Busseto is a tiny hamlet just 15 km north-west of Arezzo and 6 from the famous Ponte Buriano bridge immortalised in the Mona Lisa! There’s been a settlement here since Roman times, when it was known as Buxetum. The central part of the building was originally a watch tower and you can see its wonderful stone arches in the kitchen.

At some point the house was divided in two so that what is offered for sale today represents half of the ground floor, a quarter of the middle floor and the whole top floor, all joined by the original staircase of pietra serena steps. It’s been fully restored so you don’t have to undertake any structural work. You do however have to look beyond all the tatty furniture in the pictures to appreciate the history of this building with its solid stone walls dating from the year 500, terracotta and stone floors and - above all - its ancient coffered poplar ceilings, unique in our experience for a country dwelling.

The property is entered through a splendid arched stone doorway to a corridor with cantina and laundry/store room on right and the splendid arches on the left leading into the large kitchen & living room, with doors out to the garden. There is also a small bathroom on this floor.

The stone stairs lead up to the two rooms on the middle floor: the historic country kitchen with classic stone fireplace and sink (both in need of a bit of a clean) and a double bedroom with tiny en suite bathroom. On up the stairs takes you to the spacious top floor and its panoramic corridor with huge arched windows overlooking the unspoilt countryside. At the one end of the corridor are 2 living rooms, a double bedroom and the impressive tiled bathroom with bath tub while at the other end are 3 more double bedrooms. Many of the rooms on this floor have the original poplar ceilings.

This is a house with enormous potential crying out for a caring new owner to take it in hand and make a feature of its many assets at minimal expense.