When we arrived at “Cascina Gastaldi” from Milan years ago to meet a couple of close friends, my husband and I were literally enchanted by this delightful house surrounded by the green hills of Monferrato.
Now that we have become the owners, we look after this little corner of paradise with love and commitment, carefully respecting and bringing out, if possible, the natural spirit which distinguishes it.
The “Enchanted House” is part of a tiny hamlet derived from an ancient farmhouse (17th century), divided into 3 completely refurbished and independent units.
Located on a hillcrest, our property is immersed in a pristine environment of vineyards and ancient castles, a true paradise for nature lovers. In the gardens and surrounding countryside, bloomings follow one another, from the end of the winter to the heart of a red-painted autumn, flushed with the foliage of forests and vineyards.
Winter too is a wonderful season at Cascina Gastaldi! From delicate morning mists to snowy days, walking along country roads or in the woods is an experience that in every season reconciles with our natural rhythm, neglected and often buried in our hectic city life.
The house is totally independent from the other units of the village, is equipped with every comfort and elegantly furbished with Italian antiques as well as a wide range of modern and functional accessories which will make your stay enjoyable.
There is a brand new pool, surrounded by a sundeck with sunbathing area, situated in a sunny and scenic location from wich you will enjoy beautiful sunsets on the surrounding hills and even on the Alps.
After a sunny day you could enjoy the wonderful shade of the porch in front of the house, eating under the fox grape adorned pergola or reading a book under the cherry trees ... and, with a bit of luck, you can watch the squirrels jumping from tree to tree!
My husband and I own one of the 3 houses in the hamlet (the former barn). It will be a pleasure for us to give you directions and information about the delights you can find in the area(ie, wineries, farms and restaurants).
In addition, my husband is a mountain bike guide and, if you wish, he is at your disposal to help you discover the trails (of varying degrees of difficulty) that can be reached directly from home and give you tips to improve your riding skills. All those trails lead to pine forest or nearby lakes and rivers where you can cool off after the riding! If you do not have the bike with you, it won’t be a problem because we have some to rent.
I have been practicing yoga for over 10 years, so if you want to, you can join me on our panoramic terrace or by pool for some sun salutations or awakening exercises.
I also love gardening very much, and I will be very glad to guide you to discovering the blooming of our garden.
The Enchanted House is strategically located, as it is just a short drive from several hotspots in the region:
Milan (1.5 hrs drive) a world-famous city for shopping, fashion and design, which retains treasures such as the Leonardo Da Vinci’s Cenacle and hosts unparalleled art exhibitions each year;
Langhe and Roero (1.5 hrs drive), recently named a UNESCO heritage, with locations famous all over the world for its excellent wines. One above all: Barolo;
Genoa (40mins) an ancient maritime Republic, a city with a unique architectural structure, with the narrow streets called "carrugi”.
Serravalle Designer Outlet (McArthurGlen, 30mins), a mandatory stop for your shopping.
The charm of the Ligurian coast with destinations such as Camogli, Portofino and the well known “Cinque Terre” is about 2 hours from the house.
Also, in the immediate proximity, there are places that absolutely deserve a tour, such as Gavi, famous worldwide for its DOC wines, where you can also visit the ancient military fortress.
Ovada, with its delightful old town, animated twice a week by a lively street market where you can also find local producers and once a month a very interesting antiques market and plenty of opportunities for good value-for-money purchases for all pockets.
Acqui Terme, an ancient Roman settlement that preserves the ruins of the aqueduct and that is home to a nice spa.
Furthermore, you will find golf courses at Villa Carolina (in Capriata d'Orba) and Colline del Gavi (in Tassarolo).
We look forward to having you with us at what all our friends love to call "our little paradise": The Enchanted House.