Property Description

Property for sale in Sicily

After the recent ‘One Euro House‘ boom in Sicily, the island received a lot of publicity. But is there any such thing as a truly 1€ house? We think you can probably guess the answer. Some things are simply too good to be (completely) true. But there are terrific bargains to be found on Sicily.

When we were asked to pick a couple of the best investment opportunities to find property for sale in Sicily, we didn’t hesitate to pick the hilltop town of Pollina (once you’ve taken a look you can also read more about our second selection, Gratteri ). Pollina sits in the foothills of the studding bio-park of the Madonie mountains, against the warm Tyrrhenian Sea in the province of the island’s capital Palermo. This charming community is within easy reach of some chic hotspots, but also feels removed from the hustle and bustle of the tourist trail. Of course, this small distance also has a great effect on prices!

Casa delle Maioliche is named after the colorful array of traditional local ceramic tiles found inside. Traditional to this region of Sicily, these tin-glazed tiles offer instant character to an already charming structure. And of course, you won’t want to miss out on checking out the sought-after roof terrace.

Absolutely worth mentioning is the roof terrace with spectacular sea views, equally rare to find. Like so many houses in Pollina, the house develops vertically. The apartment sold is the uppermost, third, floor with breathtaking terrace and sea-view. In the next paragraph you will read more about the distribution and spaces of this apartment. What is important to know is that on top of this apartment, the sellers are giving away included in the price (so basically for free) the first floor apartment, which is so large that a separate apartment could be created here.

The House

The first indications of the quality to be found in this lovely old palazzo are the initials ‘MC’ wrought in iron above the front door: this is a sign that the building was once owned by a family who were important enough to want the world to know they lived here!

As soon as the door opens you start to see examples of the decorative local ceramic tiles which give Casa delle Maioliche its name. You climb a staircase past the ground floor, which now belongs to another property. On the first a small landing opens onto a pair of sequential reception rooms, each huge and decorated with intricate tiles and high ceilings. Large windows open onto the alley outside, each with balconies. The second offers a partial view of the town’s main piazza below. Cupboards have been built into the walls, and there are a pair of large storerooms which could become ensuite bathrooms on the internal side of the building.

The staircase continues to climb past the second floor, where a small apartment is also now externally owned (not on sale), and up to the third. This is a quartet of interconnecting rooms in a square, including two bedrooms, each with balconies. Here the views extend above the house opposite and overlook the roof and bell tower of the town church. The remaining corners of the square are a small landing and a kitchen with dining table.

From the kitchen (or the second bedroom) you can step straight out onto the roof terrace that is, in many ways, the star attraction of Casa delle Maioliche. This long, rectangular space is afforded shade by a light roof structure and gives a birds-eye view of the square below. Voices float gently up from the old gents sitting around the stone benches they seem to have occupied every morning since their childhood. Who needs a TV!? A bench seat is, of course, finished with more majolica tiles.

The view here takes in orange and yellow rooftops, stretches straight through the ornate bell tower and out the other side, and stretches to the green background of the rising Madonie hills in the middle distance.

Location

Stepping out of the frontdoor you find yourself in the heart of the town, directly adjacent to Piazza Duomo. The Museum of Manna (the sweet sap of a local tree used to create sugary treats) is around the corner, as is the stunning open air amphitheater, home to a season of performances in the summer. You will of course find shops and welcoming bars just a few steps from home, too.

Pollina is a small hilltop community on the north coast of Sicily, and you can reach the beautiful Mediterranean beaches within 15 minutes. The UNESCO world heritage site of Cefalù, home to some of our friendly and well-connected local team, is just along the coast.

A train line connects the booming city of Palermo to the east with Messina to the east, from where you can take a short ferry across to Calabria, the toe of Italy’s boot. The island paradises of the Aeolian Islands, including one Stromboli, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, are just across the water and can also be reached by regular boats. Inland you will find nature trails, mountain retreats and even, in winter, ski slopes. This is a dream for lovers of ecology and the outdoors.

Potential

The property is listed at 60,000€, but we would recommend making an offer. You will have to consider restoration work on a property that has seen more polished days. However, we can guide you through the various subsidies on offer for renovating property for sale in in Sicily. There has never been a better time to jump into the market here than now, and we know that within a few years the word will spread and bargains like these will become even rarer.

Let our dedicated and friendly team introduce you to trusted local professionals  to plan and execute the development work. We have an excellent working relationship with the municipality of Pollina and can promise that planning applications will be considered promptly and that good quality, tasteful renovation proposals will always be welcomed here.

Take a look through our step-by-step guide to the potential and pitfalls of investing in Sicily’s property market. If it sounds as good to you as it does to us, contact us today and let’s see about making your dream of finding a beautiful property for sale in Sicily a reality.