• 2 weeks ago
To some, the Lake Como hideaway fictionally purchased by Mr. & Mrs. Smith actors Donald Glover and Maya Erskine is an intriguing setting used in an episode of the Amazon Prime Video action series. For others, Il Rudere (the Ruin) is a secluded vacation home―accessible only by boat―where nights can cost €1,000 to €2,000, depending on the season and length of stay.

When the novelist bought the 19th-century quarrymen’s dwelling in 2002, the 120-square-meter (1,291-square-foot) house was uninhabitable, having been neglected for decades. “It underwent a series of renovations, most recently in 2019, making it a home with all the comforts,” he says, “while preserving the original style and features of the past, from the stone walls, old doors, antique furniture and wooden ceilings.” Now, Guin says, he is “longing for the sea, for new inspirations” and has listed the property in the municipality of Faggeto Lario in Lombardy, Italy for €6.9 million or close to US $7.5 million.

RRead the full story on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2024/03/19/intrigue-inspiration-and-history-intertwine-at-secluded-lake-como-villa/

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Transcript
00:00In one of the most secluded corners on the shore of Lake Como,
00:03where dazzling waters meet classic Italian landscapes,
00:07it is no surprise that this villa became a hub of inspiration
00:11in the worlds of both fiction and reality.
00:14On the surface, Il Rudere, or The Ruin,
00:17is a glamorous, intriguing opportunity
00:20to escape all the noise of contemporary life.
00:24It's only accessible through a 10-minute boat ride,
00:26and travelers looking to get away
00:28are willing to pay between 1 to 2,000 euros,
00:32or up to 2,150 U.S. dollars, to vacation in it.
00:37Il Rudere recently made waves
00:40as Donald Glover and Maya Erskine's fictional hideaway
00:43in Amazon Prime's hit show, Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
00:47For over two decades, it has been a creative sanctuary
00:51for crime fiction writer Giuseppe Guine.
00:54Known as The Writer's Nest,
00:56this villa has inspired Guine
00:57to write 10 novels set on Lake Como.
01:01When Guine purchased this 19th-century
01:04quarryman's dwelling in 2002,
01:06it was uninhabitable after being neglected for years.
01:11Through extensive renovations, most recently in 2019,
01:15Guine transformed it into a modern home,
01:17while still keeping its historical charm.
01:21The stone walls, antique furniture, and wooden ceilings
01:24all preserve the villa's past.
01:28Now Guine is ready for a new chapter,
01:30and he's listed Il Rudere for 5.7 million U.S. dollars,
01:35inviting a new owner to add to its legacy.
01:39Inside, centuries-old chestnut shelves
01:41line the walls of the cozy, ethereal-looking library,
01:45while a granite kitchen is carved
01:47from the very stones of the quarry.
01:50The villa has three bathrooms and a living room area
01:53with floor-to-ceiling windows.
01:57Step outside and you'll find a romantic setup
01:59for open-air meals, a beach,
02:02endless vegetation, and a boat dock.
02:06Even though Il Rudere is a private retreat,
02:09it's only about a 20-minute drive away
02:11from the city of Como, and an hour car ride to Milan.
02:15The next buyer will be able to fully embrace
02:18the dolce vita lifestyle.

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