Seaview Villa (slps 8-10)

This is the headliner of the 2 houses, a two-storey 200m2 villa perched on a sea-facing bluff, with a huge terrace (furnished with outdoor sofas, dining table and loungers looking across the bay), a wraparound veranda, an open-air jacuzzi tub and steps down to the rocky shore.

Inside there's oodles of clean-lined space, with smart mid-century modernist furniture and swathes of polished concrete. Downstairs is an open-plan living area with a fireplace and low-slung sofas, as well as a bathroom. Its big kitchen-diner has everything you need for rustling up holiday feasts: fridge, oven, hob, microwave, dishwasher, toaster, coffee maker, crockery and cutlery, pots and pans, and a few basic ingredients (oil, salt etc).

Open-sided metal stairs lead up to 4 double bedrooms, all with ensuite shower rooms (and one with a tub) and doors opening onto that wraparound balcony. We loved the reclaimed floor tiles, the beautiful Art Deco chairs and light fittings, the polygonal mirrors and the teal and mustard accents on brilliant white walls - a true feast for the eyes.

Olive House (slps 4-6)

This house is smaller and sits a little way inland, but what it lacks in views and grandeur, it more than makes up for in charm. It feels like a traditional cottage rather than a villa, with whitewashed beams, salvaged wooden furniture and wall-fuls of ornate Sicilian tiles. We loved staying here.

It works well for a family of 4, with a master double bedroom upstairs, which boasts an ensuite shower room and a small dressing area (which can be made up as an additional single bedroom if required); plus a second double bedroom (and a second bathroom) downstairs.

There's a living room with seating for 4+, and a kitchen-diner - compact but well thought out - with all you need for simple meals. Chance are you'll eat these outside, on the lawn in the shade of the olive trees. Best of all, this cottage comes with a private 8x3m swimming pool in the garden.

Activities

• Head to the lovely beach of Baia dei 7 Frati, just a 5-minute stroll from the villas. You’ll find other beaches at Capo Playa and Costa Calura, both a short drive away, and in town
  
• Meander around honey-stoned Cefalù, admiring its Arab-Norman architecture, bobbing fishing boats and striking twin-towered cathedral
  
• If you can muster the energy, tackle the steep steps (Salita Saraceni) which wind up to the top of La Rocca, the imposing crag that towers above Cefalù. You’ll pass through 3 banks of city walls before emerging to stunning views
  
• For beautiful vistas without the exertion, head to Bastione Capo Marchiafava, a 17th-century fortification off Via Bordonaro
  
• Drive up into the rugged green hills of the Madione Regional Park, home to time-forgotten villages (Castelbuono, Geraci and Petralia Soprana are particularly pretty), signed hiking trails, and farms selling homemade cheese
  
• Further afield, Palermo, Mount Etna and elegant Taormina are all within day-tripping distance

Best Time to go

Our Top Tips

Location

The villas are located on the northern Sicilian coast, 5km from the town of Cefalù and just over an hour from the island’s capital, Palermo.

By Air:
The closest airport is Palermo Falcone-Borsellino (107km away), which is served by flights from all over Europe – click on the links below for a list. Alternatively, you can fly into Catania Fontanarossa (185km away) on the east coast, or Trapani-Birgi (188km away) in the west.

From the Airport
Transfers can be arranged, but most guests hire a car to make the most of the area – see our car-rental recommendations. Both villas have private off-street parking.

By Train:
There are regular trains from Palermo and other coastal towns to Cefalù station. From there, you can take a taxi to the villas.

Detailed directions will be provided when you confirm a booking through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Sicily and getting around