Casa Alessandra – Isnello

• 7 Rooms

• 2 Bathroom

• 93 m²

• 3rd

Charming Townhouse With Mountain Views from the Roof Terrace, 10km from Cefalù in the Madonie Natural Park

In the heart of Isnello, a picturesque village 550m above sea level in the wonderful Madonie Natural Park, Casa Alessandra offers a rare capacity for town houses in these traditional Sicilian villages, sleeping six guests comfortably across three bedrooms. Fully renovated and sold furnished, it is an excellent choice for families or groups of friends seeking a holiday retreat with mountain views close to Cefalù - especially if a quick and convenient purchase process is amongst your priorities.

The property comes with kitchen equipment (both historic and modern), appliances and carefully selected furniture throughout. From the wrought iron transom window over the front door to the traditional wood-burning oven in the top floor kitchen, every element of this home has been thoughtfully restored. It will be waiting for you from the moment the sale is completed, with gas heating, double-glazed windows and modern fittings.

We love Casa Alessandra for its combination of practicality and charm. The five-floor layout offers surprising space and versatility, culminating in a panoramic roof terrace where you can enjoy breakfast overlooking the neighbouring rooftops and the dramatic mountain scenery beyond. Whether you're seeking a ready made holiday home with some rental potential or planning to move full time to Sicily, this is a home that requires no further investment to enjoy.

The Property

Cobbled streets and quaint piazzas lead you to the front door of Casa Alessandra, which is nicely framed in brickwork with a wrought iron window letting extra light in. The facade is in good condition, with well-maintained plaster giving the home a welcoming presence on the quiet and neighbourly Via Isonzo.

The property's clever vertical design makes excellent use of the slope of the street. You can enter the semi-basement level twin bedroom directly from the street at the lower end of the building. An internal spiral staircase connects this space to the rest of the home, though the front door also brings you straight into this ground floor living room.

This might be our favourite of the indoor spaces, made fabulously homely by neat tiling underfoot, an open fireplace and a radiator that keeps things comfortable in cooler months. It's furnished with a comfortable sofa and armchairs. A sturdy modern window floods the space with light while keeping heat inside. A little rustic wooden door leads to the spiral staircase, while the main one is tucked away at the back of the building. A compact guest WC, very nicely finished in white tile, completes this level.

Climbing to the first floor, you'll find the master bedroom finished in exactly the same style as the living room, with matching floors and windows. A small balcony offers a lateral view of the nearby rocky cliff face and makes a great spot to take in some fresh mountain air on warm mornings.

The second floor houses another bedroom with two more bunk beds and an identical balcony. A narrow family bathroom on this level features a box shower and an eye-catching checkerboard floor.

The top floor is the other spot where Casa Alessandra really shines. The kitchen-diner has a cabin-like feel, with exposed wooden roof timbers picking up the light tones of the cupboards and drawers below. The kitchen itself is unmistakably Sicilian in style, with characteristic fixed units that are built-in and tiled. The centrepiece is a magnificent fixed wood-burning oven which gives the space tremendous character and will make meal times feel special.

Large French windows open directly onto the roof terrace, flooding the kitchen with natural light and creating a seamless indoor-outdoor living experience. The terrace itself is a wonderful space, looking over many of the neighbouring rooftops and taking in the mountain views close to Cefalù. It's the perfect spot for breakfast on a sunny morning or an outdoor dinner on a warm summer evening.

The property is connected to municipal water and drainage systems as well as the electricity grid. Gas heating is provided by a boiler with radiators in every room. Double-glazed PVC windows with a wood effect finish are installed throughout, along with mosquito screens. An intercom system connects all floors.

Surroundings

Casa Alessandra sits on the western edge of Isnello, a peaceful village in the Madonie mountains. The entire village is walkable, with everything you might need within ten minutes at an easy pace. You'll find bars, small shops, a pharmacy, post office and even a little school. The neighbourhood is well-kept, with door-to-door recycling managed efficiently.

Isnello has a surprisingly active local feel compared to some of its neighbouring villages. It's more lively than Gratteri and in many ways comparable to Collesano. The village is known for its churches, little squares and summer community events. There's also a strong local interest in wild herbs and related cultural initiatives.

A real highlight of life in Isnello is GAL Hassin, the International Centre for Astronomical Sciences. This research-focused astronomy centre has strong public outreach, offering guided visits, planetarium experiences and scientific observation sessions. There's even an excellent bistro on site, making it perfect for a special day out.

The beaches and restaurants of Cefalù are just at the bottom of the hill, reachable in not much more than 20 minutes. The town's golden sandy beach is overlooked by a dramatic rocky outcrop, while the medieval old town is home to an Arab-Norman cathedral that forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more evening atmosphere and buzz, the lively town of Castelbuono is 12km away, about 15 minutes by car.

The coast road provides easy access to the small towns of Campofelice di Roccella and Lascari, each about 20 minutes downhill, where you'll find supermarkets and larger shops. Sicily's capital, Palermo, is 78-80km away, taking around 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes by car. The airport is located on the far side of the city.

Potential

Casa Alessandra requires no essential work whatsoever. The property was purchased in 2007-2008 and renovated shortly afterwards, with major upgrades including the roof, all interiors and the building's systems. It's currently inhabited and has been well maintained, so you can move in and start enjoying it immediately.

The selling price includes all furniture, the full kitchen setup with crockery, plates and glasses, and all appliances including a built-in dishwasher, washing machine, oven and fridge. You'll also inherit some characterful pieces such as original 1950s furniture and late-1800s armchairs with modern upholstery. Only personal belongings and consumables will be removed.

Running costs are modest. TARI waste tax runs at around €180 per year, with IMU property tax at approximately €150 annually. Electricity costs as little as €50 every two months with limited use, working out to roughly €300 per year.

If you're considering using the property as a holiday rental, the sleeping capacity of six guests and the fully equipped kitchen make it well-suited to short-term letting. The combination of mountain scenery, proximity to Cefalù's beaches and the unique draw of the GAL Hassin astronomy centre gives you plenty of angles to market the property to different types of guests throughout the year.

For those planning to make Isnello their permanent home, it's worth noting that the village offers reliable fibre-optic internet, making it entirely suitable for remote working. If you would like help managing your relocation to Sicily, our extremely popular Welcome to Sicily package takes all the administrative burden off your shoulders, from filling out residency documents to finding a local SIM card.

There are also significant tax advantages available for new residents establishing themselves in smaller Sicilian communities like Isnello.