Lija - Palace/Castle/Manor

LIJA - Situated in the old village core of Lija comes this prestigious 300-year-old newly renovated country residence. The two-story Villa with its large back garden is a Grade one listed building because of its historical status and unique architectural features. The latest amenities and modern technology have been introduced to combine the comfort of modern luxurious living within an authentic 18th-century noble setting.

Design at Ground floor level

The villa’s entrance leads through a barrel-vaulted Hallway paved in marble to four main rooms. These are a Library/Study, a formal Sitting room, a Dining room, and a family Living/TV room. The hallway vault and the ceilings in three rooms are decorated with painted ceilings featuring large medallions with allegorical figures. The end of the hallway opens onto a wide stone terrace with stairs on either side leading to the garden and swimming pool area.

A corridor on the side of the Family living room leads to a newly built annex. This incorporates a large modern kitchen, a guest toilet, two guest/staff double bedrooms, each with an ensuite shower, and access to the internal yard. This yard has a separate service entrance from the road for deliveries or maintenance staff. The large internal yard also serves as a drive-in parking area for two large cars which is accessed from the road by a remote controlled rollup door.

Design at First-floor level

An imposing wide marble staircase leads to the first floor which is also accessible by a six-passenger lift. A large landing leads to the three double bedrooms. The Main bedroom has a dressing room leading onto a large bath cum shower room. The other two bedrooms have their own shower facilities. A lobby on the left of the main staircase leads to a laundry cum utility room and a pantry. A spiral wrought iron staircase leads to an intermediate level and the roof.

The Garden

High walls enclose the whole garden area. The wide flagstone pathways in the garden were designed in a symmetrical axis in the style of a Jardin a la Francaise. A central fountain with the original statuary divides the paths. The open-sided tea rooms at the back of the garden provide a quiet place for contemplation or reading work. The rooms can also provide caterers sufficient space for equipment when entertaining guests. The swimming pool is equipped with Jacuzzi spouts and leads to a sun deck with a barbeque area.

The Basement.

The subterranean basement has the same layout and rooms as the upper floors. Access from the ground floor hallway, through a narrow corridor, is reached by a staircase hewn in the limestone rock. It has a historically unique 18th-century large kitchen, with original features such as a functional wood oven and several large stone tables. These subterranean rooms have been fully restored and have all amenities to serve as a gym, entertainment area, and even a wine cellar. Underground water cisterns provide enough water for garden irrigation and swimming pool replenishment. A drip irrigation system with a timer is installed around the trees and hedges.

Special Features

• LED lighting serves most areas of the villa for low consumption costs.
• Circuits for TV/Internet signals are found in most rooms.
• Inter-room and external telephone connections in most rooms.
• CCTV and Alarm systems are installed in key points.
• Intercom connections to external doors.
• Air-conditioning units are installed in most rooms.
• Potez kerosene-fueled heating is installed on the ground floor and first floor.
• A six-passenger lift provides access to the basement, ground floor, and first floor

Areas of Palazzo and Garden

• Ground Floor 215 sq. mts.
• First Floor 224 sqm
• Adjacent apartment 79 sqm
• Drive-In 81 sqm
• Garden including upper terrace & tea rooms 874 sqm