Two lawyers transformed a 16th-century farmhouse in Tuscany into a dream villa

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – Lawyers Stefan Lewis and Christian Scali have begun a new and exciting chapter in their lives, as owners of a sixteenth-century farmhouse, in the famous Tuscany province of Italy.

They bought this property in 2021 and renovated it into a luxury eight-bedroom villa, which they opened to guests this summer and is now fully available for rent.

Scully and Lois also frequent it when they visit Italy, and the pair plan to live there after retirement.

“What if we lived in the countryside?”

Scully’s grandfather is from Reggio Calabria, Italy, and he had always entertained the idea of ​​buying property in his family’s home country. Although he grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, he has always been surrounded by a large Italian family. His grandparents “had eight children and about 50 grandchildren who gathered on Sundays to eat meals prepared by my grandmother.”

In 2016, Scully began taking Italian classes to enhance the knowledge he had acquired during his four years of college. He also began to visit Italy regularly with Louis, especially the Tuscany region. These trips helped spark their desire to own a property and retire there, although it took Louis a little longer to warm to the idea.

The duo began the task of searching for their desired property in 2019, on the Internet, focusing on Florence. But they soon discovered that the large amount they had allocated, ranging between 1.5 and 2 million US dollars, was not enough to buy a large apartment in the city, to host family and visiting friends, and to hold large happy gatherings, similar to those that were held in the house of my grandfather Scully.

They refocused their research on the part of Italy known for its beautiful cities, ancient castles, and vineyards that produce some of the best wines in the world. But the pandemic affected their plans, as Lewis, who was not an Italian citizen, was not allowed to enter the country to join Scully, who obtained his citizenship through his family, in 2019.

But in the spring of 2021, Scully received permission from the Italian consulate to bring Lewis to Italy, where they once again embarked on the mission of finding their “dream” home. They reevaluated their vision for their future property and decided to rent it out, which meant they would also venture into the hospitality industry.

“A truly amazing view”

They came across a 16th-century stone farmhouse for sale, formerly used as a lookout point to defend the valley between Siena and Florence. It is approximately 1.2 acres in size and also includes a swimming pool and an independent guesthouse.

Set off a winding hillside road about 45 minutes outside Florence, this property, formerly known as Antico Podere Marciano, is a rustic, family-run Bed & Breakfast.

“We immediately fell in love with this house,” recalls Scully. “As you looked out you saw vineyards, hills full of castles, towers and stone houses, and in the distance, the towers of San Gimignano, the small medieval town next door. So “It’s just a really amazing view.”

They purchased the farm for a final price of $1.7 million.

“Preserve the original charm of Tuscany”

Scully explains that after receiving the keys, they renamed the property and called it Villa Ardore, because the Italian word “Ardore” means enthusiasm, generally loving affection, and Ardore is the name of the small town in the Reggio Calabria region from which my grandparents’ family came from. The name has a special meaning for us. “Because it embodies our family history and our feelings about the place.”

As excited as they were, the two lawyers felt overwhelmed by the enormous amount of work they had to do: from maintaining and improving the electricity to the property-wide plumbing, demolishing the kitchen and bathrooms in the main building, rebuilding the complex, adding air conditioning throughout the property, and adding a high-speed internet system. Speed, entangled with satellites. In addition, they transformed a former barn into a private spa: a relaxing oasis featuring a 10-person Jacuzzi, relaxation beds, a sauna, and a Turkish steam bath.

In fact, the cost of these comprehensive, high-end renovations is approaching $2.5 million, far exceeding the cost of many optimistic property owners in Italy, such as the popular one-euro home sale schemes that a number of small villages around the country have recently launched, In an attempt to stimulate the local economy.

But Lewis and Scully take great pride in the fact that they never thought of bringing investors on board. “This was our project, this was our retirement home, and having investors would have complicated it,” Scully said. “I gave up a lot of my interest in the company and used that as seed money.”

The duo collaborated with a prominent Florentine architect, Massimo Pieratelli, to realize their vision, which was to “preserve the original Tuscan charm of the place, while modernizing it,” according to Scully, as well as the contractor and crew. But they were always there, ensuring that one of them remained on site throughout the renovation work to ensure everything stayed on track.

Strict standards

Having accumulated experience in the field by renovating three other properties together in Los Angeles, Scully and Lewis were no strangers to the pressures of the task ahead. However, overcoming cultural differences added another unique challenge to the overall renovation process.

They quickly learned first-hand the Italian cultural concept of “piano, piano,” which, as Scully explains, means “one step at a time, which is really the way of life in Italy.” No one is in a rush to do anything. The only thing that motivates them is pressure, but only if it is justified.”

“We also had to adjust our American expectations, thinking and mentality, especially in California,” Scully said.

To be clear, staying at Villa Ardore is an experience that ticks many an explorer’s bucket list. Prices vary depending on the package chosen, but generally start at $6,900 per night for the entire villa for up to 18 guests. The cost increases if you wish to obtain special offers such as cultural and architectural excursions, or “La Dolce Vita”, a carefully curated itinerary for luxury cars.

It can also be booked for weddings, or small company retreats. It’s even possible to create itineraries and activities to suit guests’ every whim, whether taking a pizza-making lesson in the property’s outdoor courtyard, or a driving tour of the rolling hills of Chianti in a vintage Fiat 500.