Palazzo Cecile is a spectacular Badolato property that has retained much of its original construction from the late 1700s and early 1800s. Because of its size and style, it is considered a “palazzo borghese,” and it is simply a dream of a house for lovers of art, history, architecture, and classic beauty.
Located in Vico San Domenico just off the main square, Palazzo Cecile was erected shortly after a series of five major earthquakes that devastated Badolato and other parts of Calabria in 1783. Construction began in 1790 and finished in 1830. As a result, this stately palazzo was built in one of the most secure areas of the village with the first reinforced concrete used anywhere in the region.
The house is, as you can tell from the photos, fit to be lived in, complete with water, sewer connection, electricity, etc., but some of its spacious, interconnected rooms are also ready to be updated and restored, giving the new owners an opportunity to make this historic palazzo truly their own.
Original Features of the Palazzo
One of the original features in the palazzo is its chestnut beams; they were covered with a wooden drop ceiling and painted white during the early 1900s but the new owner can remove that layer to reveal the original beams underneath.
The antique staircase that runs through the heart of the house is original as well — a wrought-iron railing done in the “napoletano” style is a treasure in and of itself.
And finally, on the top level of this four-story palazzo, you will find the original, unrestored kitchen from the early 1800s. The original sink is still in place as well.
Meticulously Restored Cantina
The structure includes eleven rooms in total as well as an attic that runs the length of the house and two “catoju” — cantina in the local dialect — the basement of the house, essentially, where olive oil and other products were traditionally stored.
In fact, the palazzo used to be connected directly to a frantoio (olive press) across the street through an underground passage, which has since been sealed off.
These two rooms were lovingly restored by the current owner to create a space to display her late husband’s artwork. They make for a breathtaking first impression from the ground level, which is connected to the main house internally by an antique wooden staircase.
In the cantina, the original chestnut beams have been restored to their former glory, and each of the terra cotta tiles that now form the “new” pavement are hundreds of years old and were cleaned one by one by hand before being placed.
Views
The palazzo’s views include the rolling Badolato hillside and the 17th-century Convento Santa Maria degli Angeli, the Ionian Sea, and even up the hill to Badolato’s Church of San Domenico.
For More Information
Palazzo Cecile is for sale by the owner, and other photos of this gorgeous, unique Badolato property are available upon request. Please contact us for more information.
