Property Description

Affordable, Perfectly Located Two-Bedroom Apartment in Erice’s Old Town

In the pedestrianised heart of one of Italy’s most beautiful hilltop communities, this two-bedroom apartment in Erice’s Old Town is on the second and top floor of a terraced townhouse. The historic stone-built structure dates back to the early twentieth century, although it was comprehensively renovated by the current owner after their purchase of the property in 2002. Our team were immediately charmed by its location and character, and we’re sure you will be too.

Despite the position in the midst of the historic centre, the overriding sensation in this welcoming, bright home is one of comfort and safety. Just a couple of flights of stairs are enough to bring you to the level of the surrounding rooftops, with partial sea views and balconies that show you the huge Sicilian sky up above the curved clay tiles and wrought iron balconies.

The sea air comes from the coast that is 750m below you and just a few kilometres away as the crow flies, to the north and west. The baroque historic centre of Trapani is just downhill, the glorious islands of the Egadi archipelago a short boat ride away, and the ancient temple and amphitheatre of Segesta are within easy reach inland. This is Sicily at her most varied and mesmerising: nature, history and culture in perfect unison.

Casa Sara is great for a couple but easily able to host two more visitors in the guest room. Your visitors will adore the unique experience of a morning coffee or evening aperitivo on the roof terrace, with it’s beautiful sea views. This – and indeed the entire building – is shared with only one other apartment. Even better, the other owner only visits for a few weeks a year. The rest of the time you’ll have the spacious entrance hallway, marble staircase and that lovely rooftop spot entirely to yourself.

Whether you want to move to Sicily to find a relaxing base for a well-earned retirement or an inspiring backdrop to a smart-working career, all ages will find something here to be charmed by. Investors looking for a property to rent to tourists will never be short of interest in this fabulous medieval town.

This is a beautifully convenient way to buy a home in Sicily. Casa Sara is sold fully-furnished, meaning that you can purchase the property as a pied-a-terre in the Mediterranean without needing to worry about moving or shopping for furniture. Here’s what you’ll be buying…

The Property

The apartment measures 70m2, plus the trio of balconies. There is no lift, but a fairly wide marble staircase is in good condition and well-lit from a glazed double door on the first floor landing. This opens to a communal courtyard.

Once you pass through the front door of the flat, a little lobby opens in three directions, to the kitchen, master bedroom and a further passageway. The marbled floor is typical of Sicilian town houses, and this continues into both the kitchen and corridor. In the latter, a pellet-burning stove generates heat which spreads fairly well throughout the home. This space is internal but gets natural light from a window at the top of a light shaft above.

The long, well-sized kitchen has a practical worktop and double sink. Cupboards underneath this are finished in irregularly chequered tile pattern which continues up into the backsplash. There is a wooden dining table and four matching chairs. A fridge-freezer, washing machine and oven with gas hobs are all, as we mentioned above, included in the sale. There is a tall dresser with TV by the side of a nice window with a partial sea view, and this spreads light throughout the white room. A useful little larder has been created in an open alcove at the other end.

The floors of the bedrooms and living room are a more unusual brown and white tile. This is very nice, adding a bit of character (they date from the 1950s) and a warming colour which has the tone of wood, whilst being much easier to clean and maintain. The living room has a beautiful hardwood desk, a comfortable sofa and one of the small balconies.

The master bedroom has been furnished with an elegant iron bedstead, a floor to ceiling double wardrobe, a chest of drawers and twin bedside tables. The guest bedroom one has a simple bed frame and little armchair. A dresser in the corridor can be used for extra clothes storage.  Both bedrooms have their own balconies.

The bathroom is a practical size, with a simple matching white suite of a sink, WC, bidet and box shower. Sky blue and white tile remind you that you’re by the sea.

The flat roof of this apartment in Erice’s old town offers you some fantastic sea views. The owner of the other apartment also has the right to use this, but you won’t have to share it often.

The front windows were replaced in 2002, with aluminium frames and internal shutters. They have insulated double-glazing to keep heat out in summer and in during the winter months. The Internal doors are from the 1940s, very characterful and made of solid wood. A simple refurbishment will return them to the original splendor.

