Etna Balcony

About property

This exclusive ancient villa located on the flanks of Mount Etna, with a stunning overview of the  Mediterranean Sea, was built during the 19^th Century as a wine processing site: completely renovated, the house still carries a rustic, yet refined, 19th-Century country style, thanks to the use of top-quality traditional materials such as local wood, wrought iron and lava stone. Moreover, it is in perfect conditions and ready to be occupied, as well as completely furnished and equipped all the way down to kitchen spoons.

The villa is situated in the lovely town of Piedimonte Etneo, within the Park of Etna: living in this house means having the privilege of being very close to the seaside – the beautiful Taormina is just 11 kilometers away – yet experiencing the peaceful atmosphere of the Park of Etna, surrounded by verdant woods as well as by a 15000-square-meter plot delimited by typical dry-stone walls.

The eastern and southern sides of the villa are surrounded by a large terrace, from which the panorama is utterly amazing: the seashore, the Mediterranean Sea, and Mount Etna towering on the back. An idyllic corner of Sicily indeed.

The house is divided into three wings, equipped and organised as follows.

Southern Wing

Tastefully paved with local terracotta tiles, this lovely suite is composed of an entrance with a built-in closet featuring beautiful 18th-century wooden doors, as well as a cosy living room with a lava-stone fireplace. The kitchen and the dining room are both provided with country wooden pieces of furniture, while the bedroom is rich in storage space. Every feature of the beautiful bathroom, from the tub to the sink, is made with Carrara white marble; all the rooms open onto the terrace, equipped with pretty garden furniture and surrounded by plants and flowers.

Central Wing

It’s not easy to describe the uniqueness of the main unit of the villa. Ancient features, lovely décors, typically Sicilian details: everything contributes to create an idyllic and exclusive atmosphere. The ground floor houses a large entrance with external antique chestnut-wood doors, while the dining room, sitting room and kitchen feature a wonderful and thick lava pavement, as well as refined ancient wooden cupboards, tables and other furniture. An old-style food storage room is also available, with a splendid antique wrought-iron gate; other highlights include a beautiful dressing room paved with terracotta tiles and a walk-in closet with built-in drawers, as well as a little bathroom with WC and sink, all decorated with Carrara white marble.

A lava-stone staircase leads you upstairs, where the first floor houses a master bedroom (also paved with lava stone) with skylight and lovely furniture, as well as a pretty wrought-iron balcony with a view over the sea and the verdant gardens surrounding the house. The adjacent bathroom has a very large tub and is also decorated with Carrara white marble. A draw-bridge door leads to an office with wooden pavement and to a second bedroom which can also be reached through an internal staircase. Outside, a true jewel: a Phoenician stone bench dating back to the 9^th Century B.C.

Northern Wing

In this two-level unit all doors, both inside and outside, are made of ancient chestnut wood; slightly different in style and furnishing compared with the other two units, the Northern Wing is really lovely and rustic, as well as refined and welcoming. The ground floor houses a foyer with a staircase to the first floor and a dining area equipped with a wooden kitchen and a beautiful dining room with antique tables made of wrought iron and typical Sicilian-style ceramics. Similar dining tables can be found in the outside area as well; the ground floor also houses a laundry room and a garage. Upstairs you’ll find three tastefully furnished and decorated double bedrooms, each one with en-suite bathroom.

Annexes

Besides the three units, a tiny annex building is also available (total built area is 354 square meters), as well as a green house. And the most terrific view can be enjoyed from the solarium terrace, just next to a beautiful circular water storage (7,5 meters diameter) that can be easily turned into a rustic and elegant swimming pool. You just have to choose which panorama you prefer: the countryside and the seashore, or Mount Etna, the majestic volcano that has been recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage site(LINK UNESCO web site).

Features and amenities

include a 1000-litre solar collector and centralized gas heating system, as well as two wood stoves and a fireplace, as well as digital TV with satellite, DVD players, ADSL connection and a car. House equipment include beautiful antique furniture, bed linen, towels, dishwasher, laundry machine, ovens, microwave and kitchenware. The house is currently authorized for tourist lodging, and the activity is up and well running.

The whole area surrounding the house is a beautiful and verdant garden with an ancient flood irrigation system and fully equipped with refined deck chairs, tables and umbrellas. A prosperous orchard includes citrus trees, apple, pear, cherry, apricot trees, pistachios, almond groves and so much more, as well as a little vineyard and other flowers and aromatic plants.

Surroundings

The lovely little town of Piedimonte Etneo, a peaceful borough located at the foot of Mount Etna within the Natural Park of the volcano, is just two kilometres away from this wonderful villa: you’ll find all facilities here (shops, restaurants, banks, post office…).

Together with a jaw-dropping panorama over the Mediterranean Sea, the countryside of Catania and Mount Etna itself, the villa is located quite near some of the most beautiful and famous landmarks of Sicily, as well as close to plenty of interesting destinations and recreations.

The nearest beach is just 8 kilometres away, and the world-famous hamlet of Taormina, one of the most renowned destinations in Sicily, is only 11 kilometres far: this beautiful ancient village perched on a hilltop is rich in history and charm, and offers a spectacular view over the seaside including the Isolabella nature reserve, the Naxos bay with its golden sandy beach.

Sport lovers will be happy to know that ski resorts on Mount Etna are within easy reach, and an exclusive golf club is located near the enchanting hamlet of Castiglione di Sicilia, situated on the flanks of the volcano and offering stunning panoramas over the countryside. Catania, with its awe-inspiring Baroque city centre (a UNESCO World Heritage as well, just like mount Etna – LINK UNESCO ) and its vibrant and lively cultural and artistic life, is not far as well (50km).

Features

Gross Area 354 m²

Energy efficiency class: C

Southern Wing

• Living Room with lava stone fireplace;
• Dining Room;
• Kitchen;
• Double Bedroom;
• Bathroom with tub made of Carrara white marble;
• Terrace with plants and flowers.

Central Wing

Ground Floor

• Living Room;
• Dining Room;
• Kitchen;
• Food Storage Room;
• Bathroom.

First Floor

• Master Bedroom with skylight and wrought-iron balcony with a view over the sea;
• Bathroom with a large tub, decorated with Carrara white marble;
• Office room;
• Bedroom.

Northern Wing

Ground Floor

• Big Hall;
• Dining Room;
• Kitchen;
• Laundry Room;
• garage.

First Floor

• Tree double Bedrooms each one with en-suite bathroom;

Annexes

• Tiny building;
• Green House;
• Solarium terrace;
• Circular water storage (7,5 meters diameter) easily turned into a rustic and elegant swimming pool.

Outside Area

• Outdoor area of 15.000 sqm, surrounding the villa;
• Orchard includes citrus trees, apple, pear, cherry, apricot trees, pistachios, almond groves and so much more, as well as a little vineyard and other flowers and aromatic plants.

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