Property Description

Escape Rising Energy Costs in this Solar-powered Villa with Pool in West Sicily

This huge, thirteen room villa with private pool is a magical combination of the historic and state-of-the-art. Dating back to the early 1900s, it has the timeless bones of a Sicilian country house, but has undergone a total renovation which has left it pristine, sturdy and sustainable.

The original construction, in locally-sourced tufa limestone, has been given a thorough facelift, beautifully accented with hardwood beams and sturdy mahogany-coloured shutters on the outside, and high-tech solutions for design and comfort within.

With a wonderful position on Sicily’s underappreciated west coast, a few kilometres from the stately merchant town of Marsala and in an area that offers complete serenity and seclusion, this escape to the heights of another era is the perfect backdrop for a large family getaway in the sun. If you’ve ever dreamt of buying property in Sicily, this solar-powered villa with pool and gardens offers superb value and a long-term incentive in the form of its energy efficiency.

The Property

The single-storey property spreads across a vast 300m2 of internal space, including four bedrooms and five bathrooms. The baroque floor plan sees the rooms interlink with a natural flow, uninterrupted by corridors or passageways, and the rooms are large and high-ceilinged, with the vaulted roof of the spacious living room a particular highlight. The design really maximises the potential of the villa’s impressive footprint, making it feel stately but never staid.

Up overhead, a vast terrace has been created, from which you can take in a panoramic view of the low-lying surrounding countryside. The enticing islands of the Egadi archipelago loom in the middle distance, rising from the calm waters of the Stagnone lagoon which separates them from the mainland. The only space of the flat roof not dedicated to relaxing and enjoying the uninterrupted sunshine is given over to the solar panels which help deliver clean, renewable energy to the property.

The grounds of Villa Marco cover over 3000m2, and have been planted with a range of characteristic local greenery, including, of course, olive trees cacti and carob. The warm shades of the umber earth balance the greens and blues above , while the unobtrusive sandy masonry of the villa’s exterior contrasts with the pristine white plaster of the interiors. The entire estate is fenced, with an electric gate leading onto the driveway.

The crown jewel of the estate is of course the newly-installed swimming pool, which alone represents an investment of €50,000 on the part of the vendor. Framed by a sleek modern deck, this 60m2 expanse of inviting turquoise is the perfect way to start a summer morning or cool off after a day’s work or sightseeing.

As we mentioned above, sustainability was of paramount importance during the restoration of Villa Marco, and the results are impressive. Photovoltaic panels on the roof and in the garden combine to deliver a hefty 30 kWh of power through the Tessin electrical system. The fortunate buyer will be able to enjoy almost total energy independence at a time when this has never been more valuable. The estimated annual save in summer 2022 was €7-10,000, and as any news bulletin will tell you, that will only increase over time.

The insulation is top notch, and the double-glazed Nurith brand windows are top quality and durable. A Saunier & Duval air conditioning system will both cool the property in summer and heat it efficiently in the mild Sicilian winters. Outside there is even a charging port for electric vehicles.  The property has, unsurprisingly, been given the highest possible A4 energy class.

There is a private well on the property, although it is also connected to the municipal water main. Similarly, for the rare occasions when the on-site generators don’t cover your needs, you will get provision from the regional electric grid. An Imhoff sceptic tank takes care of waste water. Finally, for the benefit of home workers and large families, a high speed fibre-optic internet connection delivers data at a whopping 250MB/sec.

Surroundings

The beautiful waters of the sea of Sicily are only two kilometres east of Villa Marco, which stands midway between the beach and the SS115 motorway. This connects Trapani and Marsala, the two great cities of Western Sicily.

The centre of historic Marsala, no more than ten minutes away by car, is one of Italy’s oenological capitals, its fortified wine can be dry but is best known as a sweet desert delicacy. The small city of around 80,000 inhabitants is noted for some majestic baroque palazzos and churches, but also to all the amenities you would expect, including hospitals, schools and leisure facilities.

Closer to home, the area around Villa Marco is mostly residential, a mix of permanently occupied family homes and summer properties belonging to seasonal arrivals from Italy’s major cities and further afield. You’ll find plenty of local shops and bars in this fashionable neighbourhood.

Visitors are drawn by the sheltered waters of the Stagnone beach, the excellent kite-surfing opportunities and the peace and quiet which the area has to offer. The nearby Egadi islands are a short boat ride away, across a fabulous stretch of calm blue sea. The Stagnone Nature Reserve is a stunning, protected site where rare wildlife thrives, amidst the evocative skyline of salt pans and windmills. The sunsets are absolutely fabulous.

The nearest airport, known as Trapani-Birghi but in reality slightly closer to Marsala is just a couple of kilometres to the North, and could not be any more convenient if you are fortunate enough to be heading to or arriving from one of their destinations. If not, the larger facility west of Palermo is only an hour away.

Potential

Needless to say, after such a comprehensive renovation there is no work needed to make Villa Marco a comfortable family home. It’s perfect for a large family and would make an excellent base if you are planning to relocate to Sicily, but there is also more than enough touristic interest in the region to justify purchasing the property as a business venture. It’s not hard to imagine how many green-minded visitors will be drawn to the idea of holidaying in a solar-powered villa with pool facilities.

The spacious villa would certainly be dividable into two smaller apartments, and creative furnishing could increase the combined sleeping capacity to 12 or even 14.

If you’re planning to make Villa Marco your permanent base, or even just to spend more than 180 days a year in Italy, you may be very pleasantly surprised by some of the tax incentives on offer to new arrivals. Whether this is a base for a new business venture or a retirement home in the sun, you could find yourself in a very strong position if you decide to make your residence here.

Of course, our friendly multilingual team is on hand to help with any logistical issues that arise throughout this process. Our popular Welcome to Italy package is a consummate concierge service for new arrivals, offering assistance with everything from registering with utility companies to sorting residency paperwork. We’ll even set you up with a local SIM card for your mobile phone. Get in touch today to discover more.