Overview
Sometimes in our journey through life, we find ourselves in a place so pretty that we have a hard time letting go of it. Click, click, click. We capture every single detail with our greedy eyes so we can hold it forever in our memory. Yes, yes. Il Gattopardo tends to have that effect on people. The villa, an old manor house from the late 19th century, is tinted red with volcanic clay and stands at the end of a lime-green lawn. Its antique furnishings and exquisitely wall-papered rooms will have you swirling in an atmosphere of English cosiness, French romance, and Italian fervour. The wavy hills of Taormina’s countryside, a heavenly garden fit for a prince, a dazzling pool with lava stone borders, fuming Etna, and the mysterious Ionian set the stage for this class act of a holiday home. Won’t you come on in?
Property details
Everything about Il Gattopardo reminds you of a fairytale. Hansel and Gretel….without the wicked witch, of course. Have a peek at the photos we took, you’ll see what we mean. A long stretch of lawn so green you could do triple cartwheels on it leads to the burgundy-coloured villa. While you are admiring the Lavender, Hibiscus, and Ficus trees around you, you notice that two pine cones have been placed on the villa’s rooftop. Ooops. We forgot to tell you that Sicilians believe they bring good luck. We also forgot to tell you that the villa actually belongs to a real Sicilian prince!
The front of the home opens out onto a vine-draped, furnished gazebo. As you step inside, you are welcomed by an enchanting living room. An open fireplace fashioned from marble and an inviting sitting nook sit amidst emerald-coloured wallpaper and a wood-beamed ceiling. A staircase leads up to a cosy study room on the first floor. The entire home is filled with precious antique furniture from the 19th century and the owner’s impeccable taste becomes evident in every crevice. Directly behind the living room, you’ll find one double bedroom and a twin bedroom with a shared bathroom. The right wing of the villa houses a reading room and another sitting room with an open fireplace. An antique spiral staircase of wrought iron leads up to the master bedroom on the mezzanine. Here, the pine green walls blend in scrumptiously with the lovely parquet flooring. In the left wing, you will encounter the fully-fitted, country-style kitchen which has been livened up with original ceramic tiles from Santo Stefano di Camastra. This part of the home also houses a large double bedroom with en-suite bathroom. A few steps away from the villa’s main entrance, an independent suite stands ready to accommodate larger parties.
Outside, a fantastic swimming pool with a sprawling deck and vine-draped gazebo is encircled by a thick hedge. Look a little beyond this and you come face to face with an aweinspiring panorama. Click, click, click. The Etna volcano shoots up into the crystal blue Sicilian sky. A citrus fruit plantation extends out infinitely and an old castle stands high above the rolling hills of Taormina’s countryside. Who ever told you that fairytales can’t come true?
Area details
Il Gattopardo is located in Trappitello, a quiet little town at less than 7 miles away from the centre of Taormina. The villa sits in the middle of a dazzling countryside estate belonging to the House of Alliata di Villafranca, one of Sicily’s most distinguished aristocratic families. The estate encompasses an expansive citrus fruit plantation and a private vineyard. It practically lies at the foot of Mt. Etna and is only a short drive away (2 miles) from the sandy beaches at Mazzarò and Giardini Naxos. Architecture and history enthusiasts will not want to miss the Baroque treasures of Catania. Those of you with a more adventurous soul will love the ravines of the Alcantara river and the exciting treks up Mt. Etna.
Additional Information
Il Gattopardo is now available to soloSicily on an exclusive basis; one more reason that guarantees customers our high standards of quality.