Private Investors Save Italy’s Historic and Artistic Buildings

| Wed, 11/20/2013 - 05:00
Villa Tolomei

In the photo: Villa Tolomei in Florence

A new initiative aiming at transforming 117 state-owned historic and artistic buildings into luxury resorts, university campuses, meeting locations and spas has just been launched, after the pilot project has been successfully completed.

Villa Tolomei in Florence was restored from its Renaissance ruins to become a 5-star hotel surrounded by a park with olive trees and vineyards, to recreate the same environment of centuries ago. The restoration and conversion was financed by private investors who will now manage the property for the next 50 years.

All the properties included in the initiative, called “Valore Paese-Dimore,” have significant artistic, historic, cultural and environmental value. They include: Capo Spartivento in Sardinia, the Dogana Vecchia in Molfetta (Apulia), the 13th century Gradisca castle, the Certosa di Pavia, the lighthouse of San Domino in Tremiti, the castle of Aglié in Piedmont, the Vittorio Emanuele military barracks in Gaeta, and many more.  

All Italian regions are included in the project except for Valle d’Aosta, Abruzzo, Molise and Basilicata.