CELEBRATING SOMETHING SPECIAL IN 2013?

Book a flexible duration stay in a soloSicily self-catering villa

Looking for somewhere special for a big group celebration but reluctant to commit to a full week? Villa specialist soloSicily has a selection of properties that are ideal for large parties and available for flexible short stays.

-           Between the city and the sea: The 8-bedroom villa Olivetana is in a great location for a short break, less than half-an-hour from Palermo airport, a short drive to Palermo city centre and just a five minute drive to the lively Mondello beach resort.  The Sicily villa is located in an elegant residential area less than one kilometre from the bars, night clubs and restaurants at Sferracavallo and Mondello, tailor made for anyone in the group looking to party the night away.

Perfect for celebration breaks, the villa has a large table indoors and out for entertaining and offers a personal chef service.  A four-night break at Olivetana with www.soloSicily.com starts at £1935 (sleeps 16) in May.

-         Vineyard stay: Stay on a working winery in western Sicily and enjoy a wine holiday with a group of friends (enough space to accommodate 14), with independent accommodation and without the restriction of daily organised tours and excursions.  Find out about wine-making during a stay at Cantine Virzì, a working winery on the Spadafora estate which is situated on the famous 'Strade del Vino'.  Enjoy visiting some of Sicily’s greatest treasures including the Greek ruins at Selinunte and Segesta and the magnificent Norman cathedral at Monreale. Alternatively, continue the wine-making theme with a trip to Marsala and specifically the Cantine Florio.

Stay in a one-bedroom apartment, with views over the vineyards and shared use of a large pool and dine together in the restaurant. Prices start at £115 per apartment per day (accommodation only) with www.soloSicily.com. Return flights Luton-Trapani (48 miles) from around £80 per person.

-         Aristocratic estate:  Villa Barresa is the archetypical old-style aristocratic villa, set in the midst of a vast citrus plantation in the province of Syracuse in eastern Sicily.   Indoors, there are several living and sitting-rooms but it is ultimately the magnificent tropical plant and palm tree-filled garden that differentiates this villa.  Additional services on offer include daily cleaning and an optional chef service which allow you to sit by the pool or under the cool of the covered gazebo or terrace and drink in the atmosphere while someone else sees tidies up and whips up gourmet meals for you. 

A four-night stay at Barresa starts at £2095 (sleeps 12) in May with www.soloSicily.com.  Return flights to Catania airport (30 kms) with Easyjet or BA.

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

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.

SoloSicily

More information to SoloSicily, travel agency in Sicily (Italy) specialized by luxury villas, wedding in Sicily, ad rent holidays in Sicily:

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GREAT FAMILY HALF-TERM BREAKS IN SICILY

With around six hours of sunshine a day and temperatures just tipping the early 20’s, October half-term is a great time to enjoy some of the activities and cultural attractions on offer in Sicily.  Book a self-catering villa in Sicily a well-chosen location and you can combine a beach, city and countryside holiday in one.

Free horse-riding in western Sicily:  Book a stay at soloSicily's luxurious 4-bedroom Il Poggio and horse-lovers in the group can explore the surrounding woods on horse-back whenever they want, at no extra cost.  The fully-equipped stables adjacent to the villa are home to eight horses.

For non-riding guests, the villa has a lovely garden and pool area with views over the hills around Palermo and is in an excellent location for sightseeing and beach trips. Visit the nearby lively Mondello beach resort, lined with cafés and restaurants, wander through the vibrant street markets in Palermo and take a trip to nearby Monreale, home to the last and most beautiful of the Norman churches built in Sicily.

A week at Il Poggio at October half-term costs from £2695 (sleeps 8), including free horse-riding, with www.soloSicily.com.

Hiking and mountain-biking:  Follow well-trodden hiking routes through the Madonie Mountains or spend a day at the Parco Avventura Madonie, where rope climbs, assault courses and mountain biking (bikes and helmets provided) are on offer at an adventure playground in the woods. 

Stay at Ai Mulini, an 18^th farmhouse with pool, near the village of Polizzi Generosa, best known for its remarkable assortment of 33 ancient churches.   Take time out to visit other nearby hill-top villages, such as Gangi, Geraci Siculo and Petralia Soprana with their cobbled streets, castles, palaces and Baroque and Norman churches and if you need to feel the sand between your toes for one more time this year, the villa is just over an hour’s drive to Cefalù on the coast.

One week at Ai Mulini at half-term starts at £1140 (sleeps 8) with www.soloSicily.com.

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

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.