Best villas in Sicily for an idyllic escape to Italy's largest island
With all the hallmarks of a dream getaway – warm weather, azure waters, a rich and storied history, a distinct culinary scene – the seductive allure of Sicily, the Mediterranean Sea’s largest island, is an enduring one. Its distinct Italian flavour has long been coveted in popular culture; it was practically a character in The Godfather film trilogy. More recently, it starred as the mysteriously beautiful backdrop in season two of The White Lotus. Suddenly, the Sicilian attraction is stronger than ever. For a taste of its sweet, cannoli-filled life, these are the villas in Sicily that have caught our eye for their grandeur, location and charm.
More inspiration on where to stay in Sicily and Itlay
Liberty Library, Palermo
Palermo is a city whose light is never dimmed, regardless of the month of the year or the weather forecast. Its architecture is all about the iconic Liberty style, an Italian variant of Art Nouveau that characterises some of the most stunning buildings in the city, including the renowned Villa Igiea and the historic Grand Hotel et Des Palmes. Scrolling through the many homes for rent on Airbnb, I stumbled across one that seemed like the perfect mix of Sicilian tradition and design-led modernity. A stunning apartment located in an elegant Liberty-style building, minutes away from the bustling city centre but far enough to avoid the crowds, filled with thousands of books that inspired its name: Liberty Library.
Sleeps: Six
Price: From around £870 for a two-night stay
hotelVilla Sant'Andrea, A Belmond Hotel
The road to Villa Sant'Andrea, A Belmond Hotel, could turn legs to jelly. The drive winds down from Sicily's swishest clifftop town, Taormina, to the seafront, where a half-moon beach slopes to inky Mediterranean Sea. On one side sits Sant'Andrea, which appears carved into the rockface, curling around the bay like it's craning for the best view of the sunset. With just 68 rooms across a relatively large footprint, Villa Sant'Andrea has the luxury of space. To stay is to settle into the snoozy, steamy rhythms of Sicily, staying in a creamy villa overlooking the Ionian Sea, with the chance to nine at one of the island's most gorgeous restaurants, be looked after by exemplary staff and drink in views for days.
Villa Liberty, Taormina
Taormina’s allure is obvious: golden beaches, unbeatable views over Mount Etna and the glittering Ionian coastline, plus a rich, diverse history. Founded by the ancient Greeks in the 4th century BC, it’s been a cultural melting pot since time began. Just head to the Ancient Greek theatre for proof. This villa, swept up a hillside overlooking the sea, is both a calm oasis and joyful ode to colour. The scent of lemon hangs in the air and pink walls, lush green garden and bursts of purple bougainvillaea greet you from the door. Indoors, antique furniture, and a thoughtful mishmash of texture and pattern bring you back to a more elegant time, if only for a short while.
Sleeps: Six
Price: From around £3,496 for a seven-night stay
Sicilian Sun, Pantelleria
Bring the kids and the dogs: this home warmly welcomes the whole gang to come and convene under the Mediterranean sun. This place is made for socialising, with a huge pool surrounded by ample sunbeds for snoozing, reading and chatting, an outdoor kitchen with a big table for sharing supper and stories, plus plenty of sofas indoors and out for loafing after days exploring Pantelleria’s cliffs, caves and creeks. It’s a rustic feel inside, with four-poster beds finished with breezy linen drapes and views over the pool – which, in turn, looks out over the glorious far-reaching blue ocean, as far as the eye can see.
Sleeps: 12
Price: From around £4,511 for a three-night stay
Alture Celesti, Noto
In ancient Noto, this home has a modern flair, with chic minimal lines and a sophisticated palette of rusty reds and olive greens – a hotel-worthy finish, without the crowds. Awake on your first morning and dig into croissants with jam, cereal and eggs from the basket your host has left, then get to a hard day’s work sunbathing on the roof terrace. Unsurprisingly, the panoramic views over the historic centre from here make this the best spot in the house. Sightseeing is hot work, so take a dip in the plunge pool after a day traversing dusty streets, or jump in the car for a sea swim; the closest beach is a 15-minute drive away.
