HOT VILLAS FOR 2013

Book early for the best choice in Sicily

Looking for the perfect villa break next summer?  Book early and get the best choice of beach or rural villas in Sicily from soloSicily’s 2013 collection.

Countryside hideaway:  Close to the forested Nebrodi Mountains and with unrivalled views over seemingly endless olive and orange groves and beyond, the Aeolian Islands, Il Vignale combines the very best of elegance and sophistication with rural life.  The large garden is dotted with several shady terraces furnished with benches, armchairs and sofas and a scattering of huge terracotta and glass jars; and a stunning pool and unexpected displays of arty mosaics introduce a vivid splash of colour.  The interior of the four-bedroom villa has a warm rustic feel, with wonderful arched stone walls and terracotta tiling.

The villa is close to several picturesque seafront villages, including Santo Stefano di Camastra, renowned for its hand-painted ceramics.  One week at Il Vignale in May starts at £2375 (sleeps 8) with www.soloSicily.com.  Fly to Palermo or Catania airports.

The best of beach and city life:   The newest addition to soloSicily’s programme is in the exclusive Mondello beach resort in western Sicily, a great location for families who want to combine sightseeing with a beach holiday.  This lively resort is the perfect spot for people-watching over a morning cappuccino, a plate of the freshest of seafood or an early evening ‘gelato’ and a firm favourite with Palermitans thanks to its long curving sandy beaches. 

Corisa is a three-bedroom villa with floor-to-ceiling glass doors leading out to a garden with a large pool and well-placed for trips to the beach or into Palermo city centre.  The Norman Cathedral at Monreale is also close by or, a little further afield, the medieval hilltop town of Erice and the Greek ruins at Segesta and Selinunte.  One week in May starts at £2115 (sleeps 6) with www.soloSicily.com.   Fly to Palermo from Gatwick or Stansted.

Best for large groups:  If you need somewhere for several families or a big group of friends, the earlier you book the better. With eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms and a large well-equipped kitchen, one of the high spots of Casalnuovo is the huge amount of indoor and outdoor space.  In addition to a massive open-plan living-room with several seating areas, there is a games room, with pool table, table tennis and table football.  Situated at Tindari, north west Sicily, the villa is surrounded by a 15-acre estate, with marked tracks and trails, and is close to the fascinating Graeco-Roman Santuario di Tindari settlement and amphitheatre.

One week at Casalnuovo in May starts at £3700 (sleeps 15) with www.soloSicily.com.  Fly to Catania with Easyjet or BA.

soloSicily (www.soloSicily.com, tel. 020 7097 1413) offers accommodation in apartments and villas throughout inland and coastal Sicily.