BIG SUMMER SAVINGS IN SICILY

If you have finally given up any hope of a long hot summer in the UK and are itching to hop on the next plane to sunnier climes, Sicily villa specialist, soloSicily, is offering big savings as well as under-occupancy rates on a selection of coastal and rural villas in July and August.

Sample properties – all prices are for the school holiday period mid-July to end of August:

Mountain cool:  Enjoy fresh mountain air and clear blue skies at Ai Mulini, an 18^th century farmhouse with pool, set amongst the rugged cliffs and hidden villages of the Madonie Mountains.  The farmhouse is just outside the village of Polizzi Generosa and near to Gangi, Geraci Siculo and Petralia Soprana with their cobbled streets, castles, palaces and Baroque and Norman churches.

One week starts at £1700 (sleeps 8), reduced from £1900.

Eco-friendly: Save a massive £800 per week thanks to an introductory offer at Casalnuovo, an eco-friendly 8-bedroom house (sleeps 15), overlooking the bay of Tindari and the Aeolian Islands in north east Sicily.  This new addition to the soloSicily portfolio is situated on a 15-acre organic estate with olive groves, fruit and almond trees and magnificent views of rolling Sicilian countryside.  The villa has a pool and games room - complete with pool table, table football and table tennis.

One week starts at £4500 (reduced from £5310) for full-occupancy (sleeps 15) or at £3555 (sleeps 7).

Family favourite: Mariuccia is a five-bedroom property with a large pool, billiard room and table-tennis, in the heart of the Sicilian countryside and just a short drive from the white sandy beach at Sciacca in the south of the island.

One week starts at £3670 (reduced from £4195) for full-occupancy (sleeps 10) or at £2630 (reduced from £3150) for a party of 6.

soloSicily offers accommodation in apartments, villas and boutique hotels throughout inland and coastal Sicily.  For further information, visit www.soloSicily.com or tel. 020 7193 0158.