Description

Villa Catalonia - Sicily

This CatalonianCastlehas been the property of one of Sicily’s oldest, noble families since the 13^th Century. The estate covers hundreds of hectares and today the castle, still owned by the same family, is surrounded by one of the largest citrus groves in Sicily(200 hectares). 

This magnificent property takes you into another dimension, starting with your entrance through a private gate and down a long driveway, which leads you through acres of oranges and tangerines. The base of the Castle is met by a large parking lot, which allows the property to be rented for private events.  The stone corridor, lined by a red carpet, leads you through a path flanked with palms and Mediterranean flora to the entrance of the Castle, through its large, antique oak-arched doors.  To the right of the entrance is a private church and the left of the entrance takes you along a path to the pool deck. 

Dating back to the 16th century, the 300 sq. meter internal courtyard (roughly 3,500 sq. feet) is paved in lava stone. The main façade is in a neo-Gothic style characterized by a central tower decorated with the coat of arms. The courtyard opens out into a granary where the properties’ grapes and olives are pressed.  The castle looks out onto a spacious garden of palms and Mediterranean flora, with a spacious swimming pool available for use in summer. 

The main entrance leads you into a corridor and open-air patio courtyard.  The courtyard is bordered by a series of room and entrances, starting with a small waiting room is found to the left, while a small room to the right offers another sitting or reception area. This room leads to a series of sitting rooms connecting internally to the private church. The series of large sitting and lounge rooms are quite unique. With a true Roman décor, these lounges, wonderful for relaxing and socializing, offer comfortable couches, pillow chairs, and great Roman décor.  The two, large lounge rooms lead into an amazing, informal dining room with a round nights-table and pillow seating for 14. The whole area has a very medieval and unique feel, with wall torches and large, white cushions abounding. The courtyard is also bordered by a large reception dining room and as well as a room boasting an original olive press. The lasts room found along the courtyard is an amazing, original wine processing room with large, concrete grape tubs and concrete wine passageways.  It is a testament to the true, ancient are of wine making.  The courtyard also offers two large bathrooms (only toilets).

The Castle is divided into two wings.Ten guests can sleep in the left wing, which is located up 17 steps off of the patio corridor.  Both wings boast a total of 6 bedrooms (3 each). The left wing enjoys two finely decorated sitting rooms, each with its own fireplace. There are large couches and chairs and wonderfully detailed décor (lamps, bookshelves, flowers, art). The whole wing is very cured. The three bedrooms are divided between a double, a twin, and a single, there are two bathrooms found in the left wing (not en-suite), both with large bathtubs. The right wing enjoys a dining room and kitchen, as well as a small kitchen foyer and two sitting rooms, which connect with the first wing. The right wing also enjoys 3 bedrooms (two twin bedrooms and a single, which is perfect for a baby sitter).  The single enjoys an en-suite bathroom.

Fitted with every comfort, the residential wings have been restored by the family with great attention to detail. The antique furniture, which has always part of the house, has been enriched with beautiful trompe-l'oeil.  The floors are layered in old Sicilian pottery tiles with different designs in each room.  Huge stone fireplaces heat the sitting rooms, while the other areas are fitted with modern electric heating.

Access: Entrance to the property is through a private, electronically controlled gate off of a residential street.