Castillo Del Lago, Estate of the Day

Today's home, Castillo del Lago is one of the legendary homes tucked up into the Hollywood Hills. It was originally built for oil explorer Patrick Longdon but more famously was later the home to mobster Bugsy Siegel who may have turned the castle into a speakeasy. The story gets interesting again when Madonna picks up the home in 1993 for around $5 million and her brother sets to work decorating it for another $3 million. Those rather interesting stripes on the outside? Blame Madonna's brother who says in his memoir that he got the idea from a little church in Portofino. The home has nine bedrooms and the property roams approximately three acres on a hilltop with views of the Hollywood reservoir.

The interior has tall beamed ceilings, cool tile floors, and has a huge spiral staircase for ascending the home's many levels (there is also an elevator). The bright white kitchen includes a vintage O'Keefe and Merrit stove and twin SubZero refrigerator/freezers. For those who prefer a little less light there are also a few rooms that look cool and dark including a long library, paneled billiard room and some sort of cozy space draped in multicolored fabrics. As you might imagine, the tower provides full views as far as the eye can see (or the smog will allow).

Outside there is a courtyard,, a long lap pool, fountains, rose gardens and a small mazelike formal garden. Madonna sold the home to commercial director Joe Pytka for $5.3 million and he has now listed the home for $14.95 million.

UPDATE: As of November 2009, this home has been relisted at $9.95 million.

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