Lavish Italian Mansion Once Used by Napoleon Selling For Same Price As London Flat

An opulent, historic, one-of-a-kind Italian mansion once used by Napoleon Bonaparte and his troops is on the market for just $5.78 million — the same price as a London apartment being sold by the same real estate firm. The stunning mansion and its grounds, known collectively as Villa La Voglina, is being sold by Beauchamp Estates and is described in the formal listing as a 15-bedroom, 10-bathroom home set on 61 acres of land.

The 17th century estate is in the Piemonte region of Italy and includes its own park and vineyard. The real estate brokers estimate in their description of the Italian mansion’s property that if the vineyard is restored to full working order, it could produce as much as 100,000 bottles of wine a year. The partially wooded land is also described as being “rich with truffles and cherry trees.”

The mansion also has a fascinating page in Italian history. In 1800, Napoleon used La Villa Voglina as a staging area for his headquarters during the Battle of Marengo. During the battle, Napoleon and his troops overtook General Michael von Melas in an attack near Alessandria, in Italy. In the end, the Battle of Marengo forced the Austrians out of Italy, boosting Napoleon’s power and military prowess throughout Europe.

At the time, the mansion was owned by the French, and in gratitude to the owners, Napoleon forced captured Austrian troops to build the terrace which exists to this day. The mansion includes a private chapel for 30 people and was built by a world-renowned Baroque architect, Filippo Juvarra.

It is a well-known regional landmark.

“Villa La Voglina is a wonderful classic Italian Baroque villa, architecturally and historically significant as an example of Juvarra’s work and of a stature that does not often come to the market,” Gary Hersham, of Beauchamp Estates told London’s Metro News.

Hersham said that the mansion and its property are situated in one of Italy’s “most celebrated culinary and wine producing regions.”

The mansion is constructed in a horseshoe layout and has 79 separate areas, multiple main and service entrances, as well as six reception rooms, two dining rooms, and four kitchens. The rooms of the main mansion are described as “in excellent condition and much lived in” and are lavishly appointed with fresco ceilings and detailed plaster work.

An independent two-bedroom guesthouse is also on the grounds of the Italian mansion but is in need of some restoration.

[All images via Beauchamp]