A $60 million beachfront mansion with subterranean secrets and Italian flair

• A beachfront mansion in Delray Beach, Florida, owned by a local resident, aims to break the area's real estate record with a unique Italian-style home that boasts both an elegant above-ground design and a mysterious underground personality.
• The ceiling and columns of the upper levels are adorned with 300 stone carvings, vaulted ceilings, and a fresco painted in Florence, Italy.
• The subterranean space of the home is filled with modern luxuries, including a super car gallery, a glowing tequila bar, and a steel vault filled with stacks of cash.
• A tour of the $60 million mansion is showcased by CNBC.

A beachfront mansion in Delray Beach, Florida, owned by a local resident, aims to break the area's real estate record with a unique Italian-style home that boasts both an elegant above-ground design and a mysterious underground personality.

The home's subterranean space is equipped with modern luxuries such as a super car gallery, glowing tequila bar, and a steel vault filled with cash, while the upper levels feature 300 stone-carved columns, vaulted ceilings, and a fresco painted in Florence, Italy.

The limestone-clad residence on South Ocean Boulevard's ultra-high-end section, measuring 23,000-plus square feet, is called Mar Pietra, meaning "sea stone" in Italian.

CNBC reported that owner Massimo Musa thought it was fitting to use so much stone in the house.

Musa founded and sold several companies in the eye-care industry. He also developed real estate and built Mar Pietra with his ex-wife.

The completion of the passion project required the work of numerous craftsmen, painters, and sculptors, many of whom were from Italy. Limestone was imported from Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, while marble was shipped from Verona, Italy. Cedar panels also arrived from Colombia.

The mega home boasts a 100-foot beachfront location and features a main residence, guest house, and a total of nine bedrooms, 12 full baths, and seven half baths. The climate-controlled subterranean garage adds 4,000 square feet, while covered areas such as a luxurious loggia provide additional space for a kitchen, bar, lounge, and dining area.

The estate is five times the size of the average Delray Beach home sold during the first quarter and costs more than 18 times the area's average sales price for a luxury home, according to the Elliman Report. The report defines luxury homes as the top 10% of sales.

In 2021, the highest sale price ever achieved in Delray Beach was $34 million for a listing located on South Ocean Boulevard. Additionally, the top sale price per square foot was recorded in 2021 at just under $2,600 per square foot. Mar Pietra's list price aligns with this value metric.

The massive footprint and giant oceanfront lawn of the trophy home on this Palm Beach County beach strip are rare due to the lot's unique zoning history, according to Musa.

In 2002, Musa, an immigrant from Italy, purchased two lots, one on the Intracoastal Waterway and the other on the oceanfront, for $9 million. At the time, the oceanfront parcel had a hotel on it, meaning it was subject to hotel zoning regulations. Musa tore down the old building to construct a beachfront family home that paid tribute to his homeland.

Despite the demolition of the hotel, the land's hotel zoning remained unchanged, allowing Musa to construct a larger home with smaller setbacks. Additionally, the residence could be built closer to the shoreline than typical residential zoning regulations permit.

The beachfront lot that was cleared decades ago by the hotel's owners is now a lush evergreen lawn made of artificial grass that rolls across the back of Musa's one-acre property, meeting the natural vegetation on the sandy shoreline.

The estate, located 21 feet above sea level and boasting an impressive size, is not always easy to sell at its $60 million price point. Despite being on and off the market since December 2021, the estate's price tag remains steady. The listing agent for the property is Senada Adzem of Douglas Elliman in South Florida.

Adzem informed CNBC that this trophy estate, situated in South Florida, is a bespoke luxury property that embodies timeless elegance.

The Elliman Report indicates that luxury single-family home inventory in the first quarter increased by over 12% compared to the previous year, while the average sales price of a luxury single-family home in Delray Beach decreased by more than 33%.

Although market data suggests some challenges, Adzem maintains confidence in the list price and the strength of South Florida's high-end real estate market.

"The real estate market in Palm Beach County will remain strong, as wealthy clients prioritize oceanfront locations, privacy, and uniqueness above all else."

Adzem directs to a sale in Highland Beach, just 400 meters down the street, where an oceanfront home was sold for $50 million in May, which is more than $2,800 per square foot. In comparison, Mar Pietra could be considered a relative bargain on this coastline, as a nearby smaller home on South Ocean Boulevard recently listed for $74 million, or about $5,100 per square foot.

Mar Pietra's premium price is due to its high construction quality and unique zoning allowances, according to Adzem.

"Our client was able to create a unique property due to the generous zoning allowances," she stated.

In this part of Florida, it is not impossible for a potential buyer to take issue with the estate's size. Therefore, the real estate broker and her client are prepared to provide a solution.

"The unique feature of the home is that my client is willing to sell it along with the Intracoastal Waterway lot, which would result in the only ocean-to-intracoastal compound in Delray Beach, Florida."

Adzem stated that the two-lot deal would provide enough land to construct a waterfront house with a unique spot on the Intracoastal Waterway for docking a mega yacht. She would only disclose the full package deal's price to potential buyers.

A detailed examination of Mar Pietra and its $60 million price tag.

The guesthouse, situated within a limestone structure, has a two-story layout and offers three bedrooms, three full baths, and two half baths. It is accessible via a circular motor court through a grand archway known as a porte-cochere, which is located on the driveway of the home.

A giant stone staircase ascends to the main residence beyond the circular motor court.

The central open-air courtyard can be accessed through the arches at the top of the stairway, as Musa explains that the design was inspired by the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami.

The foyer, with its double-height ceiling, is dominated by a butterfly staircase that connects to the courtyard leading to the home's main entrance.

The library in the home has two levels and a spiral staircase leading up to the second floor, and it offers more than just books.

Musa stated that the design of the cedar-wrapped room was influenced by the Vanderbilt estate, while the fresco on the ceiling was inspired by the Sistine Chapel. Adzem revealed to CNBC that the mural was painted in Florence, Italy, then shipped to Florida and attached to the ceiling, where the artist made the final touches.

The lower level of the library has an onyx bar and a lounge area, while the upper level features windows in the home office that offer views of the pool and ocean.

The second floor has a primary suite with windows offering views from every angle.

The suite's two baths boast contemporary designs, imported marbles, and walk-in closets that flow seamlessly into a boutique-style wardrobe with a cabinet island, jewelry showcase, and separate shoe closet.

Beneath the dune where Mar Pietra resides lies a contemporary lair with luxurious amenities.

The underground garage beneath the house is known as the auto lounge and features elaborate crystal chandeliers, intricate ceilings, and space for seven cars. During a recent visit from CNBC, the garage was filled with $5 million worth of rare Lamborghinis.

The lounge, designed for car enthusiasts, offers a stunning view of the parked supercars through a wall of curved glass that separates it from the garage. An art piece made of steel, with a functioning door and stacks of money inside, is located on the side wall.

The bar is made of quartzite and only serves tequila. At night, the surfaces can be illuminated with a milky-white glow from lights embedded in the stone.

One of the home's two cinemas is a state-of-the-art theater featuring a floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall electronic screen.