Property Description

Affordable Sea-view Property in Sicily’s Ancient Spa Town of Termini Imerese, with Shared Use of Large Roof Terrace

An affordable second floor apartment with one bedroom, two balconies and the shared use of a sea-view roof terrace, Appartamento Mimmo offers irresistible value for someone who wants to buy themselves a sea-view property in Sicily without breaking the bank.

A compact flat with just 43m2 of internal space, it isn’t going to make anyone a permanent residence on the island, but its convenient location midway between Palermo and Cefalù gives it an appeal – as, certainly, would the nearby marina if you happened to be a sailing enthusiast.

French windows and a pair of sea-view balconies maximise the space well, with plenty of natural light thanks to the dual exposition to the south and east. Catching a fresh sea breeze in the summer but never freezing in winter, it is a practical living space for one person or a couple at any time of the year.

Fully renovated in 2020, it is in good working order and nicely presented – no extra investment will be needed.

The Property

On the second floor of a three-storey building, the entrance to Casa Mimmo is tucked away in some narrow streets on the edge of the old town of Termini Imerese. The entrance is up a communal staircase that, in all honesty, has seen better days, but once you enter the apartment the story quickly improves.

You come straight into a sunny living room with one side kitted out with the plumbing and connections to install a kitchen. The backsplash in yellow tiles is a nice warm touch of colour. About 16m2 in size, the room opens onto an east-facing balcony with a partial sea view. The morning sun makes this a nice spot in which to start the day with a coffee.

The bedroom is a good size, rectangular leading to another French window with a balcony that looks south. This makes it a nice place to spend the afternoons – if you work remotely you could easily fit a desk in this part of the room and enjoy some sunshine while you’re in the home office. The balcony has the best view in the apartment – although it faces another building directly opposite, the lateral view east looks straight down a street which runs to the port in the middle distance.

A little utility room with plumbing connections opens, a little unusually off the bedroom. It’s ideal for a washing machine and there will be room for storage as well if you put some shelves up in there. The bathroom, off the living room, is compact but modern. Pristine white tiles and a large window maximise the space, and the box shower at the far end is efficient and relatively recent.

Upstairs, the roof terrace is communal, but as the top apartment in the building you benefit from the most convenient access. Some of the space is given to water storage tanks which insure the residents against spells of dry weather and limited municipal supply, but the other side is a great spot to spend some time. About 30m2 in size, you’re now above the level of the surrounding buildings and as such can enjoy an uninterrupted view of the harbour, the waters of the Gulf of Termini Imerese and some of the hills and mountains that surround the town. It gets direct sunshine all day long, and of course, being Sicily, there is sun pretty much every day.

The windows are modern, with internal blackout panels. The floor is tiled and in good condition. The plaster on the walls and skirting boards are all well maintained. No heating system is present, but the space is cosy enough to be warmed with a portable heater if you need. Uncharacteristically for a building of this type, there are no condominium expenses to pay.

Surroundings

Termini Imerese is home to about 20,000 people. Some commute to Palermo, others work on the sea or in the surrounding countryside, but the town centre has a thriving, year-round life of its own too.

Appartamento Mimmo is in a quiet residential area, not glamorous but with that shabby, lived-in charm which Sicily does so well. It is just around the corner from a medical centre, which is sure to come in handy, and the town’s courthouse – which we hope you won’t need! The main high streets is a five minute walk away, and you’ll find a mix of chain stores and small businesses. Most people here still buy their meat from a butcher, fruit and veg from a greengrocer, and bread fresh every morning. The nearest supermarket though, if you need it, is only ten minutes on foot. Really, pretty much everything of not in the town is found within that kind of convenient radius.

The train station is no exception, and with trains to the centre of Palermo taking just half an hour, you can get from your home to the centre of Sicily’s largest and most culturally significant city in no time at all.

If you love the sea (and who doesn’t?), plenty of great beaches can be found within short drive. Or in just twenty minutes by train you can be at the best of them all, in the picture-perfect little fishing town of Cefalù.

A few kilometres from modern Termini Imerese there was once a Greek colony named Himera. With citizens drawn by the thermal waters which give the town its contemporary name, it was later mentioned by the great Roman statesman Cicero as a centre of power and wealth. Archaeological treasures from this ancient past include the remains of ancient temples to Athena and Vittoria, as well as a necropolis of over ten thousand tombs, purportedly the largest of its kind in all of Magna Grecia. A museum called the Antiquarium showcases many significant findings from this era, just a twenty minute drive up the road.

Potential

No work needs to be done on Appartamento Mimmo at the moment, except the installation of a kitchen and furnishing the place. It’s a great, ready-made solution for someone who wants to be close to Palermo but not in the thick of the city, but who needs something a bit sociable than rural life. This sea-view property in Sicily will give you a completely authentic window into life on the island, exactly as the locals experience it.

If you need any help getting settled in, talk to us about our Welcome to Sicily after-sales package, which guarantees you expert local help with all the practicalities involved in moving to the island, from registering your residency with the town council to getting the best deals possible on your utilities bills.