Private island off the coast of Sicily hits the market for less than £1.7million 

Private island off the coast of Sicily with a 17th century watch tower hits the market for £1.7million

  • Isola delle Femmine is an uninhabited, wild 37-acre atoll, almost 1,000 feet from the mainland of Sicily 
  • It is located within a protected Italian marine park that is a hit with both scuba divers and snorkellers 
  • Island is being sold by Italian countess Paola Pilo Bacci, whose family have owned the land since the 1600s 

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A rugged private island off the coast of Sicily that boasts a 17th-century watch tower and medieval ruins has hit the market for £1.7million.

The island, called Isola delle Femmine, is an uninhabited, wild 37-acre atoll, almost 1,000 feet from the mainland, close to the city of Palermo.

It is located within a protected marine park that is a hit with both scuba divers and snorkellers due to its vibrant marine life and the ancient Roman relics that lie on the sea bed.

Isola delle Femmine, a private island off the coast of Sicily, has hit the open market for £1.7million

A jaw-dropping aerial photograph showing a view of the island with the mainland in the background

A jaw-dropping aerial photograph showing a view of the island with the mainland in the background

The island’s focal point is a watch tower on top of a grassy hill that had been part of a defense network around Sicily against pirates.

In the Second World War, the tower was extensively damaged and was later used as a military outpost by the US Navy.

The building has been abandoned, but the agent listing the island, Romolini Immobiliare, says there is scope to fully restore it.

Other features of the island include ancient Greek and Roman stones as well as a private beach.

The island is an uninhabited 37-acre atoll, almost 1,000 feet from the mainland, close to the city of Palermo

The island is an uninhabited 37-acre atoll, almost 1,000 feet from the mainland, close to the city of Palermo

Its name translates into English as ‘island of women’ as legend has it that 13 Turkish criminal maidens were cast adrift on the island as punishment for their bad behaviour.

The island is being sold by Italian countess Paola Pilo Bacci, whose family have owned the land since the 1600s.

She is selling up as the family no longer use it for holidays.

The island had at first been put on the market for over £3million but the asking price has now been lowered to interest more buyers.

The island's focal point is a watch tower on top of a grassy hill that had been part of a defense network against pirates

The island’s focal point is a watch tower on top of a grassy hill that had been part of a defense network against pirates

Agent Riccardo Romolini, who is marketing the property, said: 'The price at first was €3.5million (£3million) but given nobody showed up we've now lowered it to a flexible range between €1 and €3million (£857,000 and £2.5million), open to offers and negotiations'

Agent Riccardo Romolini, who is marketing the property, said: ‘The price at first was €3.5million (£3million) but given nobody showed up we’ve now lowered it to a flexible range between €1 and €3million (£857,000 and £2.5million), open to offers and negotiations’

The island is being sold by Italian countess Paola Pilo Bacci, whose family have owned the land since the 1600s

The island is being sold by Italian countess Paola Pilo Bacci, whose family have owned the land since the 1600s

Agent Riccardo Romolini, who is marketing the property, told CNN Travel: ‘The price at first was €3.5million (£3million) but given nobody showed up we’ve now lowered it to a flexible range between €1 and €3million (£857,000 and £2.5million), open to offers and negotiations.

‘Anywhere close to €2 million (£1.7million) we’d be very interested.’

In the listing, the agent also suggests that the island could be the perfect ‘trophy asset’. 

The island offers potential buyers a true haven away from mainland hustle and bustle

The island offers potential buyers a true haven away from mainland hustle and bustle