Nights at the museum Renovated with a reverence for the past, this historic Italian apartment is now a modern marvel

With a considered reverence for the gifts of the past, the owners of this Italian home have created a modern marvel

The cit y of Mantua in northern Italy

may be famous as the destination Shakespeare chose for Romeo’s banishment, but staring up at its extraordinary Renaissance architecture, it’s difficult to picture a stay here as punishment. In fact, for Sara Cozzoli, an archivist, and her husband, who works in law, it was the ideal place to buy.

Used to preserving history as a day job, Sara became enchanted by the incredible frescoes that she found in this 16th-century apartment overlooking the ancient Piazza Broletto. The building once belonged to Federico II Gonzaga, who ruled as Duke of Mantua from 1519 until his deathin1540.Apatronofthearts,hecommissioned Giulio Romano, who studied under Raphael, to paint the walls of what is now the property’s dining room. Depicting wild boar hunting, mythical beasts and geometric decorations, these ancient artworks are breathtaking.

This is not a gallery, however, it’s a home. Therefore, the focus is on celebrating the frescoes while creating a practical space for modern living. For this task, Sara turned to architect Diego Cisi, co-founder of Archiplan, who, she says, ‘had a magic touch for transforming, and at the same time preserving, the true spirit of the place’.

To make the most of the 80-square-metre property, two rooms were knocked together to produce a large living area/bedroom. Here, the decorative ceiling is the centre of attention, with the bespoke ash and birch furniture designed to prevent visual distractions. Two steps below, there’s the entrance hall and dining area, where alightgreenpainthasbeenappliedtocomplement the original colours of the remaining sections of fresco. ‘Our way of working,’ explains Diego, ‘is to keep two worlds connected – the old and the new – in perfect balance.’

Renovation complete, Sara and her husband decided to turn the flat into a rental property for history lovers. A unique cultural experience, a stay here, she says, ‘is like living and sleeping in an ancient palace, or in the private rooms of a museum’. archiplanstudio.com; airbnb.co.uk

Depicting mythical beasts and geometric decorations, these ancient artworks

are breathtaking

‘Our way of working is to keep two worlds connected –the old and the new – in perfect balance’

The focus is on celebrating the frescoes while creating a practical space for modern living

Dining room The portrait of a noblewoman is an antique find believed to have been painted in the late 1700s. High on the wall, the slatted plywood frame is a decorative device to hide the air conditioning system

Dining room Sections of the original fresco by Giulio Romano overlook the ‘Efelidi’ table by Archiplan for Design Mood. The chairs were made by a local craftsperson Portrait Homeowner Sara sits with her dog Lampo on the steps that lead to the main living area. The terracotta floor is an original feature

Left This small kitchen has been painted a dark colour, in contrast to the rest of the apartment. Copper pipes were left exposed to avoid damaging existing features Hallway For a similar bench, try the ‘Hven’ by Anton Björsing for Skagerak

Above and opposite Original frescoes and decorative ceilings are the main focus of this home, lovingly restored and given space to shine

Living area The contemporary artwork on the wall is by Milan-based illustrator Damiano Groppi

Living area Archiplan designed the sofa, which also features a pull-out bed and storage. The highly decorative ceiling is believed to have been painted in the late 1700s. Beneath the window – which offers a glimpse of the historic arcades of Piazza Broletto – is a bespoke bench by Archiplan

Exterior Classic Renaissance architecture in Piazza Broletto Bathroom Exposed copper pipes are the main feature here – a functional necessity in keeping with the honesty of this home. The washbasin, created by Archiplan, combines birch and steel

Bedroom A wardrobe has been created using shutters that originally protected the windows. The portrait sitting on the pale pink radiator is part of Sara’s family’s collection of paintings from the late 1700s Below These ceiling decorations are thought to be from the same era

Bedroom Beyond the bespoke birch partition are a double bed and two floor lamps, all designed by Archiplan. The finish on the walls in this space was uncovered during renovation work and has been preserved alongside the artworks See Stockists page for details