Property Description

Sicilian Townhouse Deep in the Nebrodi Park, with Twin Roof Terraces, Four Bedrooms and Tremendous Potential

Immersed in the dramatic hills of the Nebrodi Natural Park, with spectacular views in all directions, the small town of Galati Mamertino is a Sea-view Sicilian townhouse, and a traditional gem. If you are looking to leave behind the tumult of the continental north, and return to a simpler pace of life where the emphasis is on community, heritage, good food and good conversation, this is a fabulous spot to discover.

On the northern edges of the town, just one street away from the steep downhill drop of the land into the valley below, the versatile Casa Due Terrazzi (house of two terraces) would make a wonderful base for family holidays, remote working or a long retirement with the space to welcome the whole family for visits all year round. On the fringes of the natural wilderness that makes up the inner area of the Nebrodi Park, it is also in a fabulous location for lovers of the great outdoors.

With four bedrooms, two bathrooms and those twin terraces, there is plenty of room to share in this traditional old townhouse. Semi-detached, and built predominantly on two storeys, it is deceptively large, and would make a fabulous investment for an international buyer willing to spend some money restoring it to the kind of glamorous, statement design that it would originally have been.

The terraces offer views of the sea, surrounding countryside and the old town of Galati Mamertino. When the night closes in, the hilly landscape leaves the neighbouring towns illuminated in the distance, and from March right into December this is a fabulous place to eat outdoors.

With a little restoration work, then, Casa Due Terrazzi could be an absolutely stunning family home. Before speaking about what needs to be done, let’s look at what you would be working with.

The Property

The single-fronted facade of Casa Due Terrazzi faces onto a little piazza. Its smooth plaster was added in the 1970s, and has held up fairly well, although it has faded slightly in some places. The crazy paving underfoot directly in front of the house, the dramatic rounded ironwork on the first floor balcony and the detailing over the front door all give the property a slightly fantastical quality, almost as if it had sprung from the pages of a storybook.

Stepping through that entrance, you find yourself in a long corridor with the kitchen to your left and the living/dining room ahead of you. There is an immediate sense of space, thanks to the light passing right through from the rear windows.

The kitchen is more modern than much of the home, with a distinctive green and black colour scheme and space for a breakfast table. A good-sized window keeps the space bright and gives you the perfect vantage point from which to chat to the friendly neighbours as they pass by outside.

The living room is a huge, L-shaped room with two separate spaces linking seamlessly through a broad round archway.  Twin French windows flood the space with light and air, and open onto balconies, as the land is already beginning to slope downwards to the north. Finally, a small box room is big enough to make a single bedroom, but could also be used as a practical study.

A simple marble staircase is in very good condition, running alongside the entrance hall with storage space underneath. After reaching a little landing, it continues up to the roof with another storeroom positioned above the first.

On this first floor are three more bedrooms, and a pair of bathrooms. The family bathroom is very large, currently fitted with a half tub, but which would certainly need some modernisation. The second is a little shower room which is en-suite to the master bedroom, another roomy and bright space at the front of the home. As well as a huge window, it opens through French windows onto the rounded balcony you saw on you way in.

Further back, a second double room has a dual exposition, with a window facing out to the north, and a lateral balcony reached through more patio doors. The fourth and final bedroom is a small double or large single, with some fabulous views between the nearby houses out to the green hills in the middle distance.

On the second floor, a small storeroom splits the twin terraces from which the property takes its name. The southerly one is a little smaller, at 18m2, but catches some lovely warm sun in the afternoon, making it perfect for sunbathing or relaxing in the heat. The one on the other side is 24m2, with a view of the sea 15km away, and the nearby town of San Salvatore di Fitalia.

The Sea-view Sicilian townhouse is completed by a nice storeroom which is not visible in our photos or video. If you would like to take a look, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to arrange some for you.

Surroundings

The old town of Galati Memertino is small and extremely walkable, with Casa Due Terrazze only a hundred metres from the main piazza, where you will find a pharmacy, hairdresser, butcher’s shop and pizzeria as well as the town hall. Most of the 2,500 residents of this little town habitually do their grocery shopping in small shops, where the produce is locally sourced and often organic. There is a little supermarket less than ten minutes’ walk from the property’s front door, however.

Considering the relatively small population, Galati does not feel at all sleepy, with local bars that are always busy throughout the day, and some splendid restaurants in the town. The Trattoria Donna Santina is a particularly vibrant spot, with excellent pasta dishes priced under €10, and the Nonna’s meatballs an epic example of hearty Sicilian comfort food.

Further afield, the nearest towns are Tortorici, further up into the mountains, San Salvatore di Fitalia across the valley, and Rocca di Caprileone at sea level, with a wide strip of beach which can be reached in under half an hour by car. The glamorous marina and wider shopping opportunities available in the much larger Capo d’Orlando are a similar driving distance.

You will be able to reach the slopes of Mount Etna, the unforgettable seafront of Cefalù and the chic Taormina in an easy day trip, when visitors come and you want to show off your new surroundings. The thrilling volcanic Aeolian Islands are just off the coast, and can be visited by ferry or private charter. The airports of Catania and the island’s capital Palermo are less than 150 minutes’ drive.

The Nebrodi itself is a natural paradise, with mountain lakes, stunning panoramic views and some fascinating species of plant, mammal and bird to discover. We’ve created a comprehensive guide to the Nebrodi if you’d like to find out much more.

Potential

There is certainly work to be done on the Sea-view Sicilian townhouse, especially if you really want to bring out the property’s history and accentuate those magnificent balcony and terrace views. But overall the home is on fairly good condition, the 1970s restoration having lasted well.

In the short term, you will need to tile the terraces, which would cost about €4,000. The roof of the storeroom over the stairwell is also in need of replacement, and that will set you back another €3,000. For somewhere around €9,000, we think you could turn this into a small kitchenette, allowing you, your family and friends to base yourselves more or less entirely up on this top floor during long summer afternoons and evenings.

There is heating, thanks to methane gas radiators. If you wanted to add air conditioning this would cost about €800 per unit, including installation and certification. At this altitude, 600m above sea level, you won’t find that an absolute essential, however. The wiring is going to need a refresh, at a cost of around €8,000.

You will need to address the windows, which are dated and inefficient. There are rather a lot of them, including many French ones, which make the property tremendously airy and bright, but will increase the budget required. Around €15,000 should allow you to replace them with energy-efficient new double glazing and blackout shutters.

An upgrade on the main bathroom would have an immediate impact, if you are able to budget €7-9,000 for the work.

However, the bones of the property, including floors and walls, are in good condition. This is by no means the most dramatic type of restoration project we have come across in this region.

You will find the local authorities extremely welcoming and eager to help reduce the bureaucratic load as far as possible for new arrivals, especially those interested in transferring their residence to the district. You may find that doing so is also a huge positive for your personal tax situation, as well as your quality of life.

If you need any assistance with finding collaborators, filing paperwork, translations or logistics, our after-sales support packages are a perennially popular choice and guarantee you work that is completed to international standards with the very best multilingual communications that you will find anywhere on the island.