Inside the Muhammad Ali Estate in L.A.'s Hancock Park

Sometimes properties are legends in their own right, and this Italian Renaissance-style mansion in L.A.'s Hancock Park neighborhood is no exception. Once owned by boxing great, Muhammad Ali, the historic estate was built by John C. Austin, the renowned architect of the Griffith Observatory and Los Angeles City Hall. A commanding presence on a flat 1.6 acre corner lot in the guard-gated community of “Fremont Place" further cements its status as one of L.A.'s greatest homes. Reveals agent Gary Gold of Coldwell Banker Realty in Beverly Hills, who recently listed the landmark property for $16,995,000: "The estate was built in 1916 – back when estates were mansions and their worth was not measured by the latest tech they had, but rather by the quality, painstaking detail and craftsmanship they possessed." The main residence is set amid an abundance of amenities, including a generously sized guest house, hidden gardens, sweeping lawns, stone terraces and a lush pool area. Over 10,500 square feet of living space offers the next owner a harmonious blend of old world grandeur and beauty. Dramatic chandeliers, antique fireplaces and other architectural details give the living areas a gravitas. In the main residence, the interiors are defined by a grand entry hall, a formal dining room, a living room with bay windows, a den with a wet bar and a light-filled circular sun room with a glass roof – all of which recall the grand entertaining traditions of a bygone era. Seven bedrooms, including a lavishly appointed primary suite opens to a column-lined deck that overlooks the gardens. Two offices, one with a series of oversized stained glass windows from Louis Comfort Tiffany, also give the residence a certain poetry. For more information, visit coldwellbankerluxury.com or call Gary Gold at (310) 741-0505.