The Moment We Started to Visit Local Estate Agents
It had been about five years since our search for an Italian home first began. We had visited almost all of the northern regions of Italy, but the moment we arrived, Piedmont felt different…
The skyline view of the ancient city of Turin with the Alps as the backdrop and the famous Mole Antonelliana to the right. The view of the Alps is even visible from some of the shopping streets that look towards the north of the city and catches you off guard as you peruse the many elegant shops, boutiques and Baroque building and Liberty homes the city has to offer.
Falling for Turin & The Alps We had flown into Turin many times over the years for our annual skiing breaks in Courmayeur—just one of the stunningly beautiful Alpine resorts located a couple of hours' drive from Alfiano Natta. The one thing you can never get used to on that flight approach is the endless, awe-inspiring wall of giant Alps greeting you as you land. It leaves a lasting impression, even after living here for years.
On those early skiing trips, the city of Turin wasn't really on our radar; we usually traveled to Trieste to visit family. It was only years later, when searching for a house to renovate into a small boutique rental business that we truly discovered Piedmont & Turin. The city itself—with its elegant boutiques, Baroque architecture, Liberty-style homes, and sudden, breathtaking views of the Alps framing the end of shopping streets—deserves a vlog post all its own!
The Idea of Number 18 Casa di Campagna… Location, Location, Location
It’s an often used expression: “we stumbled across it” but that’s the phrase that comes to mind when we think about how we found N°18. Literally the house number on Via Crivelli.
The entrance and side preview of the Number18 when we bought it.
We completely fell in love with Piedmont because it offers everything:
Four distinct seasons: From golden autumns to sun-drenched summers.
Unbeatable geography: Gorgeous lakes, majestic mountains, and unspoiled rolling vineyard hills.
Easy travel: Seamless access to both Turin and Milan international airports.
Authenticity: Unlike more saturated regions, Piedmont offered genuine Italian villa living away from mass tourism.
Reaching out to other expats in the region sealed the deal for us—there weren't many! We were looking for an authentic Italian life. While we’ve made wonderful international friends along the way, we are so happy to have chosen a village where we can offer our guests a truly immersive, local experience.
Navigating the Italian Property Search: Expect the Unexpected!
When we first began hunting for our dream home in Piedmont, we thought we had the process down to a science. Before leaving the UK, we created a carefully curated "Top 20" shortlist from internet listings, neatly ranked from top choice to backup plans. We were convinced that our top three picks would easily yield a winner. How delightfully wrong we were! Our absolute Number 1 choice on paper turned out to be an unforgettable lesson in Italian real estate vocabulary. When a listing describes a property as "recently refurbished," it can sometimes mean refurbished within the last 20 years!
When we stepped inside our top-ranked property, we were greeted by thriving indoor flora, a cheerful colony of wasps who had taken up residence years prior, and—to top it all off—a hanging skeleton left behind from the seller’s former medical practice! Not quite the cozy countryside charm we had pictured.
The Secret to Finding "The One"
That experience taught us two valuable lessons early on:
1. Ask detailed questions upfront: If you're looking at restoration projects, double-check timeline definitions for “refurbished or ready to move into” and recent condition photos of all the spaces with the agent before traveling to viewings.
2. Budget for reality, not estimates: While there are stunning, turn-key homes in Italy ready to move into straight away, our goal was to renovate and create something uniquely ours—which meant staying realistic about costs. The true game-changer for us came when we wanted to verify a renovation estimate given to us by a selling agent. We reached out to an English-speaking architect working in the area, Conor Mulvenna, a talented Milan-based architect who oversees projects across Piedmont and Lombardy. Conor offered us some refreshingly direct expertise. While his realistic figures initially pushed several candidate properties out of our reach, his honesty saved us from making a major financial misstep.
From that moment on, we asked Conor to review every property we seriously considered—including the farmhouse that eventually became Number 18. And as they say, the rest is history!
Curious about how we brought Nº18 to life?
From discovering a neglected country estate to navigating quotes, budgets, and local Italian craftsmen, our restoration was an incredible journey.
If you’re dreaming of your own Italian property project—or just want the insider story on how we restored this place—we’re always happy to chat. Reach out and we’ll gladly share our trusted English-speaking contacts, lessons learned, and budget tips!
Experience the Authentic Piedmont Ready to discover the quiet side of Italy for yourself?