This Sicilian Castle from “The Godfather III” Is for Sale
Forget “Emily in Paris” — it’s time to jet off to Sicily.
A stunning Italian castle you may have seen on the silver screen is officially on the market. Piazza Agostino Pennisi, which appeared in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather III”, is a 22-bed, 8-bathroom estate located in Sicily. Listed at $6,817,407 with Danila Addario of Italy Sotheby’s International Realty, it dates all the way back to 1800. And if we got to spend some time luxuriating in this coastal Italian beauty, chances are it would be a whole lot more fun than watching “The Godfather III”.
The 43,055-square-foot castle, which is located the city of Acireale in the province of Catania, was built in Neo-Gothic style for the Pennisi family. Tucked away up a long boulevard, Piazza Pennisi welcomes guests at the regal entrance, where it’s surrounded by a double row of palm trees. You’ll find a marble bust of Baron Pennisi, who built the castle, at the end of the road. Straight out of a fairy tale, the castle is composed of three joint buildings on two levels, and there are also two symmetrical rectangular towers. Up a handful of steps, a three-arched portico opens up to the forked marble staircase, the epitome of grandeur that feels straight out of “Cinderella”. The ceiling of the staircase is wooden coffered, and features the initials of the family last name and the coat of arms. There are plenty of other old touches of the regal property’s history, including a portrait of the Baron Pennisi holding court on the first floor.
Filled with high ceilings and palatial bedrooms, the property also has a sprawling reception hall with a large fireplace that’s engraved with the initials of the family’s surname. Five large mullioned windows decorated with columns overlook the 8,500-square-meter park, filled with plentiful fauna and mature trees. There’s also an extensive amount of art throughout the property, many of which are paintings of the famous painter Paul Pennisi.
On the mezzanine floor, a 12-room apartment provides endless living space, including additional reception halls, in case you feel like throwing another decadent party. An architecturally-stunning chapel features geometric patterns in gold and blue and frescoes by Giuseppe Sciuti, depicting the blue starry sky and saints overhead while a column of pews sits below. The towering ceiling creates a strong sense of depth in the intricately-created space. Additional features in the property include a wine cellar, library, artist studio, and caretaker house.
The castle has been through plenty of chaos in the past. It stood tall during the earthquake of 1908, as well as the bombings of World War II that hit Acireale. With an outstanding location on the slopes of Mount Etna close to the Ionian Sea, Piazza Pennisi could have us jetting off to Sicily in no time.