Trapani, Trapani, Sicily, Italy

This prestigious three-storey building is located on Via Livio Bassi, parallel to the city's main thoroughfare, Via Fardella, and not far from the historic centre and the beaches of San Giuliano.

The property, built in the early 20th century, is embellished by a historic 900-square metre garden, located in an internal courtyard, crossed by paths and including tall trees, fruit plants, a fountain and antique wrought-iron pergolas.

The residence boasts an illustrious past, having been built and inhabited by the descendants of Baron Vito Sicomo, an eminent jurisconsult, the first baron of the land of Vita and founder of the town that was named after him.

Vito Sicomo was born in 1548, the son of Don Girolamo Sicomo (a factor of the Count of Modica) and Bartolomea Bianco of the Marquises of Campobianco. After the baron's death in 1626, the fief passed by direct line of succession to his nephew Francesco and then to his brothers. The fief remained in the hands of the Sicomo family until 1812, when feudal rights in Sicily were abolished.

The register of the Italian nobility shows that some descendants resided at Via Arena 40, now called Via Livio Bassi, in this very property, which was built by Cav. Francesco Sicomo and his brother, Baron Vito Sicomo, father of Baroness Concetta Sicomo (wife of Francesco Messina), who lived there until 2002.

The building is made of load-bearing masonry with mainly vaulted ceilings; the fixtures are made of fine solid wood with mouldings.

All the finishes, floors and wall coverings are of antique workmanship and of great value and elegance, mainly in Art Nouveau style.

The property is in good condition and is composed of 9 autonomous units on the ground floor (including 2 entrance halls with independent staircase pertaining to the two flats on the first floor), 2 residential units on the first floor and 2 independent laundry rooms on the solar slab, in addition to the already mentioned ornamental garden behind with entrance from the entrance halls of the staircase.

Due to its size and historical-cultural importance, the building is suitable both as a representative residence and to be converted into a luxury accommodation facility.

Known as the city of Salt and Sail, Trapani derives its name from the Latin Drepanum, which means sickle, exactly because of its shape. A land where history, culture and nature blend together, the entire province of Trapani creates something unique: within it, there are steep cliffs and extensive beaches, but also archaeological finds and small villages with the most authentic traditions. In itself, the city is characterized by monuments and churches as well as palaces, fountains and squares. The crucial central point is the harbour, which has undergone through several changes over the time: the last one being on the occasion of the last America's Cup. The morphology of the territory of Trapani has always marked the life of its citizens.