Property Description

 This Huge Five-bedroom Villa Offers Iconic View of the Scala dei Turchi from the Spacious Roof Terrace, Expansive Grounds and Beautiful Architecture

The perfectly white cliffs of the Scala dei Turchi outside Agrigento are one of Sicily’s most instantly recognisable landmarks. The roof terrace of this spacious detached villa gives you a magical view of the western face of this magical stretch of coastline.

In the municipality of Realmonte, only 350m as the crow flies from the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean Sea, Villa Alfonso offers five bedrooms, a beautiful ground floor and well over one thousand square metres of outdoor space, including balconies and covered terraces as well as the roof.

It has been in the seller’s family since the end of the last century, when it was bought as a renovation project by the vendor’s father. After a comprehensive overhaul it was inherited by his son in 2022, who has since offered it for rent as a B&B.

Available to buy fully furnished, you will be purchasing a lovely fitted kitchen, beds, sofas, and tables and chairs. No urgent renovation work is needed required. Whether you see it as an investment in Sicily’s tourist business or a residential property it is very much ready-to-use.

The Property

From the moment you step through the front door of Villa Alfonso, the bold atrium makes a fabulous impact. Finished in a neo-colonial style, its rounded arches, polished floors and wrought iron handrails all create a sense of visual drama. A gallery runs around the space on the first floor, allowing for tremendous natural lighting and a entrance that makes an immediate impact. Outside to the front and rear, deep covered porches spans the full width of the villa to the front and rear. Directly above these, a pair of balconies offer the same outdoor space on the first floor.

Off this we find a fully fitted kitchen with wooden worktops, cupboards and drawers. It has everything you need to cook for a large gathering, including double sinks, a fridge-freezer, an electric oven and five hefty gas hobs fed from cylinders stored safely outside. Along the north side of the home are a living room and dining room ; both well-lit with direct access to the back garden through a French window in the latter. Nothing in any of these interconnected spaces is enclosed by a door, with open archways giving the downstairs a very sociable and fluid feel.

Back at the front of the property, the garage is currently used as an extra bedroom with a double bed, small wardrobe and a south-facing French window. The floor is completed by a washroom with a WC and a Laundry room, both in a white tile. The rest of the decoration is very unified, with soft yellow tones on the walls and easy-clean ceramic tiles underfoot. The staircase is in a dark marble which is used again in the windowsills.

Upstairs, four bedrooms are all furnished as doubles, although the smallest of the quartet, at 10m2, might more comfortably be a single, or possibly a study. The other three are all rather more spacious, with two having direct access to the sunny garden views of the uncovered rear balcony. A large family bathroom features a corner tub.A second staircase takes you to the panoramic roof terrace, with that magical view of the Scala dei Turchi away in the middle distance. Three storerooms offer plenty of space for outdoor furniture.

Outdoors, a section of the 1,300m2 plot which directly surrounds the villa is paved, keeping maintenance simple in the dry climate. It’s enclosed by a concrete wall with iron railings, and some palm and pine trees. Beyond to the south is a small orchard with ploughed earth, where you’ll find two pomegranate trees, six olives, a mulberry, three pears, a plum, six mixed citruses, ten grapevines and some prickly pears. On the north side, the main entrance has an automatic gate and there is plenty of space for off-street parking even without the garage in use.

The climate is controlled by six new air conditioning units which can efficiently generate heat as well as cooling and dehumidifying the air. On the ground floor are a pair of hefty 18,000 BTU machines, while each of the upstairs bedrooms has its own 9,000 BTU units. Additional heat can be generated in winter by a wood-burning stove in the dining room with an external flue.

Water is from the municipal supply (privately managed) and you can relax in the knowledge that a 15,000-litre cistern guarantees you a consistent supply that will last through even prolonged dry spells. Hot water is provided by a brand new solar powered heater with a 200 litre tank. Electricity arrives from the power grid at up to 6kW.

All of the necessary legal paperwork is in order, with no irregularities. The wiring and plumbing ar in good condition and emergency lights have been installed on the ground floor and first floor.

Surroundings

It’s just 1.4 kilometres from Villa Alfonso to the Scala dei Turchi. Even closer is the sandy Capo Rossella beach (walkable in about fifteen minutes if you want) and the even bigger Punta Grande beach is only a short drive to the east. The immediate proximity to the sea isn’t just convenience for holidaymakers, either – you’ll love the cooling sea breeze on a hot summer afternoon.

The tourist pull of the region means that essential services like bars, supermarkets, restaurants and even a gym can all be found within a couple of kilometres. Even more pop up along the coast in the summer months. The nearest town is Realmonte, less than ten minutes away by car. Home to about about 4,000 people it’s a convenient spot for shopping and eating out.

The world famous Valley of the Temples, one of the most important Ancient Greek archaeological sites outside the modern country’s borders, is only fifteen minutes from your front door. If you prefer a sporting edge to your outdoor pursuits you will love the proximity to southern Italy’s largest golf club, three pristine courses open to the public at the Verdura Resort, only twenty minutes away.

A similar length journey will bring you into the small city of Agrigento itself. From here, road and rail connections to Sicily’s capital city, Palermo, take about two hours. All four of Sicily’s airports, in Palermo, Catania, Trapani and Comiso, can be reached in about the same driving time.

Potential

You could absolutely move into Villa Alfonso as soon as the contract is signed, but there are some investments you might consider in the future if you have the time and budget.

There are radiators present throughout, but these are not connected to a boiler. You might want to install one. Staying on the subject of plumbing, one and a half bathrooms is a little on the low side for a five bedroom home. We think you might thank yourself in the long run if you find a good spot to create one more.

An outdoor kitchen is a long-standing tradition in Sicily, and here all of the connections are in place to create one if you are inclined. Speaking of the property’s outdoor spaces, that roof terrace is so inviting, but would benefit from a fixed awning to offer some shade in the summer and even allow you to make use of it on a warm rainy day. Another addition you might want to consider to the highest point on the building would be photovoltaic panels to generate renewable electricity, to go alongside the existing solar-powered water heater.

There is absolutely the space available to build a private swimming pool if you wanted, and you should consider around €30,000 a realistic budget for that in this part of the world.

The villa is currently used as a B&B, with the potential income from this obviously extremely high, given its view of the Scala dei Turchi. We love it as a private home, however, and think it would be perfect for young-at-heart retirees to host all the grandchildren for unforgettable summers, or even a family planning on a full-time move to the island. Ask us about our ‘Welcome to Sicily’ post-sale care package and how it can make your move as seamless as possible.