Sicily Luxury Villas

Vendicari Villa 1 (4-5br)

We think the southeast corner of Sicily is so beautiful - with the sandy coves of Vendicari below, and the handsome Baroque town of Noto above - that any villa here is a find. This stylish, spacious 4 bedroom house has landscaped grounds with aromatic shrubs and exotic cactus gardens, a big decked pool with infinity edges and sleek loungers, and a covered pergola for sitting and dining. In this climate, life is lived outdoors.

Interiors are more conventional, though still eye-catching. Double height beneath lime-washed eaves, the living-dining space has floor to ceiling racks of carefully arranged books and objets (we’re not sure how you reach the top shelves, though). In the upstairs bedrooms, bold polygonal fabrics contrast with terracotta-and-cream check floors; bathrooms are a riot of ceramic Sicilian tiles and matching wallpapers. The kitchen is comparatively traditional - and perhaps all the better for it. Best of all, though, is the sunken 16-metre pool, especially under a huge sunset or a skyful of stars.

Vendicari Villa 2 (6br)

Description to follow shortly...

Taormina Villa (4br)

To be so close to the town centre - Taormina’s boutiques and bars are a 15-minute stroll - and yet to have such uninterrupted coastal views is a rare privilege. This ultra-desirable 3 / 4-bedroom house is tucked almost out of sight on three leafy terraces, midway down to the beaches of Mazzaro and Isola Bella; from the pool terrace (or the dining or bedroom terraces) you gaze out past bobbing boats to distant Calabria on the sparkling horizon. Morning birds can walk (steeply!) down in 10 minutes for a morning swim before the crowds hit.

Indoors, all is calm and classy: white walls, parquet floors, bright downlighters, sliding picture windows. There are pops of art and patches of exposed rock (on which the house directly rests), but the views do the talking. The focal point is the open-plan living-dining space. A smart kitchen comes with gleaming black-and-chrome appliances. There are two bedrooms on this level - a huge master with ensuite shower room, and a small double (or single) with adjacent bathroom.

If you need more, a separate downstairs apartment almost doubles the space, with its own living-dining area, small kitchenette, double (or twin) bedroom and shower room. Best of all - for the teens it's aimed at - is the foosball table, indoor gym and giant TV.

The only minor quibble we could find is that the roof of the municipal pool slightly spoils the view from the lower levels.

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome at all the villas.

We think the Vendicari Villas are the most family-friendly, thanks to the big pools and proximity to sandy beaches; but mind the cactus gardens!

The Taormina villa is great for (older) teens; its semi-separate apartment has a foosball, Sky TV and indoor gym.

And all of them can fit 2 families travelling together, though it might be a bit of squeeze in Taormina as one of the double bedrooms is pretty tight.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Distances:

• Vendicari Villas: Shops & Hospital 20 mins (Noto), Airport 1 hr 10mins (Catania)
• Taormina Villa: Shops & Hospital 5-10 mins (Taormina), Airport 1 hr (Catania)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The villas are located near Noto (on Sicily's southeast coast), and in Taormina (east coast).

> See all villa locations on a Google map (new window)

By Air:
The closest airport is Catania Fontanarossa which is about 100km (1hr15) from the Vendicari Villas, and 70km (1hr) from Taormina. Alternatively, you could fly into Palermo, but it's about 300km from all locations.

From the Airport
You'll almost certainly need a rental car. All villas have off-street parking.

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.