Hallo Ecotrain friends,
I'm sharing these photos and text, for anyone interested in a very particular property, which I have been lovingly restoring for the past 14 years: I plan to move into the countryside to be more immersed in Nature and homesteading, and I want to make certain that the right new owner can be connected with this home, as it requires a very ecological and spiritual perspective to fully appreciate the value of the place and the surrounding town and international community.
I've written an extensive listing text, which I'll share below also, that goes into the myriad qualities of the house - and I was sharing it on a mainstream social media platform because it is specific to the overseas interest in our wee town, which I was protagonist in bringing attention to.
Over the years, the interest from abroad has blossomed into this interwoven international community, mostly comprised of American and northern-European folks, who are all seeking a gentler pace, a more affordable higher quality of life, and the peaceful holistic beingness of a vibrant rural community.
Though most of the expats love the dream of an Italian old town, marble steps, cups of coffee on a balcony... there are few of them who have really understood both the ecological value and intelligence of the properties in this ancient fortified town, or how to activate the houses. Mostly, they are stripped back, heavily plastered, and then filled with Ikea stuffs.
I had a vision when I first came here, of the eco and spiritual aspects of the town attracting artists, creatives and folks seeking a more holistic life: it sort of has half happened, but my protagonist skills are much better suited - instead of settling into this comfy community and quietly bustling rhythm - to starting afresh more immersed in wild Nature: I plan to buy land and/ or a smaller home, out under the open sky and elements, and to be far more autonomous.
Thus freeing up the (sweat) equity that I've invested in the house and town, and concentrating my eco intelligence and spiritual force, directly into the land. So I'm releasing this magical home, in order to leverage merit-gained and property raised in value.
So here are some details:
The Arthouse is a spectacular south-facing historical property with 10 rooms, two balconies, several entrances and a million-dollar panoramic view. Her features are myriad; some conventional, some historical, some intelligent-and-eco architecture, and some mystical. I envision attracting a new owner who can fully appreciate and value all the features, qualities and energies that the house has.
In the conventional way of listings, The Arthouse is blessed with:
- 140 m2 floor area; main entrances on two streets: the Via Dietro Gli Orti at the front lower side, and the Strada Filippo Maria Guidi above behind; 10 rooms on 2 floors and 2 half-floors; the top-back entrance comes into a private shared corridor with two other properties (only one of which is inhabited).
- extremely solid floors and thick walls - upwards of one metre in the majority of the inside and outside walls - and a mix of both wooden-and-glass doors to the balconies and pvc-metal framed windows from the bathroom and shared corridor.
- two rooms which are currently used as bedrooms, but there is potential (especially with a close family) to change more rooms into bedrooms; two bathrooms, one with an open shower, and one with a bath tub; four sinks in total - kitchen, sunroom and the two bathroom sinks.
- a solid set of modern conveniences, including but not limited to: high water pressure; open-style shower; vintage bath tub; washing machine; electrical 80 litre water heater; powerful Prity woodstove with oven, top hotplate and water tank heated by her chimney (which draws exceptionally well); ceramic sinks including two vintage ones; an intercom system for the top door on the Strada F M Guidi.
- historical details such as big smooth marble steps in the corridor and rough-cut marble architectural curves on the balcony, vaulted ceilings, stucco arches with floral and cherub details, ancient iron bars in the cantina as extra security, truly fabulous natural 'air-conditioning', and internal stone walls finished with limewash. There's an external date on the front of the house of 1757, but internal parts are far older.
- her south-facing aspect: the house is part of Guardia Sanframondi's famous historical facade: full-sun year-round which offers amazing passive-solar heating even in winter, plus the cooler and darker back rooms in under the ground, which offer great geothermal ambience summer and winter. The gardens below also give tons of glorious natural ambience; birdsong and the sound of the waterfall next door, butterflies and bees, the sound of the wind in the trees.
- a mature lemon tree, two grape vines, and multiple (medicinal) herbs and flowers in a raised wall street garden attached to the front of the house - plus a variety of balcony plants.
