Loro Piceno, Macerata, Le Marche, Italy

Loro Piceno is the quintessential Marche hill-town. It has the piazza, the festivals, the iconic archway commemorating some long-ago Papal visit, great places to eat, the famed vino cotto and a location that's perfect for lovers of mountains, beaches and all the rolling hills between them. There's a ruin to restore just outside town that's a classic in its own right, true to the local architecture and true to all the characteristics you look for in a ruin to restore. When one is from Loro Piceno, you proudly refer to yourself as "Lorese". Hence this name of this great Marche property...Casa Lorese, the house from Loro.

Casa Lorese is accessed down a short, private lane that finishes at the house. The old house, composed of old brick and some stone, sits on a flat plot, 100% private, with terrific views.

The old house has a classic shape, a true "Lorese", as it's a perfect example of the local architecture of Loro Piceno. Fro some reason nobody seems able to explain, Loro Piceno has always been a town lots of builders call home. There's a proud tradition of
"muratori Loresi", builders from Loro Piceno. My own house, in fact, was built up from a pile of stones by a highly respected builder from Loro Piceno.

Speaking of building up a house, Casa Lorese, like all our ruins to restore, Casa Lorese is a blank slate - you can create the Marche farmhouse of your dreams. Literally, you can do most anything you'd like. You can opt for a sizable house, or, we can design and build a "right-sized" innovative open-plan 2-3 bedroom house in a smaller footprint, or, anything in-between. Casa Lorese can be restored to suit most size and budget needs. Be sure to ask about our budget-friendly "Right Sized" designs that deliver all you need, leaving out all the extra volume and costs you don't. The house, of course, would be built to state-of-the-art anti seismic building codes, open plan architecture and outstanding energy use performance. Casa Lorese also has a small outbuilding of around 15 sqm. that can be used as a studio, office or pool house.

As part of the restoration of Casa Lorese you'd absolutely make use of the treasure trove of original materials found in the old house. These include old beams, pietra serena stair slabs, old doors and the old bricks and stone that will give the exterior of the new house an old, character-rich look that pays homage to the original Casa Lorese.

Loro Piceno is a known as a town with great views. The views from Casa Lorese are proof of that. The views are open and panoramic - across the rolling hills and fields of summer sunflowers you see the provincial capital of Macerata. The vast "Vallata Maceratese" (Macerata Valley) stretches out before you, with numerous hill-towns in view. Toward the horizon you see the iconic Monte Conero, a mountain that literally sits on the Adriatic Coast. Conero boasts a national park, a terrific beach at its foot, as well as numerous award winning vineyards on its sun-drenched flanks.

Speaking of vineyards, Loro Piceno has two of particular note - Saputi and La Murola - and their vines are everywhere in the countryside surrounding Loro Piceno and their wines are yours for the tasting at their cantinas. Loro Piceno is also known for its Vino Cotto, a sherry-like dessert wine that has just recently been given the DOC designation. Loro Piceno hosts a 4-day Vino Cotto Festival every August that is attended by thousands.

The local vineyards are just the start of the discussion of how truly great Casa Lorese's location is. First, you can actually walk to town from the plot. You can also just pop up the private access road to a provincial road that takes you everywhere. All this makes Casa Lorese is the ideal launching point to satisfy your senses! Neighboring hill-towns of Mogliano, Colmurano, Urbisaglia and San Ginesio are all within a 10-15 minute drive. Provincial capital, Macerata, is 20 minutes away and Adriatic beaches are an easy 25-30 minute drive. The new SS77 Superstrada whisks you to neighboring Umbria in 45 minutes. Ancona Airport is 1 hour from the house.

The plot at Casa Lorese is 2,000 sqm., mostly flat, open and perfectly sized. Its position guarantees full-day sun. If you'd like more land the owners own more and a separate land sale is doable, including a terrific 2,000 sqm. parcel with a thriving olive grove that produces exquisite extra virgin olive oil. If you need still more land, the owners have more to sell you.

So, isn't it time you became an honorary "Lorese"? Take the first step and make Casa Lorese, casa tua!