House for sale - Cefalù (Italy)

Villa Marco - Cefalù Set on a hillside that rises steeply from the Tyrrhenian shore, Villa Marco is a traditional stone villa just ten minutes from the beach and old town of Cefalù. It's completely detached from the summer crowds, while the iconic seafront stands just ten minutes away. Pool, Pergola and Panorama Positioned 350 metres above sea level and under a kilometre inland, Villa Marco enjoys stunning views and has been designed to take full advantage of them. Many of its best spaces are outdoors, including the large panoramic terrace, partly shaded by a bamboo pergola and paved in traditional Sicilian terracotta. An above-ground pool on a raised wooden deck is equally spectacular, with both areas orientated towards the turquoise expanse of Tyrrhenian Sea below. The view takes in the famous Rocca of Cefalù and, on clear days, the silhouettes of the volcanic Aeolian Islands, fifty miles out to sea. Everything is framed by a spacious 3,600m2 of beautiful natural grounds. Deceptively Modern in Traditional Stone Although the villa actually dates back only to the 1990s, its architecture and choice of materials are deeply rooted in the traditions of the region. Exposed wooden beams, natural stone walls, hand-painted traditional tiles in the masonry kitchen and a large fireplace in the living room give the interior a character that takes decades to acquire naturally. An adjacent stone outbuilding adds an outdoor kitchen with a wood-fired oven, a utility room and overflow sleeping space. Cefalù, Ten Minutes Downhill Cefalù draws visitors from across northern Europe throughout an extended summer season, and its pull only grows in autumn and spring when the crowds have gone but the weather remains beautiful. For a property of this character, with a pool and Tyrrhenian views, demand is consistent and the location is one that rarely needs explaining to prospective guests. Villa Marco is offered for sale fully furnished and all paperwork in order, making the path from purchase to occupancy or rental use a fabulously short one. There is also room to invest and add sleeping capacity. Although currently there is only one bedroom, we have identified two cost-effective routes to adding a second on a modest budget. For more on this and an extended insight into everything Villa Marco has to offer, take a look at the full listing on our site. Want to know more?

Villetta Doreen - Sant'Ambrogio (Cefalù) Part of the three-year-old and beautifully kept Giardini di Cefalù residential complex, in the coastal hamlet of Sant’Ambrogio, Villetta Doreen is a fully furnished modern two-bedroom semi-detached villa just ten minutes from Cefalù. The villa is sold fully furnished and in excellent condition, with nothing to spend before moving in. Contemporary comfort with panoramic terraces The nearly new villa is finished to the highest standards, with ceramic floors, finely plastered walls and wooden trim in a contemporary colour palette. The open-plan living area and fitted kitchen on the ground floor lead out onto two terraces: one facing the sea and one looking up towards the mountains. Upstairs, the master bedroom has a balcony with a partial sea view, while the guest room opens onto a south-facing balcony that catches the sun throughout the day. A 2.4 kW photovoltaic system and A+ energy classification keep running costs impressively low. A quiet village on the doorstep of cefalù Sant’Ambrogio is a hamlet of around 300 people perched on a terrace above the Tyrrhenian coast, with local restaurants, a village shop and a quiet beach at the foot of the cliffs. The old town of Cefalù and all its amenities – shops, restaurants, schools, hospital – are just a ten-minute drive along the coast. The Madonie Natural Park rises behind the village, and Palermo’s Falcone-Borsellino airport is roughly ninety minutes away by car. TURN-key and ready to work for you A private garden with a real grass lawn, a communal swimming pool and proximity to one of Sicily’s most popular tourist destinations give Villetta Doreen strong potential as a holiday rental. Our sister company, property managers Solemar Sicilia, would even be able to take all of the logistics off your hands, if you want the simplest possible route into that market. For a buyer seeking a low-maintenance property near the coast with immediate usability and rental income, Villetta Doreen delivers on every count. For a full description of the property please visit our website Want to know more?

