Property Description

Fabulous Three-bedroom Family Villa with Swimming Pool in Sicily’s Madonie Park

From the moment you pass through the automatic gates of Villa Macaluso, following its colourful flower-line driveway past the gleaming dome covering the turquoise swimming pool, the pristine lawn and the cacti and tropical foliage neatly screening off the ample parking space, you start to relax.

In a market filled with renovation projects and headlines pushing ‘€1 houses in Sicily’, this is a luxurious, beautifully finished villa big enough to sleep eight guests if needed, in complete comfort. Without having to pay anywhere near the sums required to buy similar property in Cefalù, Taormina or Syracusa, this luxury villa in Sicily can be yours.

Facing east to capture the beauty of the morning sunshine all year round, the views from Villa Macaluso are tranquil and perfectly relaxing. With the nearby town of Collesano to the south and the hilltop town of Gratteri perched neatly on the skyline to the north-east, there is a sense of rural seclusion without having to sacrifice the comfort and practicality of town life.

Offering a total of 200 m2 of internal space, plus a 65m2 warehouse, 2800m2 of land this is a dream for the kind of purchaser who wants to make the move to Sicily to enjoy the magical culture, legendary cuisine and stunning natural beauty of this special island.

The villa with swimming pool is listed for sale partially furnished, the owners will leave the kitchen and utility room as they are, as well as the large bookcase in the living room. The rest of the property will be delivered empty.

The Property

The ground floor of Villa Macaluso is the sleeping area, with a trio of large bedrooms, two bathrooms and a walk-in closet off the master bedroom. The larger bathroom contains both a free-standing tub and a shower. All open onto the gardens, protected from the strongest sun by a wooden awning. There is also a vast open-plan living space, used partly as a playroom, craft workshop, lounge and extra dining area.

Upstairs, a smaller but still very sizable living room offers a more formal space. It opens onto one of the many terraces, and is also punctuated at its far end by a cosy-looking open fireplace. Other terraces wrap almost entirely around the building, upstairs and down, offering wonderful views, especially from the upper level. Here you will also find a large family kitchen, fitted with an oven, gas hob, extractor fan, dishwasher and plenty of cupboard space.

Absolutely everything has been finished to the highest standard, from the gleaming tiled floors and quality light fixtures to the neat plastering on the walls.

Heating comes from with gas-powered radiators, and there is air conditioning present. The roof, windows, shutters and solid wooden doors (both external and internal) are all in great condition. Drinking water and electricity both come from the municipal mains, and there is a private well which provides additional water for irrigation. Drainage is into an Imhof septic tank.

Outdoors, the swimming pool measures a little under 4m x 8m, and is covered by a stylish and practical dome. This not only keeps maintenance work (and costs) down to an absolute minimum, with the sparkling water kept clear of foliage and insects. There is less water lost to evaporation, and the temperature is kept inviting for at least six months of the year.

The lawn is in great shape, planted with a strain of Bermuda grass that is perfectly adapted for the soil and climatic conditions of the region. The estate is dotted with a wide range of fruit trees, including oranges, lemons, tangerines, mulberries, figs, peaches, plums and pomegranate. There are grapevines, and around 60 beautiful olive trees, yielding a sizable harvest of stunningly good quality oil every year.

Surroundings

Villa Macaluso is almost directly on the provincial road which runs from Collesano down to the beachfront town of Campofelice, the building itself set in fact about 95m from the road, keeping noise to a very minimal level.  Each of these towns would be almost exactly a ten minute drive from your new front door.

The road itself is a part of motor sport folklore, forming part of the route of the legendary Targa Florio rally, the world’s first ever motor race. An elite level rally in it’s 1960’s heyday, the modern Targa is still contested, but the star attraction for many is the classic car event. Collesano is justly proud of its place in auto sport history, and a museum to the rally is found in the centre of the town.

Collesano is a vibrant and active town of several thousand inhabitants, amongst which are a number of recent arrivals from the UK, USA, France, Germany and Switzerland. These have been drawn to the south of Europe by a mix of smart working, retirement and the irresistible value for money to be found here thanks to the tax breaks and subsidies offered for relocating to the island. A diverse group, they are nonetheless an active addition to the community, making this a wonderful choice for first-time buyers in Italy. If you haven’t yet mastered the language, this friendly bunch will be quick to make you feel at home.

The Madonie Park is a beautiful landscape, the last mountain range in the huge chain which curves down the Italian peninsula from the Alps. The highest peaks are above the snowline in winter – did you know that you can actually ski and snowboard in Sicily? In the long languid summer and the moderate spring and autumn, it is a paradise for nature lovers and outdoorsy types of all kinds, drawn by the rare species of flora and fauna, the superb hiking and trekking opportunities and of course those dreamy driving roads.

At sea level you will find the island’s most exciting holiday resort, Cefalú. The fishing community in the lea of an iconic rocky outcrop is famed for its golden sands, UNESCO-protected cathedral and Medieval old town. Lately brought to new audiences by its starring roles in the likes of the newest Indiana Jones film and HBO’s The White Lotus, it is a real gem.

The huge metropolis of Palermo is just an hour to the west – the most convenient international airport and also a city of a thousand cultural and culinary riches. Italy’s fifth largest city is finally shedding the stereotypes of a troubled twentieth century and reinventing itself as a centre for business and tourism.

All of the island’s major cities and attractions can be reached within a few hours.

Potential

The villa itself is immaculately maintained, with no structural issues or obvious need for work to be done.

If you are considering a permanent move to Sicily, you may be interested in our after-sale care packages. The dedicated and friendly Property in Sicily team will be at your side throughout the settling-in process to help you with everything from registering your residence at the municipality to getting the utilities switched into your name.

It might also be in your interest to consider changing your tax residence to Italy, even if you do not plan to be resident here in your wonderful villa – with swimming pool outside to enjoy – all year round. The financial incentives on offer to new arrivals who bring pension income or smart-working wages to the island are eye-catching, to say the least.