SubscribeSign In
Collection by Tom Winter

Torre Piccolo

Torre Piccolo is a unique 400-year old tower in the ancient heart of the medieval town of Exilles, Italy. Purchased in the fall of 2017 by Tom Winter, an award-winning ski and snowboard photographer and action and adventure sports journalist based in Colorado, the home underwent a full renovation, completely modernizing the home's systems including electrical, plumbing and heating, a complex process given the modest size of the home and the historical nature of the structure.

"I wanted something completely different than what most people look for in a vacation property," says Winter. "Exilles has one bar, one shop and one pizzeria. It's a very simple and quiet lifestyle, the bar closes at 8. But I'm minutes from fantastic skiing and snowboarding at Bardonecchia and my wife, Aileen, can walk to go hiking in the Parco Naturale Del Gran Bosco right out the front door. Everything that's worth doing here is outside, but few know about the area, so you're not going to run into many people on the trails and no one skis off piste!"

Fundamental to the restoration was Winter's vision of an open stairway, that allows natural light to filter throughout all four levels of the tower. "These kind of medieval structures can be quite dark," says Winter, pointing out that the original stairs were enclosed by walls. "As a photographer, light is very important to me, so demoing the enclosed stairway was a crucial part of the renovation. But after that, there wasn't much left on the interior, you keep the old wood floors, of course, because they're cool, and you plaster and paint the walls white."

More difficult was upgrading the home's systems. When Winter first took ownership of the home in February of 2018, heat was provided by a kerosene stove (now illegal in Italy) and there was no shower or bath and the hot water didn't work.

"One of the last things I packed before my trip to assess the home and start doing some of the demo work was a winter sleeping bag," laughs Winter. "It was the best decision I made, because the stove worked for about five minutes and then went kauput! It was definitely refugio style living during my first visit!"

For two weeks Winter ripped out carpet, old linoleum and made an assessment of the home and its needs without hot water, heat or other amenities. "I did get a few days of skiing in," he admits. "Bardonecchia is special and it's just minutes up the road. I'm looking forward to using it as a base for shooting ski and snowboarding images in the future."

With the home now equipped with a state-of-the art pellet-fueled hot water and radiant heat system, the electrical system upgraded, roof insulated and high R-value windows and doors installed, it's unlikely Winter will need to bring a sleeping bag in the future.

"We had a few cooler nights this fall when I was doing some of the final restoration work on the home," says Winter. "And the stove kicked in and we were warm and cozy and I was looking out the balcony at the mountains remembering how cold and dirty everything was last winter and thinking 'I can't wait to be here when it snows!'"

View 9 Photos
The kitchen on the 3rd floor has access to a small, east-facing balcony that sits above a tiny courtyard in the most ancient and historical part of the town of Exilles.
The kitchen on the 3rd floor has access to a small, east-facing balcony that sits above a tiny courtyard in the most ancient and historical part of the town of Exilles.
The interior of the kitchen - formerly a bedroom - was completely redone, with only the historical wood floors retained. Simple furnishings and a clean, contemporary design compliment the tower's limited floorspace to create an uncluttered yet cozy environment.
The interior of the kitchen - formerly a bedroom - was completely redone, with only the historical wood floors retained. Simple furnishings and a clean, contemporary design compliment the tower's limited floorspace to create an uncluttered yet cozy environment.
The attic of Torre Piccolo on the 4th level of the tower. With a larger window facing west towards the ski slopes of Bardonecchia and the ViaLattea, the space was reclaimed from a cobweb infested afterthought to a comfortable bedroom for two.
The attic of Torre Piccolo on the 4th level of the tower. With a larger window facing west towards the ski slopes of Bardonecchia and the ViaLattea, the space was reclaimed from a cobweb infested afterthought to a comfortable bedroom for two.
Demolition and reconstruction work on the property included removing the original stairs which were enclosed by a thin wall and replacing them with an open, contemporary steel staircase fabricated locally.
Demolition and reconstruction work on the property included removing the original stairs which were enclosed by a thin wall and replacing them with an open, contemporary steel staircase fabricated locally.
The former kitchen on the second level has been transformed into a sitting room, the pull-out couch accommodates guests. The simple white plaster walls provide a clean backdrop for the owner's fine art photography.
The former kitchen on the second level has been transformed into a sitting room, the pull-out couch accommodates guests. The simple white plaster walls provide a clean backdrop for the owner's fine art photography.
The exterior of the home prior to purchase. "I fell in love with the simplicity of the home and how quiet the town of Exilles is," says owner Tom Winter. "It's truly a place to escape the larger world and recharge."
The exterior of the home prior to purchase. "I fell in love with the simplicity of the home and how quiet the town of Exilles is," says owner Tom Winter. "It's truly a place to escape the larger world and recharge."
The second floor (now a guest bedroom and living space) formerly housed the kitchen. "With some of these old properties in Italy it can be hard to envision what they can become," says Torre Piccolo owner Tom Winter.
The second floor (now a guest bedroom and living space) formerly housed the kitchen. "With some of these old properties in Italy it can be hard to envision what they can become," says Torre Piccolo owner Tom Winter.
A view of Exilles, looking east towards Turin with the historic fort of Exilles dominating the landscape.
A view of Exilles, looking east towards Turin with the historic fort of Exilles dominating the landscape.