DESCRIPTION:

We offer a luxury villa in Sicily, located in a prestigious area of ​​aristocratic villas in Syracuse city.
This charming period villa is located on the highest point of the ancient and historic Plemmirio promontory in Syracuse, in an area of ​​prestigious stately homes that once belonged to other aristocratic Sicilian families.
At the turn of the century, as evidenced by a period photograph, two magnificent lions stood on either side of the villa's entrance steps: these two marble sculptures were stolen during World War II.
Reminiscent of the family crest, an ancient coat of arms carved in stone peeks out from the botanical garden's vegetation on a stone watchtower. The family loved to relax at the top, admiring the sea view from the large harbor.
The villa has numerous rooms and boasts a splendid glass veranda topped by an Art Nouveau wrought-iron structure.
This luxury villa extends over three levels and has been maintained in excellent condition for years.
The villa has nine bedrooms in total and a double ballroom used for receptions, featuring a double-sided stone fireplace that was used to heat both rooms.
Outside, a 19th-century botanical garden was redesigned by the renowned Ettore Paternò del Toscano, who planted a considerable number of rare plants, still present today.
Walking along the paths is like taking a journey back in time almost two hundred years.
The origins of the villa are much older, and reliable studies suggest that the current one was built on the site of a fortified structure dating back to the founding of Greek Syracuse. In fact, ancient depictions of a castle with watchtowers have been found on the very site where the villa now stands.
This part of Sicily is also described by the great poet Virgil in the third book of the Aeneid.
The villa stands in the land that gave birth to the mathematical physicist Archimedes, a few hundred meters from the inlets of the Syracusan coast, overlooking the island of Ortigia, lapped by an enchanting azure sea. History tells of great naval battles between Corinthian Syracuse and the Athenians, and later against the Roman siege.
This luxury villa, although in reasonable condition, is in need of some maintenance and deserves to be restored to its former splendor.
The writer Roger Peyrefitte, in his book "Returns to Sicily," describes this villa as sumptuous, likely out of gratitude for the owners' hospitality.
It is possible to purchase one or two additional buildings: a former stable that has now been converted into a large guesthouse and an event building that can be transformed into an elegant villa.
If you are looking for luxury villas in Sicily with an old-world charm, this villa is certainly the most exclusive property you can find.