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Italian farmhouse
Helen and Peter Hannick loved their renovated Umbrian home so much, they decided to move there permanently
Reproduced from March 07 issue of Good Homes magazine. This month's issue on sale now Subscribe now and save 30 per cent.
House fact file
The property 18th-century farmhouse set in 100 acres of land near Amelia in Umbria
Bedrooms Five
Buying Price £26,966 in 1985 for main farmhouse, three other farm buildings and 100 acres
Amount spent on renovations €80,000 (around £53,894)
Now worth Around 600,000 (£400,000)
Who lives there?
'I'm Helen Hannick (left), 57, and I live here with my husband, Peter, 72. We have five grown-up children. I work part-time in Rome as a therapeutic counselor and Peter is semi-retired. We live in the main farmhouse on our property and rent out the three outhouses as holiday accommodation.'
What made you buy a home in Italy?
'In many ways the whole thing happened by accident. Back in 1983, friends who had bought a place in Italy invited us over for a holiday. We were totally charmed by the stunning scenery and tranquil pace of life. By the time we returned home, we talked nonstop about the possibility of buying a place of our own. At that time we had really only been thinking in terms of a holiday home, but once our children were grown up, we decided to move here permanently.'
Why Umbria?
'After that initial holiday, we returned and explored various regions, starting with Tuscany, which is lovely and very popular with people from Britain. However, the area that particularly appealed to us was Umbria, where the landscape is quite wild and unspoilt. The picturesque hillside towns all have their own characteristics and traditions, and they aren't overrun by tourists. We concentrated our search on a beautiful area surrounding the historic town of Amelia. Perched on a hilltop, the town is one of the oldest in Italy and has a real sense of history about it.'
How did you find the property?
'Back in the 1980s, there weren't all that many properties for sale in this area and we soon realised that it wasn't a simple case of looking at estate agents' windows. We wanted a place that was totally private but not too far away from an airport. With the
future in mind, we decided that, ideally, we would like a farm with outhouses, which we could convert and rent out. 'It was quite a wish list but Peter, who has a great eye for property, happened to spot a winding lane that was totally off the beaten track and decided to explore. It led to this farmhouse. Once we drove down the lane and took in the breathtaking views over the valley and hills, we knew it was perfect for us. The farm was owned by a Belgian couple and wasn't even on the market. We soon realised that we would have to be proactive if we were to stand any chance of buying it. Peter got in touch with the couple and urged them to think about selling. It was obviously meant to be - the timing was right and they eventually agreed to sell.'
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