Financial Times, 24th July 2010

Arias and graces

If undertaking one period restoration could be viewed as a labour of love, taking on a second with the first barely completed could be seen as an act of folly. But Marianne and Adel Ismail are far from reckless. The couple, who met in New York, via their native Scotland and Egypt, fell in love with each other and later with Tuscany, and bought Villa Barcarelli, near the walled town of Lucca, following several visits to the area.

“We looked at buying a home in Greece, France and other areas of Italy,” recalls Adel, “but when we came across the secluded villa, overlooking wonderful vineyards, we felt it was the right place for us. We have remodelled the house entirely and have enjoyed several relaxing holidays there over the past year or so since we completed the renovation.”

Three years after buying and restoring the six-bedroom period house with a two-bedroom guest cottage and swimming pool, the Ismails, who have two children –– are selling the villa. They want to concentrate on running Villa Casanova, a four-storey, 14-bedroom boutique hotel near Nozzano Castello, which they have also bought and restored.

The hotel, a classic square-shaped Tuscan villa, is set in 350 acres of woodlands, with panoramic views across forests and pastures to the town of Nozzano Castello, with its landmark 13th-century tower. It has an adjoining butterscotch and chocolate-coloured striped chapel, which dates to the 1500s.

Marianne says she knew the moment she laid eyes on the hotel, grounds and views that she had to have it. “It was definitely a ‘wow moment’,” she recalls. “I love to wake up here to the birdsong and watch the mist rising over the valleys and see the silhouette of the tower of Nozzano Castello in the distance.

“I can stand on the terrace with a cappuccino and just be quiet and peaceful anticipating the day ahead.” She can relax now but only after a lot of hard work turning the place round. “The hotel had closed and needed a complete overhaul,” says Marianne. “The bedrooms were small and there were huge ‘dead’ areas on each landing. I had a vision of what I wanted, and we called in Scottish architect Doug Reid of James F Stephen, who helped us realise the transformation.”

Today, the remodelled hotel is unrecognisable from its former dowdy past. Fourteen high-ceilinged suites are graced with classically styled furniture, marble floors and bathroom units (Italian, of course), tapestries, linen from the White Company and eclectic art, mainly from a friend and former investment banker turned artist, Anthony Moman.

Marianne, who works in finance, commutes to London for extended periods of work. Adel, who has worked in the hospitality and leisure industry for many years, including an extended spell in New York, project-managed the restoration. With the hotel open for bookings, the last of the first phase to be completed is the interior of the double-height chapel building with minstrels’ gallery, altar and restored frescoes.

“The chapel restoration will be completed this year,” says Marianne. “We will then apply for a licence to be able to hold weddings here. We will be able to cater for parties of around 40-50 people. After that, we’ll take a breather for a year before setting about redeveloping the several adjacent period outbuildings into guest suites and creating a spa.”

Already, the estate has a swimming pool, tennis court and a natural amphitheatre, where Marianne says they will host floodlit recitals. A former quarry in the grounds, set approximately half a mile from the house but invisible from it behind woodland and overlooking a valley with lake and winding river, could be the site for a classical concert, in time.

INVESTMENT - Tuscan treats

Pros

• This is a stunningly beautiful region with scenery that, to be fully appreciated, has to be seen, and is full of towns with classic piazzas.
• Pisa airport is less than two hours by plane from the UK. EasyJet flies from London Gatwick to Pisa, as does BA. Ryanair flies Stansted to Pisa.
• Tuscany is a destination for the culturally minded visitor. Opera, historic towns and gastronomic tours abound.
• Beaches are about 30 minutes from the Tuscan hills at their nearest point, making a sunshine and sophistication weekend break very doable.

Cons

• Property purchase costs and fees can amount to as much as 18 per cent of the purchase price.
• Bureaucracy can be protracted when undertaking a restoration project, and is often far from transparent.
• Italy can be taxing for Anglo-Saxons used to services running smoothly; Italy notoriously plays to its own rhythm.

What can be bought for ...

• €100,000 – a small studio apartment, probably in need of modernisation, in one of Tuscany’s medieval towns.
• €1m – a five-bedroom restored palazzo in the heart of a wine and olive-growing region of Tuscany.

The setting is apposite. Tuscany’s rolling hills are a magnet for opera buffs and cultural tourists. Puccini was born in the medieval walled town of Lucca, a 20-minute drive from Hotel Villa Casanova, and a Puccini festival is held in April and August, set on a nearby lake at Torre del Lago. “There is definitely the potential for concerts at the hotel,” explains Marianne. “There is so much going on here that as much as we love Villa Barcarelli, the house we restored, it’s not really practical for us to live there any longer because it’s a one-hour drive between the two properties and we need to be on hand at the hotel 24/7. So, reluctantly, we have decided it’s the right time to sell the house.”

The couple’s restoration of the 19th-century period house has resulted in a charming yet practical home with great letting potential. The two main bedrooms are spaced well apart at either end of the house, both with wooden balconies. The third significant bedroom is located in the middle of the house.

Adjacent to but separate from the main house is a two-bedroom, one-bathroom converted former bakery. The mezzanine level bedroom has fabulous views over rolling hills. A shaded terrace, al fresco dining area and solar-heated swimming pool are set in the grounds.

All in, three or four families could easily stay at the villa. “We’ve just let the place to three generations of a family from the UK,” says Marianne. “In total there were 10 people, and they didn’t even use the guesthouse. On average there’s a good 12-week annual letting season.”

The weekly rental charge starts from €7,770, and the farmhouse, painted in a traditional “clotted cream” shade with green wooden shutters, is for sale with Aylesford, priced €3.8m.

The Ismails have spent a high six-figure sum restoring the property, and developing the 100 acres of woodlands, olive trees and native gardens.

Hotel Villa Casanova is on a grander scale altogether than Villa Barcarelli. The Ismails’ plans, including hosting an opera in the substantial grounds, will no doubt come to fruition. Their hard work and love for the region will ensure that, like the hotel itself, the next grand plan is no act of folly but more a statement of faith.