Villa Ester – Porto Empedocle

€ 169.000

Porto Empedocle - 92014

#86657029

10 Rooms
2 Bathroom
170 m²
1st

Huge, Six-bedroom, Two-home Sicilian Country Villa with Olive Grove, Near the Valley of the Temples and Scala dei Turchi

Villa Ester is a detached two-home Sicilian country villa that sits just two kilometres west of Porto Empedocle, on the southern coast, with the Valley of the Temples a quarter of an hour away and the white limestone cliffs of the Scala dei Turchi visible from the surrounding hills.

The property would suit a buyer looking for rental income, multigenerational living or simply the flexibility of separate guest accommodation. Each apartment has three bedrooms and a bathroom, with one raised slightly above ground level and the other partially below. The traditional yellow plaster exterior and round Sicilian arches give the building plenty of character, whilst the interiors are simple and white, ready for a buyer to add their own finishing touches.

A mature olive grove of 120 trees surrounds the house, along with an old outbuilding whose cubic metres could theoretically be used elsewhere on the land. The setting is peaceful, with wonderful vegetation all around and views across the countryside. There's space to park comfortably in the driveway and a traditional outdoor oven adds to the rustic charm.

The property needs some renovation work, particularly on the façade where some reinforcing steel has corroded, and the electrical system which requires updating. However, there's no damp, the floors are in good condition and the new windows throughout are a bonus. For someone willing to invest in renovations, this two-home Sicilian country villa offers excellent potential at a competitive asking level for the area.

The Property

The villa is arranged over two storeys, with both apartments sharing the same traditional architectural style. Yellow plaster covers the exterior walls, and round arches frame the covered porticoes that wrap around parts of the building. These arched spaces are typical of Sicilian country houses and provide shaded outdoor living areas during the long summers.

Inside, the floors throughout are tiled with interesting old patterns that add character. The upper apartment has an open-plan kitchen and dining room, with tiled walls in the kitchen that could be replaced if you prefer a more modern look. A corridor leads to the bedrooms and bathroom, which has a shower. The middle-sized bedroom benefits from windows on two sides, whilst the master bedroom has the decorative patterned tiles and opens onto views across the surrounding countryside.

The lower level apartment, which is partially underground and serves as a storage area, has another open living space with a kitchen area and breakfast island. One bedroom opens directly off this space, whilst another is accessed down a short corridor. The largest bedroom is almost dormitory-sized and could comfortably sleep four people. It's reached via another passageway next to the bathroom. One of the bedrooms on this level has no windows, but all the windows that are present throughout the building have been replaced with new ones.

The structure is sound, with no cracks, sagging or water infiltration, despite having been closed for some years. The floors are in good condition throughout. The main issues are cosmetic and technical: the façade needs attention where reinforcing steel has become exposed and corroded in places, and the electrical system doesn't meet modern standards and will need to be completely redone.

Outside, a large tarmac driveway provides ample parking space. The property stands within grounds that include 120 olive trees, offering both beauty and potential income. Running water comes from the municipality and there's a 30 cubic metre cistern for storage. An old outbuilding on the land could theoretically have its building volume relocated elsewhere on the plot, subject to planning permission. The traditional pizza oven in the driveway is a charming feature that speaks to the building's rural heritage.

Surroundings

The villa stands in quiet countryside just 150 metres above sea level, with year-round residents living in the neighbouring properties. There are no high-voltage power lines, pylons or busy roads nearby, making this a genuinely peaceful spot. Despite the rural setting, shops in Porto Empedocle are only about ten minutes away by car, offering everything needed for daily life.

The Sicilian coast is wonderfully close, just 1.5 kilometres away at Lido Marinello. The dramatic Scala dei Turchi, with its distinctive white limestone cliffs stepping down to the sea, is three kilometres from the property. This is one of southern Sicily's most photographed natural landmarks and attracts visitors from around the world. The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, a UNESCO World Heritage site containing some of the finest ancient Greek ruins outside Greece, is just fifteen minutes by car.

The birthplace of playwright Luigi Pirandello is nearby, as is the port of Porto Empedocle itself, from which ferries depart for the islands of Lampedusa and Linosa. The wider province of Agrigento offers a wealth of beaches, archaeological sites and traditional towns to explore. Palermo, Sicily's vibrant capital, is two hours north by car, whilst both Palermo and Trapani airports can be reached within two hours, making international travel straightforward.

The surrounding countryside is agricultural, with olive groves, vineyards and citrus orchards creating a patchwork of cultivation across the gentle hills. The area benefits from wonderful vegetation and the pleasant microclimate of Sicily's southern coast, where winters are mild and summers are long and warm.

Potential

The most significant work required is to the façade, where exposed and corroded reinforcing steel needs attention. Based on local market rates, this is likely to cost in the region of €15,000-€20,000 depending on the extent of the work. The electrical system throughout the property needs to be brought up to modern standards, which typically costs around €8,000-€12,000 for a property of this size.

If you would like help finding reliable tradespeople or professionals, or even our post-sale project management services to oversee the renovation work, please don't hesitate to ask us for more information. We work exclusively with trusted local contractors and top-class professionals and can coordinate projects from start to finish, giving you peace of mind whether you're in Sicily or abroad.

Beyond these essential works, the property offers considerable scope for personalisation. The kitchen tiles on the upper level could be replaced to create a more contemporary feel. The interiors, whilst clean and simple, would benefit from fresh paint and the opportunity to add character through furnishing and decoration. The old outbuilding presents an interesting possibility: its building volume could potentially be used to construct something new elsewhere on the land, perhaps a pool house, workshop or additional accommodation, subject to planning consent.

The two-apartment configuration opens up the possibility of inviting large families for long stays or of generating extra income. With international airports within two hours and some of Sicily's most famous tourist attractions on the doorstep, the property would work well as a holiday rental. You could live in one apartment and rent the other, or rent both and maintain a separate primary residence elsewhere. Given the proximity to the Valley of the Temples and Scala dei Turchi, there's strong demand for accommodation in this area throughout much of the year.

The 120 olive trees represent both an amenity and another potential income stream. Sicilian olive oil commands premium prices, and whilst maintaining an olive grove requires work, many buyers find it a rewarding part of rural life on the island. The mature trees are already productive and add considerably to the character and value of the property.