, La Vecchia Scuola was constructed around the beginning of the 20th century.  It would have originally been the home of a farmer and his extended family, with the animals housed on the ground floor and the people living on the floor above.  What is now an exceptionally beautiful and spacious main bedroom with adjoining en suite bathroom was used as a school room for the children from the surrounding farms.

The Australian owners came across this scenic property in 2004 when they were in Italy for a guided walk in Le Marche.  Within virtually hours of viewing the picturesque but decidedly ruined building, they had decided to undertake the not insignificant task of restoring it and creating an attractive garden out of the resulting “bomb site”.

This restoration was completed by local craftsmen using original stones and beams and overseen by a local geometra renowned for his appreciation of the Marchigiani architecture and his meticulous attention to detail.  Just over two years after the purchase of the ruin, the owners spent their first night in La Vecchia Scuola.  Believe it or not, as they drank a toast with the excellent local wine to their dream home, a magnificent golden full moon rose slowly over the peaceful valley – a wonderful omen, undoubtedly!

See how The Old Schoolhouse looked before restoration