A historic Roman villa once belonging to Sophia Loren’s former husband has seen its price slashed by more than half.
The 24-acre estate, in the prestigious Appian Way Park, is now €19 million (US$22.24 million), but had been on the market for €40 million (US$46.82 million) when it was first listed in 2015. Film producer Carlo Ponti lived there in the 1950s, before marrying Loren, according to Lionard Luxury Real Estate, the brokerage representing the property.
During his years there, Ponti, an Italian film producer, regularly entertained famous faces from the film world on the estate, according to Lionard. The lush gardens and expansive living space made an inviting backdrop for the likes of directors Federico Fellini and Roberto Rossellini and actor Kirk Douglas.
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Ponti, who died in 2007, renovated the property during his stint there, according to a 2016 Mansion Global article. The current owner, who bought the estate from Ponti’s children with his first wife in the 1980s, has done a full restoration, according to the brokerage. Requests for comment were not immediately returned.
Just 10 minutes from the Colosseum, the villa was built in the late 19th century on the site of a former basalt quarry, the listing said. The Appian Way, one of the Rome’s earliest roads, was paved from the rocks mined there in 312 BC.
The main villa is more than 7,000 square feet, and there’s a second building, essentially another villa, that is about 6,460 square feet, according to the listing. The ruins of the quarry can be seen throughout the estate, from the different levels in the garden to the ancient mosaics throughout the estate.
A Renovated Villa on the Coast of Italy with Painterly Views https://t.co/Hy9ZWpbngw pic.twitter.com/dTUOGGVFLu
— Mansion Global (@MansionGlobal) July 13, 2017
One entrance brings residents and guests through a main hall that ends in what’s now the dining room: a former Roman tomb featuring tuff walls and a mosaic floor, Mansion Global reported. Another room features a mosaic of the head of Medusa, according to the listing.
The main living area has an open layout, with high ceilings, exposed beams and carved doors throughout. An eat-in kitchen is connected to the dining room, and there are several balconies and a terrace.
There are five en-suite bedrooms, including the master suite, which has direct access to the terrace and overlooks the gardens. There’s also a library and a sunroom.
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About 6,500 square feet, the second building offers ample additional living space with a kitchen, two fireplaces and a reception area that opens up to the garden. The buildings can also be sold separately, the brokerage said.
There are several outdoor areas, including a shady veranda. The villa is surrounded by landscaped gardens and mature trees, and there’s a heated swimming pool and a garage.