All of the paperwork and planning permits for the property are in order and accurate.

Surroundings

Erice is an enchanting medieval town, renowned as the ‘City of Venus and Peace’. With a rich history dating back thousands of years to its original bronze age settlers, Erice’s natural fortress-like location overlooking Trapani’s harbour and its breathtaking views have made it a timeless haven for many of the numerous cultures which have called Sicily home. The castle adds a spectacular element to the rocky outcrop’s distinctive skyline.

Erice’s captivating heritage comes to life in the ancient Temple of Venus, where worship evolved over the ages. The Phoenicians worshipped the goddess Astarte here, the Greeks knew her as Aphrodite and the Romans named her Venere, or Venus.

Later, the Royal Cathedral (Chiesa Madre) added a new architectural marvel, seamlessly blending Norman and Gothic styles. With its exquisite frescoes and captivating vaulted ceilings, it’s a place of both religious and artistic significance, offering a window into Erice’s cultural and spiritual history.

Today’s Erice retains that an enchanting sense of history, with its cobblestone streets, charming small shops, and inviting eateries. However, it is easily connected to the more modern world of Trapani below, by road and a cable car with incredible views. Residents of the old town can use this to get up and down the mountainside for a hugely discounted fee of just two Euros for a return trip – 80% cheaper than non-locals pay.

If you prefer to explore on foot, you’ll find surrounding countryside radiating peace and serenity for miles. Walkable roads, scenic footpaths, forest trails and open hillsides all lead you to natural beauty and breathtaking sea views.

The community is close-knit and tremendously proud of their town – eager to welcome new neighbours and visitors alike. If you’re a writer, poet, painter, reader or artist, this is a glorious place to live. Even scientists will find stimulation at the Ettore Majorana Centre for Scientific Culture.

From the trio of street-facing balconies, the gentle murmur of those friendly locals and Erice’s spellbound visitors drifts up from the cobbled streets below. Stepping outside, a fantastic mix of languages greets you from the people walking and speaking in different languages, milling in and out of the shops selling souvenirs and local handicrafts shops located on the ground floor of the building. Yet Erice is also a truly local place, steeped in Sicilian traditions.

Delicious scents reach you from every direction. Once moment it’s your new neighbours preparing a delicious home-cooked feast. The next the local bakers at the local landmark of the Pasticceria del Convento, found right at the bottom of your road, are preparing the town’s famous sweet delicacy, genovesi filled pastries. The only thing you won’t smell is petrol, with no cars at all able to reach this ancient part of town. If you want to step outside of the day-to-day and into somewhere truly different and magical, Casa Sara is right where you want to be.

Everything you’ll need for daily life is right around the corner. A pharmacy is almost directly opposite. Groceries, fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and fish can all be bought in small stores where you’ll get to know the locals as you stock up the kitchen cupboards. The town’s main piazza and town hall are just around the corner.

Potential

The Apartment is completely habitable. However, there is still room to make it even better. We would recommend you to repaint with a high quality anti-condensation coating, to keep cleaning work to a minimum, especially if you’re not going to live there full time. While it would be sad to lose those old tiles, a buyer might want to install a new floating floor. These changes could be realised for under five thousand euros.

Those old doors would look even better stripped of the old paint and refinished. If you’re not into DIY this could be done to a high quality for around €1000. The bathroom’s door needs to be replaced at some point.

There is no air-conditioning, which is not essential with the elevation. However, if you are going to relocate here full time then inverter units, which can effectively cool, heat and dehumidify, would be a solid investment, at about €1,000 each including installation and certification.

The electrical system and water system are in good working order, but they should be checked to see if they need to be updated.

A table with chairs and sail canopy on the roof top would make it a perfect spot to read, relax or share some food and drink with friends. On your way up you’ll notice that the roof over the staircase outside the apartment needs a bit of restoration, and this will cost around €3,000.

For a total investment that wouldn’t buy you a studio apartment in many areas which can only dream of the beauty and magic of Erice, Casa Sara is a wonderful investment with potential for significant appreciation in the future. Ask us more about our latest apartment in Erice’s old town today.