Villa Iolanda - Cefalù Set in the green, wooded hills behind one of Sicily’s best-loved beach towns, Villa Iolanda is a detached two-storey shell overlooking Cefalù. The buyer will need to complete the unfinished property, but will have almost unlimited freedom to personalise it as they like. A complete structure to finish exactly as you like The shell of the villa has been built in reinforced concrete with insulating clay block walls and a structurally watertight roof. At around 93 square metres over two floors, it will offer a pair of bedrooms and at least one bathroom on the ground floor, and what will eventually be an open living space on the upper level, where the views are at their best. A wraparound terrace will take full advantage of this, giving views of the Rocca di Cefalù, the cathedral and some of the Tyrrhenian Sea beyond. The buyer will have complete freedom to choose all finishes and materials, with the walls, floors and windows still to be installed, besides the plumbing, electrics and drainage. This is a rare opportunity to have complete creative freedom over a brand new home without having to involve yourself in the bureaucracy-heavy planning stage. The garden wraps around the front of the ground floor, with room for a lawn, outdoor kitchen and dining, and even a small pool if you would like. Ten minutes from the beach The property sits at around 200 metres above sea level, roughly 1.3 kilometres from the coast as the crow flies, in a quiet residential pocket of well-spaced detached houses surrounded by woodland and lush hillsides. The access road is in good condition, and supermarkets are within a ten-minute drive. The old town of Cefalù, with its unesco-listed cathedral and famous sandy beach, is about the same distance. Cefalù’s railway station offers direct services to Palermo in under an hour, and the island’s main international airport is around 80 minutes away by car. A cefalu' address at a rare price Even allowing for the investment required to complete Villa Iolanda, detached homes within the municipality of Cefalù rarely come on the market at this price point. We estimate between €100,000 and €140,000 above the purchase price to be a realistic budget for the rest of the work, so you are trading time for a significant discount on the typical cost of a new home in perfect condition here. All necessary documentation is in order and the sellers will hand over with renewed permits, so work will be able to begin without any delay. For a full description of the property please visit our website Want to know more?

Casa Ignazia - Cefalù A renovation project with real promise in one of Sicily’s most famous coastal towns, Casa Ignazia is found in the Kalura district of Cefalù, just twenty metres from the sea. Character that shines in the morning sun Part of a historic coastal building divided among several owners, Casa Ignazia is arranged over two floors. The first-floor apartment has a bright bedroom with two windows, a living area with kitchen and an east-facing balcony that fills the rooms with morning light. The exterior is finished in attractive exposed stone, with a small enclosed garden. Upstairs in the attic, original wooden roof trusses present a striking architectural feature waiting to be revealed by a considered renovation. On the ground floor, two further rooms of around 20m² each provide scope to expand the home into a generous two-level layout. One has its own independent entrance, and both could be connected internally to create a proper kitchen and living area below. Right by the beach knowledgeable locals favour The small rocky coves of Kalura are a well-kept secret. Many visitors to Cefalù never discover them, while the locals head here to escape the crowds in high season. The beach catches the morning sun and the water is clear and sheltered. Several hotels, bars and restaurants are within a short walk, including the Michelin-noted Il Capone at the five-star Hotel Le Calette. A lovely twenty-minute stroll past the lighthouse takes you into the heart of Cefalù, with its medieval streets, Arab-Norman cathedral, atmospheric piazzas and famous golden beach. You can park right outside your front door, too, which is a real advantage over the old town. The Madonie Natural Park is twenty minutes inland, and Palermo’s international airport about an hour to the west. A renovation project that makes financial sense A full renovation, from roof replacement to new systems and finishes, is estimated at €70,000 to €110,000. The total investment, including purchase, would still be well below the going rate for a finished home in this location. Demand for summer holiday rentals in Cefalù is strong, making this an attractive prospect for a buyer who wants a coastal retreat that can also earn its keep. Additional rooms within the same building may become available in the future, offering the chance to grow the property further. For a full description of the property please visit our website Want to know more?

Villa Caterina - Cefalù A three or four bedroom villa to renovate in one of Sicily's most sought-after locations, Villa Caterina is a 220m² detached house on 1,200m² of land. In the hills of the municipality of Cefalù, around ten minutes from the famous beach town itself, it offers a beautiful view of the Gulf of Termini Imerese, facing west towards the region's spectacular sunsets. Sunset over the water Positioned 300m above sea level in a sparsely populated district known as Campella or Contrada Monte, the villa is set up to take full advantage of that expansive view of the Conca d'Oro, the great coastal arc that sweeps from Campofelice di Roccella to Palermo. Looking inland, the verdant hills of the Madonie rise up at your back like a carpet of green. Best of all, the area is heavily protected by local planning regulations, which guarantee that no new developments can infringe on your view or sense of privacy and seclusion. A clear path to a fully restored home The house sustained fire damage around a decade ago, but the load-bearing structure held firm thanks to the quality of its relatively recent construction. An extensive insurance dispute resulted in detailed court-commissioned surveys and laboratory analyses, providing comprehensive documentation of the building's condition. A full engineer's cost estimate has been drawn up for the renovation, covering a new roof, structural consolidation, replacement windows and floors, modern electrical and plumbing systems, heating and cooling, and solar panels. With the purchase and renovation combined, the total outlay is estimated at under €500,000. The peace of the countryside, with convenience and history on hand Despite its secluded hillside setting, the property is only a ten-minute drive from the centre of Cefalù, with its unesco-listed cathedral, golden sandy beach, and full range of shops and restaurants. The Madonie Natural Park is on the doorstep, and Palermo's international airport is about an hour away by car. Few locations in northern Sicily combine this kind of rural tranquillity with such easy access to the coast and its amenities. For buyers looking for space, views and value just outside one of the island's most desirable towns, Villa Caterina is as good a proposition as anything you'll find. For a full description of the property please visit our website Want to know more?