Property Description

Lost in Green Hills, a Picture-Perfect Sea-view Villa in Sicily with Two Bedrooms and Studio Annexe

Nestled in the hills at the top of a valley which runs two kilometres down to the warm Tyrrhenian Sea on the northern coast of Sicily in the Nebrodi Natural Park, Villa Gioiosa Marea is a three bedroom property divided into a small family apartment on the first floor and a studio at ground level.

With a spectacular roof terrace taking full advantage of the two hundred metres of elevation separating the villa from sea level to offer a beautiful panorama of lush countryside, twinkling water and deep blue sky, this is a wonderfully enticing proposition for any buyer considering a sea-view villa in Sicily’s long north-eastern corner.

With the first slopes of Mount Etna beginning to rise just 30km to the south, and the magnificent Aeolian Islands no further than the same distance out to sea in the north, the thrilling beauty of this perpetually fascinating island is on full display in all directions.

The building is a simple, modernist design with a flexible interior and plenty of outdoor space designed to capture the region in all its glory without ever sacrificing seclusion and tranquillity.

Sold fully furnished, just as seen in our video and photographs, Villa Gioiosa Marea is a convenient and very fairly-priced opportunity to buy a sea-view villa in Sicily without any of the hassle of renovation or refurbishing. Keep on reading to find out more.

The Property

The villa is arranged on three levels and has two independent entrances. The larger apartment is upstairs on the first floor, reached by an external staircase that curves upwards in the shade of some leafy Mediterranean greenery. A terrace wraps around the building on both sides and to the rear.

On this floor you will find a living room and a kitchen-diner, joined via a broad archway in a classically modern Sicilian arrangement. This long, versatile space is comfortably big enough for all the family to relax and enjoy meals and evenings together, on the rare occasions when the weather doesn’t make al-fresco dining the favoured option.

The living area is focused around a closed fireplace, which provides the property with heat and also contributes towards the heating of water, and a full-length double window with a Juliet balcony facing down the valley towards the sea. The matching pair of cosy sofas and the large dressers are all, of course, included in the sale price.

Through the archway in the kitchen you will find a fully-fitted cooking space with cupboards and all appliances, including an oven, gas hob, fridge-freezer and dishwasher. The hardwood dining table can comfortably seat six. French windows lead out to the side terrace that offers a lateral sea view. Everything is modern and in great condition.

A pair of double bedrooms are on either side of the bathroom, where at the end of a long day you can relax in the comfort of the hydromassage jets of the jacuzzi tub. Each bedroom is amply room, with a garden view and plenty of storage space.

Upstairs, a small utility room with a spectacular view opens onto the huge open roof terrace. Afforded privacy by the tops of the trees whose leaves encircle it in three sides, this vast space is the perfect vantage point from which to savour the panorama, soak up the rays of Sicily’s 300-plus annual days of sunshine, or dine underneath the stars in romantic style.

On the ground floor is a long, thin studio apartment with a sofa bed. A fully-fitted kitchenette makes this a fine base for a self-catering holiday apartment if you see the villa as an investment in Sicily’s lucrative vacation rental market, this would be a perfect base for a solo traveller or couple to explore the region on a budget.

The studio apartment has a small bathroom with a shower, as well as boasting an air conditioning unit and direct access onto the largest of the villa’s terraces, immersed in tropical greenery.

Villa Gioiosa Marea is built on a plot of of 1,100m2, planted with an assortment of cherry, fig, chestnut and olive trees as well as ornamental plants. There is enough space if you want to cultivate a small vegetable garden. The current owners have installed a large above-ground pool to the left side of the house, which could also be replaced by a permanent pool.

The windows and doors are modern and efficient, with double glazing and external shutters. The property is connected to the main municipal infrastructure for water and sewerage, meaning that you avoid the maintenance, filling and draining of any kind of personal tanks. This is a great advantage the villa offers over a lot of comparable homes in rural and small-town southern Italy. It enjoys excellent mobile coverage and internet speeds over 100mb/second.

There are radiators in the living room and bedrooms, and air conditioning in the lounge as well as the studio, making this large sea-view villa in Sicily completely suitable as a year-round home if you plan on relocating to the island.

Surroundings

The property is less than 3 km from the centre of Gioiosa Marea, where you’ll find a friendly community of around five thousand inhabitants. As you’d expect there are supermarkets, bars, restaurants and all the main amenities and shops you’d need for daily life, besides of course long stretches of beach and ultra-clear bathing waters. The views at sea level are no less impressive than those from above, taking in the Aeolian Islands, which are easy to see on sunny days.

The little district of Santa Lucia is linked to the nearby motorway by a beautiful state road in the countryside, flanked for long stretches by dramatic sea views – the kind of driving roads that wouldn’t be out of place on a commercial for Alfa Romeo or some equally sophisticated Italian sports car. From here there is a local access road which isn’t in perfect condition, but is definitely navigable.

The nearest city of significant size is Messina, an hour away by road. From here a short ferry takes you to the toe of the Italian peninsula. Both Catania and Palermo, home to Sicily’s two most important international airports, are around two hours’ drive. The glamorous beach resorts of Taormina and Cefalù are both within easy reach.

Potential

Villa Gioiosa Marea is an excellent investment, a sea-view villa in Sicily with a beautiful location and in excellent condition. Built just over a decade ago it seems, if anything, even younger. Both inside and outside, everything is perfectly maintained and tastefully furnished. Remembering that everything shown in our photographs and video are included in the sale price, there is tremendous value for money on offer here.

The construction and decorative materials which have been used are of excellent quality, with flawless terracotta tiles are perfect, well-equipped bathrooms and hardwood kitchen suites. The only investment that will be required for several years is normal maintenance.

The terrace on the second floor and the uncovered patio on the first floor are, we feel, a little underused at present, but could easily be equipped with barbecues, sofas and awnings. With a small bit of outdoor furniture you will be able to really maximise your to enjoyment of that magnificent view in the company of a large number of friends and family. You might also be able to find a better use for that lovely top floor utility room.

The obvious rental potential of the villa is something we mentioned earlier – but did you know that we offer a property management service as part of our extensive range of after-sales care options for new purchasers? Whether you want the benefit of our marketing expertise or just a hand with managing cleaning, check-ins and maintenance of the pool and gardens, we can help you find reliable and professional staff in the area to safeguard your investment.

If, on the other hand, you see Villa Gioiosa Marea as a home for your retirement or a new working life on Sicily, our popular Welcome to Sicily package will help you navigate everything from changing utilities into your name to registering your residency with the municipality. With some significant tax breaks on offer for newcomers to the Italian south, there has never been a better time to make the move to the sunshine.

Contact us today by phone or email with any enquiries you may have about Villa Gioiosa Marea.