Sleeps: Eight
Price: From around £2,819 for a four-night stay
Arbolì, Villasmundo
Olive groves, vineyards and citrus trees curl for miles around this stunning terracotta villa, and patterned blue tiles, lemony hues and ultra-stylish furniture sit within. No doubt you’re in Italy – and what a beautiful part of the country; nestled between Catania and Syracuse on a historic 150-acre estate, with far-reaching views across an endless sea of orange orchards right across to Mount Etna. A unique T-shaped pool makes a centrepiece outside, next to which an al-fresco dining space is shaded by a fluttering palm frond roof. Sit with a cocktail and enjoy.
Sleeps: Eight
Price: From £7,086 per week
Il Faro, Brucoli
Located in the small southern seaside village of Brucoli, this smart villa has an unbeatable location – jutting out of a rocky outcrop, overlooking the Ionian Sea with Mount Etna in the background. The spectacular seafront spot comes courtesy of the villa’s previous life as a lighthouse – the beacon still tops the villa, while the rest of the building has been meticulously restored and modernised into a sleek three bedroom, three bathroom villa. Inside, the mood is minimalist and monochrome, with an airy open-plan living room and sea views to be spied at every turn. In one of the bedrooms, a chocolate velvet bed frame sits within steps of a freestanding bath, while white teste di moro (Sicilian ceramic heads) are perched above on the window sills. Up on the roof terrace, a spacious lounge area sits on beautiful turquoise majolica tiles, while the wrap-around terrace has everything you could need for a dream Sicilian holiday – sun loungers, a covered dining area and a jacuzzi. The villa has direct access to the shore, where guests can use the deckchairs by the water. A small sandy beach is a short walk away.
Sleeps: Six
Price: from about €728 (£634) per night, or €121 (£106) per person per night, seven nights minimum- dazzling Italian palazzo</a> Harper Spiller and Daphne Sullivan (played by Aubrey Plaza and Meghann Fahy) stayed in is available to rent on Airbnb. Villa Tasca is an exquisite neoclassical palazzo with all the trimmings – romantic trompe-l’oeil frescoes, Murano chandeliers, high ceilings, tall windows and gilt-framed paintings. The time warp continues in all four bedrooms, beautifully kitted out with vintage furniture and freestanding bathtubs in the ensuite bathrooms, along with much-needed modern features include mini fridges and air conditioning. Outside there are 20 sprawling acres of manicured gardens, including a swimming pool, alfresco dining area and even a swan lake.\n<strong>Sleeps:</strong> eight<br>\n<strong>Price:</strong> £4,874 per night, or £609 per person per night, three nights minimum<br>","contentType":"photo","credit":"Stefano Corso","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":213,"width":320,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/63c54d0aed31c94f5e4fc147/master/w_320,c_limit/02_Villa%20Tasca_Airbnb-jan23-pr.jpeg"},{"height":426,"width":640,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/63c54d0aed31c94f5e4fc147/master/w_640,c_limit/02_Villa%20Tasca_Airbnb-jan23-pr.jpeg"}],"md":[{"height":426,"width":640,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/63c54d0aed31c94f5e4fc147/master/w_640,c_limit/02_Villa%20Tasca_Airbnb-jan23-pr.jpeg"},{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/63c54d0aed31c94f5e4fc147/master/w_1280,c_limit/02_Villa%20Tasca_Airbnb-jan23-pr.jpeg"}],"lg":[{"height":682,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/63c54d0aed31c94f5e4fc147/master/w_1024,c_limit/02_Villa%20Tasca_Airbnb-jan23-pr.jpeg"},{"height":1365,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/63c54d0aed31c94f5e4fc147/master/w_2048,c_limit/02_Villa%20Tasca_Airbnb-jan23-pr.jpeg"}],"xl":[{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/63c54d0aed31c94f5e4fc147/master/w_1280,c_limit/02_Villa%20Tasca_Airbnb-jan23-pr.jpeg"}],"xxl":[{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/63c54d0aed31c94f5e4fc147/master/w_1280,c_limit/02_Villa%20Tasca_Airbnb-jan23-pr.jpeg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
Stefano CorsoVilla Tasca, Palermo
If you’re here to live out the White Lotus fantasy, you’re in luck – the dazzling Italian palazzo Harper Spiller and Daphne Sullivan (played by Aubrey Plaza and Meghann Fahy) stayed in is available to rent on Airbnb. Villa Tasca is an exquisite neoclassical palazzo with all the trimmings – romantic trompe-l’oeil frescoes, Murano chandeliers, high ceilings, tall windows and gilt-framed paintings. The time warp continues in all four bedrooms, beautifully kitted out with vintage furniture and freestanding bathtubs in the ensuite bathrooms, along with much-needed modern features include mini fridges and air conditioning. Outside there are 20 sprawling acres of manicured gardens, including a swimming pool, alfresco dining area and even a swan lake.
