Property Description

Penthouse Paola –  Top Floor, Sea-view Apartment in the Nebrodi Park’s Unspoilt Coastal Region

In the charming seafront town of Acquedolci, the sea is so enticing to bathers and sailors that its very name means “sweet waters”. First settled by the Romans in the third century BC, this little community of around five thousand inhabitants lies two-thirds of the way along Sicily’s north coast, between the spectacular mountains of the Nebrodi Natural Park and the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The western end of the volcanic Aeolian island chain is in clear view on the horizon, the entire stretch of coast is flanked by an uninterrupted beach which has been left without development and almost completely for the free use of the public, and the sea temperature averages more than twenty six degrees Celsius throughout the long summer months.

It is absolutely astonishing that this naturally jaw-dropping region has not been overtaken by tourism, yet it remains almost completely undiscovered by the crowds who teem along the coastal highway inland, or take the fast train straight from Messina to Cefalù or Sicily’s capital city Palermo, not realising what a fabulous opportunity is passing them by below.

This is where we find Penthouse Paola, just 500m from the beach, facing directly onto one of the nicer green parks you could ever find in small-town Sicily. A one-bedroom apartment on the third floor of a modern palazzo building, it is open on three sides and rises above its neighbours, giving an unobstructed view of the sea from its covered terrace and both of its balconies.

Fully renovated, the loft is in great condition, and sold fully furnished, making it as convenient as it is affordable for a prospective buyer on the hunt for a simple but comfortable holiday home or pied-à-terre in the Mediterranean.

The Property

Offering an internal area of 50m2, plus the balconies and terrace, Paola feels deceptively spacious thanks to its neat, practical layout. Under the gently sloping, chestnut-coloured beams of a charming hardwood ceiling, the space has been cleanly divided into a large living area, a cosy bedroom and a bathroom with a shower.

Entry is directly into an open living space of almost 30m2, bright and airy thanks to French windows on two sides. These open onto the balconies; one a long, partially enclosed space to the north which is shaded by a translucent fixed awning, the other a smaller platform with iron railings and a lovely view of the leafy park, nearby church tower and the sea.

The living area has been furnished with a sofa bed, shelving units, a rocking chair and television. To one side is a four person kitchen table in solid wood, and along the wall to the right as you walk in is a white kitchen suite with cupboards, a worktop, a fridge freezer, a double sink, oven and extractor fan.

The other two rooms are found on the south side of the property. A cosy bedroom has been tucked under the eaves of the roof, and furnished with a comfortable double bed and a huge wardrobe. The window overlooks the park view, where the island’s famous colourful sunsets play out above the silhouettes of the tall trees.

The bathroom is half-tiled, in checker board pastel shades that accentuate those lovely soft wooden tones. The ceramics are modern and unobtrusive in a glossy white finish. The shower is enclosed by a curtain on three sides.

Penthouse Paola enjoys exclusive use of a covered sea-view terrace measuring about 25m2, which is found directly to the side of the property as you pass from the communal stairwell to the private entrance.

The finishings are rustic and warm, with large terracotta flagstones on the floor throughout, save for a decorative section of about two square metres in a classic Sicilian floral print by the front door. The white aluminium windows are modern and double-glazed. Mosquito nets have already been installed.

The main living room is air-conditioned. Radiators have been installed in the bathroom and bedroom, and there is provision for one in the living area too. It will be necessary to connect the apartment to the main gas supply if you want to use these regularly, however. A water tank on the roof holds up to a thousand litres, guaranteeing you an emergency supply even in periods of prolonged drought.

A sunny and welcoming sea-view apartment in the Nebrodi, Penthouse Paola is ready to be used right away, and all you will need to bring with you are clothes and a good book to enjoy on that wonderful balcony.

Surroundings

As you will have gathered already, the town of Acquedolci is small and welcoming, and the park opposite really is a jewel. Early morning joggers make their rhythmic way around its wide pathways, and as the day wears on a crowd might begin to form around the twin courts for playing bocce – the Italian version of France’s boules pétanque.

The town’s main high street, Via Ricca Salerno, is just around the corner, with bars, grocery stores, pharmacies and a bakery. Just past this the local train station is only five minutes’ walk from your front door, and beyond this you are almost immediately at the beach. The church whose bell tower is visible from the balcony upstairs is the largest in the village, and as the bell tolls the hour the sound will carry gently up and in through an open window on a soft sea breeze.

The beach is totally unspoilt, with no lidi, only a few houses alongside it at the west end of town. Here you will find the excellent Pizzeria Bedda Matri, serving delicious slow-cooked pizza alongside some delicious hand-crefted antipasti and a range of craft beer.

The seafront runs uninterrupted for 50km of coast, passing through Acquedolci just before it reaches an artificial spit at the marina of Sant’Agata di Militello, three kilometres to the east. A slight north-south angle to this stretch makes it a lovely spot to enjoy one of those warm summer sunsets, although the peace and quiet of the seafront makes it almost no less perfect for a long dog walk in the short, mild winters.

Sant’Agata, about three times larger than Acquedolci, is the nearest port of call for much of the region’s infrastructure and services. You’ll find larger supermarkets, a hospital, a cinema and a lively and varied programme of events through the summer months.

Venturing further afield, the beautiful beach town of Cefalù lies 50 minutes away by car to the west, and can also be reached by a direct train. So, too, can both Palermo, 90 minutes’ drive, and Messina, 75.

The great eastern city of Catania is just 70km to the south-east as the crow flies, but the drive is rather longer. However, you have a choice of fabulous roads – the coastal highway which bypasses the chic seaside haven of Taormina or the mountain road inland which takes you to along the edge of the smouldering giant of eastern Sicily, Mount Etna.

The Nebrodi, right on your doorstep, offer untold possibilities for day trips and outdoor sports. Don’t miss our deep dive into Sicily’s largest natural park, if you haven’t investigated it already.

Potential

Other than the question of connecting the home to the municipal gas supply, if you’re planning to use the radiators in the bedroom and bathroom, there is really no work at all to do on Penthouse Paola. Sold with all fittings and furniture, this really is a wonderful bit of value given the picturesque views and charming location.

If you are considering making a permanent move to Sicily, the property could make a good base for a lone traveller, perhaps looking to cut costs and work remotely on the island. As the rest of the move will be completely hassle-free, why not take advantage of our Welcome to Sicily package, which provides everything from submission of your residency papers to connection of your utilities.

Of course, there is also plenty of potential for rental income on a sea-view apartment in the Nebrodi , especially one so close to the beach, even if Acquedolci is not on the mainstream tourist trail. Through our sister company, Solemar Sicilia, we can offer a first class property management service for an investment in Sicliy’s thriving tourist sector, including dealing with publicity, cleaning, and maintenance in your absence.