Property Description

Casa Luciano – Sea-view Property for Sale near Taormina; Two Bedrooms and Two Fantastic Terraces in Idyllic Village where The Godfather was Filmed

If you closed your eyes and imagined living in a Sicilian village in the middle of the last century, you couldn’t possibly conjure up a more charming and enticing setting than Casa Luciano. It has cobbled streets and magnificent sea views, terracotta tiles and bare rock walls, sunshine all day and complete peace at night.

The two-bedroom house in the timeless hilltop village of Forza d’Agrò is in need of some restoration work, but has such character that you’ll hardly want to change a thing that’s on display. Sold with all furniture and contents, it is a classic gem at a very modest price.

The location is incredible. Forza d’Agrò is such a perfect example of traditional Sicily that when Francis Ford Coppola realised that the town of Corleone had become too modern to use as a shooting location for his Mafia epic The Godfather, he cast it as a substitute location, shooting exterior scenes here along with the neighbouring village of Savoca.

Less than a kilometre inland but 380m above sea level, the town has unbeatable sea views, and Casa Luciano takes full advantage of this. The first floor balcony and especially the pair of rooftop terraces showcase the dramatic beauty of Sicily’s spectacular east coast, with the peninsula where you’ll find the world-famous resort of Taormina visible seven kilometres to the south. Property for sale near Taormina often carries a premium price, but here the value is clear.

You can get down to the sea in ten minutes, taking the winding road down to the sandy beach of Sant’Alessio Siculo or the quieter shingle of Forza d’Agrò’s own cove.

The realities of modern economics and the relative impracticality of living in a pedestrian-only district have meant that the upper area of the town saw it’s population drop sharply over the past half century. However, the beauty and character of the place has seen a rise in international arrivals who are bringing it back to life.

Here, built into the rock itself and offering a stunning escape from the pressures and stresses of the modern world, we find Casa Luciano.

The Property

The facade is typical of this period, with the external drainpipe in terracotta a lovely addition. Stepping inside, an open living room covers the whole of the ground floor, a fireplace making it a cosy space in winter and a chimney helping carry the heat up to the bedrooms. Terracotta floor tiles, low wooden ceilings and patches of exposed masonry on the walls all add to the picturesque charm. Three windows on two sides and a glazed front door bring in natural light.

A narrow staircase leads past a bathroom with a unique shower that has the back wall made of natural rock. On the first floor are a pair of double bedrooms, the larger of which has a sea-view balcony above the front door. A second, more modern-looking bathroom has also been added, with a conventional shower cubicle.

The top floor is a real joy in summer. The space flows fluidly from the kitchen area into a dining space and a sun room, and out onto the pair of beautiful terraces. The kitchen is finished in colourful local tiles, and has another one of those bare rock face walls, reinforcing the unique character of Casa Luciano.

A smaller terrace off the kitchen has great sea views, and the larger one is a sun trap throughout the day. With the convenient access it’s an unbeatable spot for an al fresco meal. Nobody who visits this timeless property for sale near Taormina will ever forget the experience.

Surroundings

The land here was inhabited ten thousand years ago by the indigenous Sicani people, but the modern settlement dates back to the eleventh century reign of Roger I, who built a castle here which still partly stands today.

As we mentioned above, in this part of the village you can only get around on foot. Obviously this is wonderful from the point of view of noise pollution, simplicity and charm, but obviously it can have its drawbacks. The cobbled streets are also quite uneven – it’s not a great pick for anyone with mobility issues. The nearest parking spaces are 250m away on Piazza Cammareri.

Closer to home, just a minute from your front door is a little convenience store but for big expenses you’ll need to drive down to the supermarket in Sant’Alessio, just 5km away.

The beautiful old town of Taormina, recently showcased in the HBO mini-series The White Lotus, is a half hour drive along the coast. The ancient Greek amphitheatre here, with views of the smouldering Mount Etna, hosts concerts, operas and a film festival in the summer. A world-leading centre for tourism, the town also hosted the world’s leaders at a G7 summit as recently as 2017.

Further afield, the cities of Messina and Catania can be reached in an hour. The latter is home to the nearest international airport.

Potential

While some of the charm of Casa Luciano is in its age and condition, you will certainly need to replace a few things. The windows and doors would be a good starting place, and the bathrooms could benefit from some modern fittings. The electricity and plumbing will both need attention, too.

The roof is twenty years old and will need maintenance rather than anything more dramatic. We believe that an investment of about €30,000 above the purchase price will bring out the full potential of this unique and heart-warming home. Feel free to ask us any questions you may have, and remember that we even offer a post-sale project management service to take care of restoration work on your behalf. You can see some of our testimonials on this site.

If you don’t plan on moving full time to Sicily, the location’s natural beauty and its connection to the world of cinema guarantee a strong revenue stream as a holiday rental. Property for sale near Taormina always comes with the possibility to recoup big chunks of your outlay when you’re not able to stay there in person. Our sister company, Solemar Sicilia, has decades of experience in this field and would be delighted to help with publicity or any advice you may need.