- various negotiable furnitures including two queen-sized beds (one a platform bed), a simple 4-ring gas cooker with oven, WiFi dish and modem, vertical shelving which is currently used in my wee library room
- the potential to divide the property into either two or even three independent living quarters: I can explain this more fully when you visit.
- and the potential to come off-grid as I am working towards; full sunshine on the main balcony, to supply a powerbank via a set of (non-fixed) panels - no permissions needed.
The house additionally possesses an elevated status as a well-known property, through exposure in myriad media features locally and internationally, as a highly successful B&B and art retreat, and as a meetings, pop-up events, photoshoot and shop location. The house has immense potential not just as a home, but as a business, retreat and workspace; e.g. it currently houses my art studio, sewing workshop, and a podcasting room.
The more mystical aspects of the house are based in its having being built in an era when folks still had possession of embodied wisdom: it was created from the bare rocks upwards, grown by hand out of natural stone foundations: built onto and into the rocks, out of marble and quartz and other invaluable materials (which nowadays would be near possible to source and even less so to fund) and from the imaginations and intentions of folks who Knew much more about Life than the average person does now.
There was far greater power and functionality in houses of this time, which can be activated by those of us who can see beyond a sterile home made out of artificial materials by mechanical-minded folks. A house like this, and like many in Guardia's medieval quarter, is much more than the sum of its parts - but one has to know how to maximise its benefits, in order to receive its gifts.
Like many homes in this magical medieval quarter, this one is steeped in a spiritual history far older and healthier than the institutional religion of today: it has energetic properties that can be utilised for healing and transformation, which I can speak to in a one-on-one conversation.
As well as the Keys To The City and awards for my cultural activities here, I also hold a particular wealth of knowledge around integrating here in Guardia and in Italy: I'm a fluent Italian speaker, and have myriad contacts and insider information about how the town functions 'behind the scenes': I can share this face-to-face with the new owner.
Having lived in this magical property for almost 14 years, and having renovated her almost-completely single-handedly, I know the house very intimately, so can impart many details which will help you settle in more harmoniously than typically happens when folks land here!
Access by car is limited but technically can be done for drop-offs: I park outside of the medieval quarter because I appreciate walking home, but if I have a heavy load I can park in a piazzetta less than a minute's walk away. There's plenty of free parking around the town.
view from the master bedroom balcony
The local community is particularly welcoming of foreigners and new folks, and there is a thriving international community in Guardia. The old town still has its gnarly areas, but The Arthouse is located in a particularly well-kept and beautified corner.
There is not a fixed price: if you would like to open a discourse about The Arthouse with me, Clare., please contact me through my website www.claregaiasophia.com - where there is a Connect page: I will respond privately via email.
It is possible that I might consider taking a partial payment for the house via crypto.
I would prefer to support a like-minded ecologically-and-spiritually-aligned person to own this home: if this will still allow me to invest in land and a new, smaller house.
It is a huge energetic process to let go of this property, but I know that this is the time...
And I'd hugely appreciate any support in spreading the word, as I have been ousted from most mainstream networks for a long while, and am finding it difficult to communicate with a substantial audience these days!
The front outside of The Arthouse shows where it sits on this beautiful pedestrian Via.:
These were the old gates into the city, so the house has the feel of guardianship.
Though my house doesn't have a big garden, there is still significant potential for both a vertical garden, from this deep raised bed...
... and plenty of opportunities to get involved in land nearby: the majority of the gardens below this Via are not being worked, and the owners have agreements with myself about mutually-beneficial foraging, pottering and gathering of wood, for example.
The old town's streets have been recently renovated - which is giving the whole place a much more beautified appearance. There is plenty still to be maintained and attended to, so the new owner might best be someone who is into community efforts to keep the old town glorious.
Part of the ambient sounds which The Arthouse is blessed with: the Ratello waterway, which is a quiet trickle here in summer, and an occasional raging torrent - quite a spectacle to behold! - in storms and winter!
As you see; these gardens below our Via need some attention!
The old town and environs are particularly inspiring to artists and photographers.
And finally: we VERY rarely get snow, but when we do, it is breath-takingly beautiful...
