Sicily in style with Villatravellers
Fabulous food, fascinating history and captivating countryside – your destination wedding or honeymoon is the perfect time to be seduced by Italy’s most romantic island
Sicily
The largest island in the Med lies off the south coast of Italy and makes a magical choice for a honeymoon. Even before you touch down at one of Sicily’s two airports, you’ll be hooked – drinking in the gently rolling hills, olive groves and glittering Med as the plane descends.
There’s a cinematic quality to its scenery, from romantic clifftop towns to ancient ruins and active volcano – above its vineyard-rich slopes, Mount Etna is a gently smoking lunar-esque crater that dominates the eastern landscape. Sicily offers an abundance of romantic moments to capture the heart, whether sipping Champagne on a balcony at sun set or sharing a candle-lit Sicilian dinner of the freshest local produce, and its year-round mild climate makes it a contender for weddings abroad too.
Casale degli Erei
Casale degli Erei, around 10 minutes from Caltagirone in the southern Catania region, is the kind of charming country villa you wish you could live in year-round, not just on honeymoon. Sweeping up the driveway guests are greeted by fields of prickly pear, cypress trees and vines before reaching the honey-hued stone villa, a glorious mix of rustic luxury which combined makes for a supremely comfortable escape.
Nine beautifully furnished en suite bedrooms are spread across the main villa and a separate guest house, with the rest of the space divided into communal lounges, a huge kitchen and dining room, sun-soaked roof terrace and a spa with sauna, Turkish steam bath, hydro-massage pool and chromotherapy shower. It’s an ideal spot for a lavish honeymoon, hen celebration or intimate wedding – there’s even a private chapel on site.
Il Borgo del Barone
Il Borgo del Barone, another villa gem situated in the hills of Santo Stefano di Camastra around 30 minutes from the coastal town of Cefalù, is a restored 17th-Century stone baglio (traditional large farm). Inside its sheer size and architectural touches are breathtaking, from the arches and polished concrete floors to glass walls and soaring beamed roof.
There are plenty of nods to it heritage, such as an original stone olive press wheel in the huge entrance hall and up-cycled wooden furniture, but its vibe is modern and luxurious and its a beautiful backdrop for a romantic holiday.
Days drift by moving between the sun-drenched terrace, bright blue pool, inner courtyard and long, lazy lunches at the shaded al fresco dining table. Villatravellers can arrange for groceries to be delivered before you arrive, meaning no searching for a supermarket after you touch down. It’s irresistibly relaxing and unequivocally Sicilian.
Ultimate Experiences
Treat yourselves to a spa session in the wine therapy room at Casale degli Erei villa. No, this doesn’t involve drinking wine during a massage, rather you relax in a tub filled with water and locally produced red wine, which is full of anti-aging antioxidants – a practice apparently referred to as the ‘Elixir of youth’ in ancient times.
Pull on your trainers and hike up La Rocca Mountain, a rocky-pathed 45-minute excursion which is worth the exertion as the panoramic views of Cefalù town from the summit are Instagram-worthy. Don’t miss a guided tour of UNESCO World Heritage site Villa Romana del Casale which has one of the most impressive collections of Roman mosaics in the world, with some artwork dating back to the 4th Century AD.
Book a cookery class at Casale del Erie – perfect for a hen party – and learn the art of creating Sicilian street food from scratch including Cannolo Siciliano filled with ricotta cheese and Rianata pizza scattered with pecorino cheese, tomatoes and anchovies (and accompanied by glasses of some excellent rosé – the owner of Casale produces his own wine).
Wine and dine
In-villa dining needn’t be a challenge every night as you can book a private chef experience through Villatravellers, think homemade pizza, pasta, fresh salads, mouth-watering desserts and locally sourced wine. Tempting as it is to stay in your luxury hideaway, there are more culinary treats to savour elsewhere on the island.
If you love seafood, a meal for two at romantic Restaurant Ittico in Cefalu is a must. Stylishly coastal, with white furnishings and a terrace overlooking the sea, the menu is filled with delicious dishes like spaghetti with clams, mussel soup, fried squid and perfectly cooked sea bass.
Foodies will appreciate the wholesome farm-to-fork food served at Agriturismo Gigliotto, set high on a hill around 20 minutes from Villa Romana del Casale. A former ancient monastery dating back to the 1300s, it serves a feast of local appetizers, homemade pastas, roasted meats, game and fresh local veg all paired with wine from the Gigliotto Wines Estates produced on site.
Go there!
Casale degli Erei sleeps 17 guests in nine bedrooms and costs from £2,775 per week. Il Borgo del Barone sleeps 14 guests in seven bedrooms, and costs from £3,780 per week. Villatravellers, a Sicilian villa company established in Palermo in 2006, organises exclusive holidays to more than 70 luxurious properties across Sicily. It can provide bespoke experience both in-villa and outside-villa, including cookery classes, street food tours, wine tastings and private chefs as well as exceptional customer service.
