Opening the door of the Casa del Vicolo means entering a magic atmosphere where time is suspended between antiquity and modernity, thanks to the special attention and originality that went into the choice of furniture and decor, every detail of interior design.
This modern tourist flat in Chieri is housed in a former warehouse, now an annex, in the courtyard of a manor house dating back to the late 1600s.
A small balcony and low doors bring to mind its ancient use.
You will be surprised by the airy and spacious atmosphere of the open space kitchen, with its ceiling in light architectural wood, its soft colours, enriched by antique pieces, with a double sofa bed.
The door that closes the small hallway guarantees privacy to the bathroom with shower and the double bedroom.
The history of this house
The house is located in Vicolo dell’Imbuto (Funnel Alley), in the district of San Giorgio, the oldest part of the town of Chieri.
Until the beginning of the twentieth century, no addresses were attributed to the streets, which are identified by area toponyms. The district was called San Giorgio after the nearby church, one of the oldest in the town. The current toponym was attributed only in the 1930s.
Curious facts about this house
From the tales of the elderly – the historical memory still very much alive in the town – we learn that there used to be a distillery in the alley and, during the First World War, prisoners detained a short distance away, in Palazzo Opesso, were brought in to produce and bottle the grappa. Hence the name of “Imbuto” (Funnel).
La “chiocciola” di Chieri
(The “snail” of Chieri)
The house in the Vicolo (Alley) is located in a strategic position, in one of the alleys of the so-called “snail”, the medieval district of Chieri developing in a spiral pattern up to the church of San Giorgio, which dominates the town from the top of the hill.
Wandering through the narrow streets of the district, around the church, from which you can enjoy an exceptional view, you can breathe the charm of the “Castrum”, that is, the fortified part of the town, which dates back to the 11th century. Glimpses of medieval buildings showing their faces as they changed over time, the ancient courtyards, lead the visitor to retrace the history of the town of Chieri, from the Middle Ages to the Baroque splendour.
