Property Description

• San Martino delle Scale is a mountain town just outside the center of Palermo (20km to Palermo city center, 45 minutes to Palermo airport)
• It is known for its Abbey and wooded areas that offer coolness during the hot Sicilian summers.
• It is only 10km away from the historic hill-town of Monreale, a picturesque place famous for the fine mosaics in the town’s great Norman cathedral.
• You can enjoy a fantastic view along ancient mountain paths (such as the nearby “neviera”) or climbing to the top of Castellaccio.

The property is an independent villa on two levels of approximately 350sqm surrounded by dense forest vegetation (pine and olive trees) with a breathtaking view of Monte Cuccio and Monte Caputo, as far as Palermo and its gulf. The main access to the villa is from the road with the possibility of parking one or more cars internally. Terraced paths and footpaths encircle the property, allowing access to the upper or lower floors.

Upper floor:

Here, a large panoramic terrace steals the show, inviting guests to enjoy the view and summer coolness. In winter, entering the floor, one can warm oneself in front of the fireplace while it snows outside. A bathroom, two bedrooms, a storage room and another small room make staying on the floor more than comfortable. From the floor, a marble staircase leads to the lower floor.

Lower floor:

Here a large living room with a fireplace spans the entire size of the terrace above, with an exit to the partially covered terrace on the floor from which the kitchen, study and bedroom can be accessed. A bathroom, a storage room, a hallway and another room with access to the exclusive courtyard behind complete the floor’s composition.

The entire property requires renovation work, starting with the terrace (to prevent new water infiltrations on the floor below) with the possibility of then proceeding with the work step by step thanks to the possibility of living independently on either floor. A 70000-litre reservoir in the basement provides maximum water autonomy for the property.

About San Martino delle Scale (Monreale, PA)

The village of San Martino Delle Scale lies at 589 m, just outside Palermo and nestled in the valley between Monte Cuccio and Monte Caputo, near the monumental aggregate that includes the Benedictine monastery and abbey basilica dedicated to St Martin, Bishop of Tours. An ancient tradition has it that the abbey was founded by Pope Gregory the Great († 604) and destroyed by the Saracens in the 9th century. The non-existence of reliable sources has made many scholars doubt the ‘Gregorian’ foundation of the abbey. Instead, there are many documents that link the abbey to the first half of the 14th century, starting from the year 1347.

Today, the abbey continues to play a very important role for the mountain community of San Martino delle Scale with its parish activities around which gravitate various Catholic groups and movements, the Martinian Choir, which also boasts a recent performance at the RAI auditorium, as well as other typically monastic activities such as: The restoration of the book, the sale of medicinal herbs and typical products, and the production of an excellent abbey beer ‘HORA BENEDICTA’ that boasts nationwide recognition.

Marie Wester, her team of assistants, builders, architects, engineers and a large network of local brokers do all the best in order to make it possible to tailor a solution for all conceivable needs and wishes. Find out how the actual process of buying a house here works by taking a look at the purchase guide (CLICK HERE)