Stay in a private Italian villas
A dream holiday in the Belpaese
When choosing a holiday destination, few locations can compete with the alluring appeal of Italy. Turquoise sea waters and impressive mountain chains, enchanting lakes and picture-postcard rolling hills, high-octane vibrant cities and historical gems, plus some of the most appetizing food and wine in the world. A trip to Italy is always a good idea. Even more so if you choose to stay in a private villa, where rewards seem to come your way in droves.
Ancient “upper class country houses” of wealthy Romans, now villas epitomise the savoir-faire that is typical of the peninsula: incredibly warm hospitality, impeccable attention to details and a skilful knowledge of stonemasonry, hardly found elsewhere. Deciding to rent a villa means enjoying the exclusivity of having the entire place to yourself; you could bring your entire party of friends or family, thus staying all in one place, maybe as a brilliant excuse to reunite with them all for a special event.
Living like a local comes easy here: unpack only once and then use your villa to relax, take in the splendid views or zip off to nearby historical locations, feeling the lord – or lady – of the house. Go even further and visit a local farmer’s market, enjoy an exquisite wine tasting, launch into an exciting truffle hunt, enjoy a cookery course – with your in-house chef – sit in the garden and paint the stunning view or relax by the pool or overlooking the sea. Last but not least, this option means you will save money, but earn on fulfilment and joy, unveiling what it really means to live la dolce vita.
Ode to the sea – The Aeolian Islands
Islands always exude a special aura that makes people want to visit them, again and again. Perhaps their borders shadowed by water, their being subject to the force of the elements and each one treasuring a riveting history. Italy boasts a stunning collection of stupendous sights, but when you visit the Aeolian Islands, off the coast of Palermo, Sicily, you will sense something extraordinary.
Counting seven islands, each with its own interesting past and present, the archipelago recalls images of Lawrence Alma Tadema paintings and the serenity of whitewashed terraces overlooking azure waters, distant boats colouring the horizons. All this beauty comes with its fair share of – sometimes unwanted – fame, resulting in some islands being sworn in with tourists: Lipari and Panarea are fabulous indeed, but it’s less known Salina you’ll want to head to, for a truly spectacular vacation.
Salina – the wow effect
Made famous by the cult Italian film Il Postino with Massimo Troisi, the second biggest island in the archipelago, Salina is the greenest, most fertile of them all, juicy grapes growing in vineyards that yield fruity Malvasia wine. Many water springs dot this paradise and a nature reserve occupies half of its territory: this gives way to interesting nature hikes leading to spectacular viewpoints. Culture lovers will enjoy the Wine Museum – dedicated to Malvasia wine – and the Salt and Sea Museum in Lingua, where a saltwater lake was once used to extract salt, hence the name of the island, plus the Civic Museum and the Archaeological Museum. Malfa, in the centre of the island, hosts the Aeolian Emigration Museum: financed by American and Australian citizens, whose origins stem from Salina, it is rich in artefacts, some of which coming from Ellis Island, NY. Perciato is where you’ll want to be to enjoy an unforgettable sunset over a dreamy rocky arch, the sun setting next to Alicudi and Filicudi islands. Hike up to Monte Fossa delle Felci for the highest mountain on the island and then walk the many paths that make this a relaxing paradise.
Delicious food is one of the main reasons why visitors enjoy Sicily, so come with a heavy appetite as you will find resisting to the many delicacies a tough affair: try Salina capers – a Slow Food delicary – enjoy a delicious granita and then fall for the joys of Italian cuisine.
Frangimare Villas – a love story with an island
Located in charming Malfa, Frangimare is a special paradise made up by two villas, La Segreta and La Malandrina. Two locations for two diverse souls that entice you into a magical Sicilian dream: eclectic and refined, modern yet traditional, the villas are your gateway to your very own love story with the Italian dream. Rent them as a buy-out for a special occasion, or as individual suites and the magic will commence.
The villa itself is an artwork: hosting pieces from the Milanese art gallery Fabbrica Eos, diverse epochs and styles give rise to unexpected juxtapositions. Modernity meets traditions in a will to impress, but also cocoon guests into relaxing atmospheres. And so Sicilian majolica sits next to ancient chandeliers, exotic draperies complement hand painted tiles in the name of harmony and balance. And then come the views: step onto the terrace and cherish the unforgettable sight onto other islands, sipping local Malvasia and drinking the night away, gazing at the stars high up in the heavens. Your Sicilian love story is about to begin
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