Sul Monte Mansion on Belleayre Mountain

352 Galli Curci Road, County Route 49A Highmount, New York 12441 United States

A magnificent turn of the century Tudor style stone and timber villa is in the rural neighborhood of other historic country mansions. It is sitting majestically below the upper slopes of Belleayre Mountain Ski Area. You would be right at home when a royal coach approaches the circular entry drive, which is embraced by the multiple wings wrapping around the central courtyard. See the 3D walkthru from Matterport in the'Slideshow' link: and the aerial video at: The private estate of 1920's Italian opera diva Amelita Galli-Curci was once known as the villa, Sul Monte. This historic country estate now known locally as the Galli-Curci mansion, is located near Highmount and Fleischmanns/Arkville, in Delaware County and hugging the edge of Ulster County, New York. The estate once had seven contributing buildings with the main house being a large, rambling three story structure set above a meandering meadow. There remain just the mansion, a large attached garage, a work shed, a garage on the main road, and a horse barn.The elegant grounds are manicured and voluptuous with perennials and flowering bushes. An inground pool and fieldstone patio graces the lower yard with a view across the valley. The positioning of the home features a breathtaking panorama of the upper Delaware River valley below and beyond to the high peaks of the northern Catskill Mountains. Another ski area, Plattekill, is visible in the distance. Imagine extravagant winged fairy nymphs flitting around this stunningly crafted old world stone mansion, with the opulent sounds of opera and concerts filling the rooms. A grand ballroom highlights the home with its Gothic architecture cross brace chestnut beamed cathedral ceiling with a focus on the majestic stone fireplace and artisan carved beams for emphasis. Two glass enclosed summer patio rooms encourage dining, almost in the outdoors. The kitchen and pantry rooms feature a gourmet Viking 6 burner stove with grill and skillet top, a large Jennaire refrigerator/freezer, and a Duparquet-Huot warming oven along with other custom appliances. This 1922 villa was designed by architect Harrie T. Lindeberg(1879–1959) as a country home for Italian opera soprano Amelita Galli-Curci (1882–1963). It is in the vicinity of other early 1900 era mansions such as Shakespearean actress Julia Marlowe's Wild Acres, physician Alexander Skene, newspaper publisher Herbert Gunnison, brewer George Jetter, and Manhattan real estate tycoon Harris Mandelbaum. This home is a wood frame building laid in variegated fieldstone and brick, stucco, and chestnut wood timber framing and sits on a concrete foundation. It features a series of massive, steeply pitched, hipped and gabled roofs with organic curves covered with thick cedar shake shingles protected with lightning rods and copper gutters and flashing. Other features include the flagstone patios and walkways, swimming pool, stone gateposts, sheds, caretaker's shop, and large garage. In the fields below is a 30' x 25' barn set up with a stall and tack room, with enough space for equipment, feed and hay storage. The paddock is fenced for good pasturage. House is honored by being on the NY State and National Registry of Historic Places, but there are not any reciprocal restrictions. Much of the antique furniture and furnishings are original to the house, are not included in the sale, but might remain with the property by separate agreement. The long rumored Belleayre Resort may become a neighbor of this property with the golf course and a hotel nearby as well as a new ski slope terminating across the road. Zillow property taxes are incorrect. Annual taxes are about $22,260.