Cefalu

There are 4 villas in the hills above Cefalù - two to the west, one to the east - with plunging views over lush valleys to the coast and the dramatic pimple of Cefalù's rock fortress. It's as if you're hanging between the mountains and the sea.

CEFALU VILLA 1 is a beautifully restored, two-storey country house full of soul. There are cool, high-beamed living rooms with a scattering of retro-chic furniture, and a wonderfully equipped kitchen (check out the colander display!) which is the hub of the house. These give onto a wide terrace with potted palms, sofas and a bamboo-shaded pergola divided into dining and sitting areas: the most popular 'rooms' in the house. It's a short walk through well tended gardens to the decked pool, perched on the edge of the hill and part-shaded by an ancient oak. Upstairs are 3 bedrooms: 2 doubles (ensuite) and 1 quad (separate bathroom) which is perfect for 4 older kids. There's no A/C here, but there are fans, thick walls and cool breezes.

CEFALU VILLA 2, newly built in 2018, is perfect for families with kids of all ages, and anyone who prefers contemporary, bright interiors. Here, the 3 bedrooms are downstairs - with French windows onto the lawns and pool - while the airy white open-plan kitchen-diner is upstairs, with its own large terrace. There is masses of space, indoors and out, for everyone. We particularly like the dining pergola (with hammock!), the smooth wooden floors in the bedrooms, the salvaged wooden boat by the pool, and of course those views - which, as happy guests invariably comment, "you can never tire of".

CEFALU VILLA 3, set in the hills above Lascari and shaded by a tall pine tree, has 4 bedrooms divided into two pairs (1 double and 1 twin on each level), making it especially handy for two families travelling together. The lower level opens straight out onto the 12-metre pool, with its lawn and loungers; the upper level has the better bathroom (shower and tub). On the middle level is a generous open-plan living space, including a sitting room with huge picture windows to the coast and the rugged hills which separate you from Cefalù.

CEFALU VILLA 4 has flexible accommodation, with 3 bedrooms in the main house and a 4th in a separate annexe: great if you're travelling with your parents, for example. The open-plan ground-floor living-dining space has huge swing-windows opening onto the pool terrace. Inside, the decor is bold and exotic, with geometric fabrics and prints of smiling African women. An unrailed staircase - no kids under 8 allowed here - leads up to 3 double bedrooms, all ensuite (one has a striking black bathtub); the fourth bedroom in the annexe also has its own bathroom.

All villas are 15-20 mins' drive from Cefalù, with its many shops, streetside restaurants, fishing harbour, Norman cathedral and sandy beach. For essentials, you can nip to the nearest village (Gibilmanna / Sant' Ambrogio); the former also has a simple pizzeria. The adventurous can explore the footpaths of the Madonie mountains, visit a cheese-making shepherd, taste local wines or learn to make fresh ravioli and pastella. We can recommend all of the above.

Noto

Perched on terraced olive groves above the Baroque town of Noto in southeast Sicily, this newly built house of pale local stone is a real steal. Interiors are sparse and minimalist, but perfectly designed, with everything you need. There's a big and beautiful kitchen, two spacious white bedrooms (great mattresses, walk-in wetrooms), a sleekly lit living area with comfy seating indoors and out, and a private pool with endless views rolling down to the sea. A third single/twin room is fine for kid(s).

The house is set on stone-walled terraces with low trees, cacti and aromatic shrubs - pick herbs or peppers to spice up your barbecue. There's not much natural shade, but two slatted pergolas and a lovely sense of Med-meets-Africa.

It's 10 mins' drive into the elegantly weathered town of Noto, whose ornate churches and civic buildings line the central Corso like a theatre set peopled with elegant extras from a Fellini film. Needless to say, there's no shortage of great restaurants and gelaterie ; try the almond granita at Caffè Sicilia. Equally stunning are the hilltowns of Ragusa and Modica, the ancient quarries and medieval lanes of Siracusa, and the shallow beaches and flamingo-filled wetlands of Vendicari: all 30-40 mins' drive away.

Selinunte

THE SELINUNTE VILLA is a real hideaway, tucked among acres of olive and citrus groves - think fresh oranges for breakfast juicing, and total seclusion from the outside world. The warmly tiled, peach-painted bungalow has a bohemian, indoor-outdoor living vibe. We love the al fresco sitting and dining alcoves, with low candlelit seating, rolling blinds and potted bougainvillea. This is where most of your time will be spent, when not splashing in the good-sized pool, drying off on the wooden deck or the extensive lawns. It's paradise for kids.

Interiors have a Moorish or oriental touch, with hanging kilims and reclaimed carved-wood doors, some of them repurposed as ethnic-chic bedheads. Two of the bedrooms have double beds (1 kingsize, 1 queensize), while the third is twin-bedded. All have A/C and French windows onto the garden. The kitchen - a smallish room - still packs in a fridge-freezer, gas hob, oven, dishwasher and microwave.

It's 5 minutes' drive into Castelvetrano, a sprawling, pretty enough town with authentic trattorie and plenty of shops. More importantly, the breathtaking ancient temples of Selinunte - perhaps the most quietly impressive Greek site in the Med - is 10 minutes away, with wild sandy beaches alongside. Trapani and Agrigento are both about an hour away.

Kids

All the villas are great for children, with 3-4 bedrooms, a good sized pool (unheated) and beaches nearby; but note that Cefalu Villas 1 and 4 are not suitable for younger kids due to steep gardens.

Our top picks for a family - including larger families or those travelling with grandparents - would be Selinunte, for its secluded lawned gardens (no steep drops!), or Cefalu Villa 2 for its unfussy rooms and outside space. Noto is perfect for family of 4 or 5, including infants (there is a cot and high chair). For two families travelling together, Cefalu Villas 1 and 4 works well, so long as all children are over 8.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The villas are located near Cefalu (on Sicily's north coast), near Noto (southeast Sicily), and near Selinunte (southwest Sicily).

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

By Air:
The closest airports are Palermo Falcone-Borsellino (for Cefalu), Catania Fontanarossa (for Noto), and also Trapani-Birgi (for Selinunte), though this has fewer flight connections.

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.

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