Fancy a holiday in Rome? Brits can buy a stunning 18th century Italian CASTLE for the same price as a three-bedroom semi-detached house in West London… but would you buy one?

Britons dreaming of a new life on the continent and wanting to escape the daily grind are being given the chance to buy their own fairytale home… if they can afford it.

Valdengo Castle, just a xx drive from Turin, is for sale for £664,959 (€790,000), the same price as a three-bedroom semi-detached house in Ealing, West London.

Surrounded by rolling green hills, this majestic country house looks like it came straight out of a charming romantic comedy or historical drama.

But if you do want to get one, you might need an army of staff to keep the 29 bedrooms and six bathrooms clean and tidy.

Those hoping for complete peace and quiet may be disappointed: only part of the castle is habitable.

There is also some updating to be done. The description admits that the building’s facilities and bathrooms need to be ‘modernised’ and that there are no modern plumbing fixtures.

In addition, the roof and several floors would need to be completely redone, an expensive project that many Grand Designs fans would dread.

At first glance, the offer seems perfect for anyone who wants to make their dreams come true

Only part of the castle is available for habitation – and over the years it has fallen into disrepair

According to the Sotheby’s real estate listing, the castle is situated on a “sloping hill with 360-degree views.”

The area extends from the Bielse Alps to Monviso, from the Baraggia to the hills and plains of Novara and the village of Valdengo in the foreground.

Potential buyers will be interested to know that 30 minutes away is the golf course of Magnano Biellese, the Betulle, one of the most beautiful in Italy.

Also nearby are the tennis clubs of Rosazza and the beech trees of Biella.

In terms of skiing, you can visit the Biellese Alps, the famous ski resorts of the Aosta Valley, Lake Viverone for water skiing and wakeboarding, and hikes to the Burcina or the Zegna Oasis.

The bright, detailed frescoed ceilings have remained ‘unmatched’ through the centuries and the rooms feature beautiful historic fireplaces and furnishings.

Some rooms even have perfectly preserved parquet floors, but others will need to be restored.

The rooms feature beautiful historic fireplaces and furnishings

The bright, detailed frescoed ceilings have ‘remained uncharged over the centuries’

All rooms on the southwest side have French doors opening onto a long balcony that spans the entire floor.

The second floor, with a smaller floor plan and access to the turret via a comfortable staircase, houses several bedrooms and bathrooms.

The listing has sparked much discussion online, with some claiming it would make a great AirBnB.

One X user said: ‘Would make a good Premier Inn…’, while another posted: ‘Live together for a great timeshare?’

But a third joked: ‘You’re right, those prices… I was hoping for at least 50 rooms in my Italian castle. Shame.’

“A castle? It looks like a village!” a fourth commented.

This is according to a study which shows that Italy is the most popular choice among Britons when it comes to cost-effective living.

The listing has caused a lot of discussion online, with some suggesting it would be a great timeshare

While many Italian cities are known for their high costs.

YourOverseasHome, which conducted the research, said: ‘Italy is by far the cheapest place to live long-term, if you’re not spending like a traveller.’

The legend of Italy’s super-cheap homes – thanks in part to the 2017 €1 homes initiative – was born to combat rural depopulation and address building abandonment.

But in reality, buying an abandoned house is a lot less attractive, as the costs for the necessary major renovations can be high. Especially if you want to renovate a castle.

However, when you compare this to the sky-high costs of buying a property in the UK, this may be preferable.