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Villa Menaluna
Rocchetta Palafea, Asti, Piedmont, Italy
Villa Menaluna
Rocchetta Palafea, Asti, Piedmont, Italy
Rural Piedmontese Getaway Overlooking the Matterhorn
Occupying a scenic hilltop in Italy’s UNESCO classified Piedmont region, this classic stone villa is set on the outskirts of a traditional village and owned by British expats who fell head over heels for this rugged region’s many celebrated charms.
This former agricultural estate has been graciously transformed at the hands of a hospitality professional enamored by all that Italy’s Piedmont region has to offer—legendary wines, a rich culinary heritage, and stunning year-round scenery. Tucked into a verdant hillside with vineyards lining the valley below, the blonde stone villa offers views across the Monferrato valley, the village’s ancient castle tower, and jagged Alpine peaks. Tastefully understated styling means that furnishings are elegant and mostly antique, breezy curtains are of crisp, vintage Italian linen, and the kitchen offers an easygoing, modern farmhouse setting for meal prep, with celebrated regional provisions. A plunge pool and panoramic sun deck are perched above green fields and thick hazelnut groves, completing the intimate, country home idyll.
AROUND
An ideal base from which to discover Piedmont’s slow-living lifestyle, the home is located with Alba and Barolo to the west, Asti to the north, and Acqui Terme to the south. The jagged Alps beckon in the distance, with the majestic Matterhorn and Monterosa visible on clear days. This region of Italy is a UNESCO World Heritage site seeker’s nirvana, boasting six designated areas. An oenophile’s paradise, the Langa di Barolo (home to wines of the same name), the hills of Barbaresco (land of Nebbiolo vineyards), the territory of Canelli (home to effervescent Asti), and the Nizza Monferrato (Barbera grape country) have all been classified by UNESCO as regions of historical significance.
The Piedmont’s two other World Heritage areas combine wine and architecture. Alba’s Grinzane Cavour Castle occupies a town equally famed for its vineyards and white truffles, and the Monferrato di Infernot features ancient cellars carved into local rock. The spa town and health resort of Acqui Terme has stood as a sought-out destination for rejuvenation since Roman times, for its mineral-rich, warm waters, and the town is also known for its sparkling Dolcetto and Brachetto red wines.
Lesser known than other Italian regions, Piedmont feels remote and authentically rural, and offers outdoor recreation opportunities in its hills, forests, and mountains. The area is blessed with a mild, almost Mediterranean climate and is referred to as Europe’s larder for its rice and grain cultivation. Bordering France and Switzerland, the Alps rise from Piedmont’s fertile valleys—the region’s name literally means “foot of the mountain”—and the area is a winter sport lover’s paradise too, offering the same striking Alps with a delightfully smaller crowd.
LOCATION
Rocchetta Palafea, Asti, Piedmont, Italy. Nearest airport: Genoa (80 mins), Turin (90 mins)
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Year round
