Opening the door of her house, the smiling owner Anna Salice, who since the snappy and athletic physique reveals her past as a champion on the ski fields and her present of instructor SINW – Italian School of Nordic Walking, ready to teach the basics of this discipline leading to the discovery of the surroundings of Polcenigo with interesting walks.
A family palace in the heart of Polcenigo
Cozy and charming, the palace in the heart of Polcenigo, one of the most Borghi più belli d’Italia, is a noble residence dating back to the seventeenth century, declared by the Italian State as well of historical and cultural interest.
Owned by the Scolari family, it was then donated to the nephew Giuseppe Salice and his wife Giovanna Scotti, passionate architects in the 70s of the renovation of the Palazzo as we see it today. Hence the current name of Palazzo Salice-Scolari, now of the daughters Anna and Egle Salice who fourteen years ago have allocated a part to accommodate guests.
There are three rooms on the main floor of the large house. Ours was the Livenza, which overlooks the main square of the village and takes its name from the river that characterizes not only Polcenigo but all this area of the province of Pordenone.
The other two are the Suite Scolari and the Sansone Room, in which the atmosphere is guaranteed by furnishings in which the story and the passions of the family converge on the thread of memories and emotions.
All overlook a large living room with an intimate and cozy atmosphere with warm parquet floors, sofas, armchairs and a piano that, together with objects, memories and books, suggest a familiar warmth. The attic is the private part of the house, the one that Anna has reserved for herself.
The house, which is located at the foot of the hill that runs along the village, overlooks the main road that separates it from the Livenza course and has kept intact the materials and finishes of the past, such as ceilings with exposed beams.
But what enchants those who enter the pedestrian entrance, characterized by a small portico supported by two original stone columns and attributable to the fifteenth century or by the driveway gate, is the wonderful garden built in the first half of 1800 by Eng. Pietro Quaglia that develops on several levels bordered by stone walls.
Each band is different to accommodate the shape of the ground, but also to move the space: real terraces alternate with narrow walkways that, together with the staircase, act as a link.
The upper part is reached via a path, accompanied by a low box hedge, which leads to a vantage point where you can admire Polcenigo from above.
Dominating the lower part of the park is a majestic 35 meters tall Atlantic cedar that stands out among oaks, chestnut trees and cryptomeria.
So although the building is in the center of the country, you have the impression of being in the heart of the countryside. Inside, the presence of a room entirely covered in wood as if it were a hut: it was made by Anna’s father who loved the mountain very much.
The breakfasts, rich and delicious, are served in the large dining room dominated by a large fireplace characterized by two small windows that overlook the courtyard crossed by the bridge that serves as communication between the upper floor of the house and the terraces of the garden.
What is particularly appreciated about this house is the way in which Anna welcomes guests, making them part of their home but also of their daily experiences according to a pattern that originates from her family and then extends to friends and to those who come to visit her. A vocation for expansiveness that deeply affects and which our Otto has also benefited from.
According to a philosophy that can be summarized as follows: “The house is the place to take refuge, where to meet with family and close friends”. The actor Jeremy Irons said it but Anna would certainly sign it because this is the meaning of her warm hospitality.
In conclusion we can affirm that the uniqueness of this historical residence comes from the beauty of the natural environment, the architecture of the building and the charm of the interior. But it is born above all from the personality of the landlady who has been able to create the cozy atmosphere of a hidden country house in the center of Polcenigo, a delightful city on the water.
Palazzo Scolari Salice
Via Gorgazzo 2 – Polcenigo (PN)
Info: +39 0434 74100 – +39 320 0726080
palazzo.scolari@gmail.com – www.palazzoscolari.it
