The Castle of Portofino is one of the most spectacular residences in the bay of Paraggi, in eastern Liguria, Italy. These types of structures used to be built as fortresses, to defend against attacks like those of Carlos Manuel I of Savoy who, with the help of the King of France, wanted to take over the Republic of Genoa. Today the Portofino Castle It is for sale by Sotheby’s International Realty. The spaces are “quite comfortable”: about 300 square meters of covered area, plus 200 square meters of terrace with two turrets and about 5 thousand square meters of terraced garden with plants and ancient trees are what make up this impressive property. The completely renovated building is typical of Liguria, with pastel colored exteriors, three floors and a fabulous garden. The property is located on the heights of the village, near the houses of renowned people. The price? There is talk of several million, but the negotiations are confidential. The castle is in a dominant position on a small promontory overlooking the bay of Paraggi, in the municipality of Santa Margherita Ligure, on the Portofino road. It is somewhat hidden by thick undergrowth, but to the experienced eye it can be glimpsed from the sea. Also because it looks like a huge rectangular stone building with two triangular turrets. Spectacular.
The villas in the area
The area has always been highly sought after by wealthy businessmen in the recent past: In addition to Tronchetti and Carozza, the Greek shipowner George Procopiu has bought Villa Cristina, formerly owned by Arnoldo Mondadori and the financier Franco Ambrosio, as well as the Emilian industrialist Luciano Zanichelli, who chose the Fanfani apartment with a balcony in Square. Giorgietto Giugiaro, designer, has chosen an apartment in Cala Marconi, where he also established his residence on former president of Fiat, Paolo Fresco, that of Orazio Bagnasco. archyde news executive Marco Testa, son of Armando, also bought the Villa Pallara in the area.
Legends about the bay and the other castle
And to think that there are so many incredible stories and stories about these places. An example? At an unspecified date between the 17th and 18th centuries, there is a legend about a nasty pirate, Etienne Toutsaints, who sank his galleon full of gold and valuables in the waters of the bay, on the rocks in front of another castle, closer to the sea, that of Bonomi. Apparently, he hid the treasure in one of the caves under the castle and, once dead, he transformed into a fierce man-eating brunette, in defense of the treasure. The most recent story, from the late 1950s, is that the 84-year-old former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchillvisited Portofino as a guest of Aristotle Onassis on his famous yacht Cristina. Apparently Onassis’s yacht was anchored off Paraggi Bay and they wanted to take a look at the castle owned by Anna Bonomi Bolchini, who commented: “If you come to see me, go ahead. If you want to see the castle, you can do it perfectly from outside.” In short, they are exclusive residences to which not everyone can access, not even heads of state. As if to say: welcome to court, but by invitation only.
Article originally published in AD Italy.