Not everyone knows that the Little Mermaid actually comes from Liguria, Italy. That's right: the story of the impossible love between the daughter of the king of the sea and the earthly prince, immortalised by Hans Christian Andersen, comes from an ancient legend set in Sestri Levante. And here, on an evocative cliff that harks back to sea stories of distant times, Lionard Luxury Real Estate is exclusively selling a luxury villa designed in the style of Le Corbusier. Let's visit it together.
The forbidden love between the Tigullio triton and the mermaid Segesta is said to have originated on the Sestri Levante peninsula. It was here that the Danish writer Andersen stayed in 1833, who, perhaps inspired by this fascinating story, published his short story 'The Little Mermaid' shortly afterwards.
It was here, on the very tip of a cliff, just 15km from Portofino and 25 from Cinque Terre, that architect Luigi Carlo Daneri, drawing on the language of the master Le Corbusier, designed an enchanting villa between 1938 and 1940. The villa is characterised as a place of peace and beauty, surrounded by 2.3 hectares of parkland to guarantee total privacy; a corner of paradise away from the frenzy of contemporary living.
Owned by an Italian publisher - frequented by the big names in design and architecture, publishing and business - the villa is a rare example of unaltered rationalist architecture. The mansion has been recognised as a National Monument of Modern Architecture by the Italian Ministry of Culture as an 'essential testimony to 20th century Italian architecture'. After construction was completed, the villa was published in the prestigious magazines Casabella (October 1940) and Domus (January 1941) and in the 1990s by Abitare.
A charming forest path and stairway lead to the private beach with exclusive access to the sea. Featuring a swimming pool with solarium and ample parking, the villa has 1,100 square metres of interior space comprising the main building and two independent annexes. The residence is spread over three floors with nine bedrooms and six bathrooms, ideal for accommodating numerous guests.
Completely renovated, including the furnishings designed by Daneri, the residence has been restored to its original architectural value and is entrusted exclusively to Lionard Luxury Real Estate S.p.A.
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