Design Rectory

Priestly Residence Reimagined

More palatial than priestly, this stunningly vaulted, four-floor estate once served as the local rectory. Thank heavens it’s been reimagined as a soulful sanctuary in a hidden corner of the Piedmont where the Barolo flows freely. Bespoke experiences are artisanal, authentic and a little bit unexpected (falconing, an operatic dinner, behind-closed-doors landmark visits, helicopter excursions), and the villa, itself—absolutely unforgettable.

Soaring garden walls, uplifting arched interiors, humble original details and cozy garret rooms combine seductively inside this former priest’s residence. Now a stately modern sanctuary, the structure’s ecclesiastical arches contain contemporary architectural details like a bridge-styled, open-air landing tucked under original hand-hewn eaves. With its glass barrier, this reimagined living room is flooded with natural light from the tops of cloistered windows. 

Downstairs, in a hushed hall more intimate and serene, a vaulted brick ceiling covers an unembellished spa and hammam. The kitchen offers a space more upscale than modest, a refurbished culinary lab lined with custom-honed Trani marble and antique elm. And the garden is breezy and romantic, an assortment of grassy squares and beds planted with hydrangea and peony, a stone swimming pool and ancient water well, plus a wisteria vine creeping up to tangle around the barrier of an aristocratic, upper-level terrace.

AROUND

This villa for rent in Italy is located in Monforte d’Alba, a tile-roofed Piedmont village that climbs a steep rise. This is the heart of Barolo wine country, offering a luscious dark vintage crafted exclusively from Nebbiolo grapes, that is considered one of the world’s noblest wines, much like fine Bordeaux and Champagnes. From the property’s garden, views spread across vineyards and fields, overtaken by a few cupola-topped towers. The village has an ancient castle, Palazzo Scarampi, believed to date from the 1200s, and an amphitheater in the center of town. Otherwise, it is relatively slow moving, a place that’s the epitome of dolce far niente with curated experiences that can be tailored specifically to guests’ desires.

The Piedmont region of Italy is delightfully less traveled than most Italian provinces, though it is vast, the country’s second largest region area-wise. A UNESCO World Heritage site seeker’s nirvana, Piedmont features six UNESCO-treasure designated areas, with most of the sites connected to the region’s globally celebrated wines. The fertile land is blanketed by vineyards, fields both cultivated and wild, and dense mountain forests with rocky outcroppings and fast-flowing streams. The Alps rise from Piedmont’s fertile valleys, the region’s name literally meaning “foot of the mountain.” 

It is a winter sports’ lover’s paradise—same striking Alps, less of a crowd, and also a hiker’s dreamscape in the warmer months. Piedmont’s capital city, Turin, is a mid-sized city of Baroque architecture, sprawling palazzi, and the famed, spire-topped landmark Mole Antonellana. Perhaps best known for its excellent wines and abundant local produce, Piedmont gets referred to as Europe’s larder for its rice and grain cultivation, and the markets and farmstands within regional villages overflow with celebrated Piemontese produce, best enjoyed over bottles of Barolo and other locally-produced wines. Gastronomy is at the region’s forefront, and restaurants, trattoria and family-run mountain lodges offer rich, hearty fare as well as dazzlingly refined flavors. The white truffle festival of Alba is a regional draw, and wine-tasting cellars will reveal the magic of the region’s nebbiola, barbera, and dolcetto grape varieties.

LOCATION

Monforte d'Alba, Piedmont, Italy. Nearest airport: Turin (1 hour)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: This villa for rent in Italy is ideal year-round.