Property Description

Rare Chance to Buy a Renovated Holiday Home in Mondello! Stylish Two-bedroom Property Eight Minutes from Palermo’s Most Famous Beach

Recently renovated, this two-storey terraced townhouse is found in a quiet residential side street just a few minutes’ walk from one of Sicily’s hottest beach spots. With two bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms, it is a fantastic option for a family who want a year-round holiday home in the sun, or a savvy investor who wants to get into the region’s rock-solid tourist market.

Built in the late 1950s, the structure was redeveloped to create a little terrace of houses, of which Casa Paolino is one of the central pair. In common with its neighbours it is single-fronted, but deep and very bright – with full length windows to the front and rear.

It is found in the neighbourhood of Mondello, a short trip from the centre of Sicily’s biggest and most important city, Palermo. As the biggest and best sandy beach on this stretch of coastline it is a magnet for local families who want to cool off in the stunningly clear water. Indeed, besides its natural attractions, the community is famous for the beautiful art deco villas which can be found on almost every street, the legacy of the period around a hundred year ago when the rich and famous of the Sicilian capital would use their considerable means to build themselves holiday homes by the sea.

77m2 of internal space is a little smaller than those aristocrats and captains of industry might have demanded, but with a very efficient use of space and little gardens both to the front and rear it’s certainly enough to make for a comfortable stay for up to four people, and very fair value given the intense demand for land so close to this famous beach.

The Property

Towering 4m ceilings and plenty of window glass really help to maximise the floor plan of this loft-style apartment. The brickwork on one wall has been left partially uncovered and the metal spiral staircase really puts one in mind of Berlin or New York more than the Mediterranean.

The ground floor is one long open space, with a lounge area for relaxation at the front, space for a dining table next to the staircase and a really well-finished modern kitchen at the rear. The quality of these units, as well as details like the large, smooth ceramic tiles underfoot give an instant feeling of quality workmanship and durability. The ground floor is completed by a small WC next to the patio doors.

The two bedrooms upstairs are both doubles of approximately 15m2. One is currently configured as a twin, but would also fit a double bed. The one at the back of the property is slightly smaller, with a window looking onto greenery growing from the garden of the house to the rear. The front room is a bit bigger with street view facing north.

Each has an identical en-suite bathroom. Cleverly designed with one-way glass, although these are internal they are extremely well lit and open-feeling, without sacrificing any privacy. Walk-in showers and full wall tiling in stylish slabs continue the feeling of money well spent on work that will last for many years.

The little front yard is currently bare but fenced with a security gate for your complete peace of mind. The back garden is fenced with a light wood in a Scandinavian style. It’s big enough to hold a dining table around which four people can enjoy a meal al fresco. A total of 26m2 of outdoor space is divided fairly evenly between these two areas.

The windows are in metal with double glazing. Air conditioning units are present in all rooms, and there is all the infrastructure in place to install radiators if you would like to – you would only need to add the boiler and plates. For now a small water heater provides the home’s hot water.

Casa Paolino is connected to the municipal infrastructure for water, electricity and sewage system. Mondello has fibre optic internet cables and the mobile internet signal is very strong. A couple would be very comfortably able to work from here if they wanted to, and even have space to host guests – you would certainly have no trouble convincing people to pay you a visit!

Surroundings

We could wax lyrical about the charms of Mondello for days, from the fine dining on its beautiful Liberty-style pier to the spectacular green hills that frame the bay. The nature reserve of Capo Gallo rises up to the north and Monte Pellegrino, which separates the district from the centre of Palermo, to the south.

Despite its proximity to the beach and local amenities, the immediate neighbourhood of Casa Paolino is not a busy one. You certainly don’t get traffic noise, and the nightlife and beach clubs are our of earshot. However, whether you want practicality or entertainment, it’s all just a stone’s throw away.

The beach is an eight minute walk. A convenience store right around the corner sells everything you need on a day-to day basis, and you’ll find a big supermarket just a kilometre away. There are plenty of other food shops, a pharmacy and some little restaurants within a similar radius.

To get into downtown Palermo is a fifteen minute drive, or you can take a bus that will have you there in half an hour. It’s very manageable by bike or electric scooter. For a full guide to the fascinating historic city and everything it has to offer, check out our complete introduction to Palermo.

Falcone-Borsellino international airport is just 20 minutes away, making this an outstanding choice for a buyer who needs to come and go on a regular basis. These days you can even fly intercontinentally from here, with direct routes to the US on offer in the summer months.

Potential

Absolutely no work that needs to be done on Casa Paolino, you will be able to move in as soon as it has been furnished. On that note, while the asking price includes only the fittings in the kitchen and bathrooms, the seller has told us that they would consider reasonable offers for the furniture. So if you like the look of the rest of the décor and want to move in the most convenient, quickest way possible, ask us for more details.

If you are planning to rent the apartment out as a holiday home, we would love to put you in touch with our sister company, Solemar Sicilia. They have been marketing and managing vacation properties for many years and can certainly help you maximise the return on your investment and minimise your logistical workload. Bear in mind that the going rate for a property like this in high season is pushing €1500/week: if you’re not going to live full time on the island you would be able to earn extremely well while life keeps you elsewhere. Get in touch with our friendly multilingual team today to find out more.