Sleeps: eight
Price: £4,874 per night, or £609 per person per night, three nights minimum
Rocca delle Tre Contrade, Sicily
The only property on this hill near Santa Venerina on Sicily’s east coast, Rocca delle Tre Contrade has some of the most jaw-dropping views on the island – on a clear day, you can see Mount Etna as well as the glittery Ionian from its carefully manicured garden. The house is staffed with a housekeeper and a chef who will pick up the freshest produce from the market for late lunches by the horizon-pushing pool or suppers on the terrace. There are 12 bedrooms and as many bathrooms, with reclaimed furniture and vintage finds beneath triple-height vaulted ceilings. Plus the water is heated with solar panels, and the vegetable garden supplies many of the ingredients used in the kitchen, making this a villa to book for those keen to lessen their ecological footprint.
Sleeps: 24
Price: from £28,887 for a one-week stay, or £1,203 per person per week
Rustic villa, Noto
Noto is one of our favourite towns in Sicily, and this renovated house is a brilliant base from which to explore it. Huge glass doors lead from the pastel-hued bedrooms to the rugged garden, where a little pool has panoramic views of the treetops below. Back inside, there’s a farmhouse-style kitchen for long breakfasts of locally sourced pastries (pick them up from Caffè Sicilia in town) and strong coffee.
Sleeps: Seven
Price: from about £292 per night, or £42 per person per night, seven nights minimum
Serena EllerVilla Valguarnera, Sicily
The Sicilian seaside town of Bagheria was once where Palermo’s high society disappeared for the summer, staying in neoclassical mansions along the coast. Villa Valguarnera is one of these former escapes, now owned by Princess Vittoria Alliata di Villafranca, whose ancestors built it in the 18th century. The piano nobile, or first floor, of the vast building is available to rent – it has its own entrance via an external staircase, and encompasses three frescoed reception rooms, a ballroom, a huge kitchen and three terraces that overlook the impeccable gardens. The place comes fully staffed with a cook and a butler, and guests can explore the whole house, where Vittoria will regale them with stories of the famous people who have stayed here over the years (Salvador Dalí is likely to be name-checked).
Sleeps: Six
Price: from about £9,800 for a one-week stay (fully staffed), or £233 per person per night
Cozzo Coniglio, Noto
If you’re travelling with little ones, Sicily’s ornate neoclassical villas, while incredible, aren’t the most family-friendly when it comes to sticky fingers and fragile antique furniture. An ideal alternative is this modern and minimalist house that’s a short drive from San Lorenzo beach. Instead of frescos and chandeliers, Cozzo Coniglio is all clean lines, minimalist decor and block colours – a cheery egg yolk yellow kitchen and a bold olympic blue lounge room. The six bedrooms are washed in breezy white, with two located in the separate guest house, each with their own ensuite bathrooms. Just outside, there’s room for the whole crew to gather in the courtyard, with two separate dining tables, beanbag seating and an inviting turquoise pool.
Sleeps: 12
Price: from £675 per night, or £57 per person per night, 5 nights minimum
Casa Grande di Santo Pietro, Torrenove
Not a palazzo, nor a slick modern box, but what this seven bedroom farmhouse lacks in grandeur or minimalism, it makes up for in charm. This is an authentic taste of Sicilian life, at an accessible price (split between 13 people, it works out to around £170 each for the five nights). Home cooks will love the rustic kitchen, well equipped with all the pots and pans you could need to cook a traditional Sicilian pasta dish. There’s the option to have cooking lessons from the host, or have them take care of supper all together by firing up the outdoor pizza oven. For the full experience, serve it in the dining room – the long wooden table seats 10 – followed by drinks overlooking the sea from one of the three terraces. The home is surrounded by 50 hectares of gardens, with much of the action happening around the swimming pool, lined with loungers and a shaded pool house.
Sleeps: 13
Price: from £444 per night, or £34 per person per night, minimum 5 nights
