Craig-Y-Nos, the mid Wales castle which was once home to Adelina Patti, the greatest soprano of her day, is up for sale to anyone with a spare £1.5 million.
The opera house at Craig Y Nos
Patti, who died in 1919 after a stellar singing career and high-flying social life, bought the castle, which is now a Grade I listed building, in 1878 and installed her own opera house.
Craig-Y-Nos ('rock of the night') has been run as a country house hotel for the past 10 years, but in its heyday as Patti's country retreat it played host to some of Europe's great and good: the then Prince of Wales - the future Edward VII - stayed there, along with the Crown Prince of Sweden and Henry of Battenburg.
The ornate opera house part of the property is decorated with the names of her favourite composers and musicians, among them Verdi, Rossini and Mozart.
Conservationist Mark Baker told the Western Mail: "It's a hidden gem. The theatre there is one of the most sumptuous private theatres in Wales. There are none to compare to it now because theatres were not kept. A lot of [Adelina Patti's] vision is still existing there, with the backdrops and murals."
Picture courtesy of McCartney's Estate Agents.
