Blog 1: The Viewing
In this series, Behind the Scenes at Villa Due Mondi, we take you along on our renovation journey and show how our house is gradually being transformed into a holiday villa in Piedmont.
For years, we browsed through houses in Italy on Idealista. At first, it was just dreaming; later, it became more serious. In October 2024, we finally decided to take the plunge and actively start our search. From that moment on, we made several trips to Italy to view properties in person.
Initially, our plan was to open a bed & breakfast. During that year, we visited several properties that seemed suitable for that idea. Yet something was always missing. No matter how promising a house looked, it never felt quite right.
In July 2025, we found ourselves back in Italy once again. We had planned a week of family holiday followed by a few days dedicated to viewings with local estate agents. During that vacation, we stayed in a holiday home ourselves, and that experience changed our perspective. Instead of searching for a B&B, we started imagining a holiday villa that we could rent out—a comfortable, spacious home offering peace and privacy, yet located in a convenient and attractive area.
We went over all the houses we had viewed during the previous year, but none of them matched this new vision. Then, on the very last day of our viewings, we took one final stroll through the beautiful village of Ponzone. In the window of an estate agency, we spotted a property that immediately caught our attention.
The office was almost closing, but we decided to step inside the branch in Acqui Terme anyway. Since we were due to fly back to the Netherlands the next day, it was wonderful that the agent was able to arrange a viewing that very same evening.
And when we saw the house, we were sold almost instantly.
The property is located in the countryside, in a small cluster of just four houses. Almost like a tiny hamlet—exactly what we had been looking for. The garden overlooks the surrounding landscape, with the village of Melazzo visible in the distance. Just ten minutes away lies Acqui Terme, a lively Italian town with everything you need: large supermarkets, familiar shops, beautiful boutiques, charming squares, and of course the famous La Bollente thermal spring. Twice a week, the town hosts a vibrant market. On the other side of the hill, you'll find yourself surrounded by vineyards and breathtaking viewpoints. The location immediately felt right.
The interior was just as much of a pleasant surprise. On the ground floor, there is a smaller space that we hope to transform into a private mini-studio for ourselves in the future, complete with its own entrance. There is also a large garage and one feature that made us instantly smile: a small wine cellar with a beautiful vaulted ceiling.
A marble staircase leads to the main living area, which will eventually be rented out in its entirety. Here you'll find three bedrooms with impressive high ceilings—something we absolutely love. There is also a living room with a semi-open kitchen and a lovely terrace connected to the living space. During the summer months, it offers the perfect shady spot to relax outdoors. The bathroom was already in good condition, although it could use some updating, just like several other parts of the house.
Overall, the house simply felt right. It wasn't perfect, but it had exactly the character, atmosphere, and potential we were looking for.
The following day, we postponed our departure to the Netherlands by a few hours so that we could visit the property one more time before making a final decision. Back home, we also asked our independent Dutch contact person, who lives in Italy, to take a look.
This was the house.
From that moment on, we started arranging everything from the Netherlands. And with that, the adventure began—an adventure we will share with you step by step through these blog posts.
In the next blog, we'll take you through the next stage of the journey and share how our plans for Villa Due Mondi are beginning to take shape.