Monday November 12, 2012

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Newport's largest privately owned mansion, Belcourt Castle, has been sold to the owner of jewelry company Alex and Ani .

Carolyn Rafaelian tells The Providence Journal (http://bitly.com/PPAyug ) on Monday that she purchased the Bellevue Avenue mansion for an undisclosed price.

According to the Belcourt Castle website, the mansion was completed in 1894 and designed by Richard Morris Hunt, who designed other Gilded Age "summer cottages" in Newport, including the Breakers and Marble House. It has 60 rooms and 50,000 square feet.

Rafaelian purchased the home from Harle Tinney. The Tinneys purchased the mansion in 1956.

In recent years, it has been used for weddings and other public events.

Rafaelian says she plans to restore and renovate it, then reopen it for events. She says she will rename it Belcourt of Newport.


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