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Elisir
Menfi, Porto Palo, Sicily, Italy
Villa Elisir
Menfi, Porto Palo, Sicily, Italy
In Western Sicily, a Crisp White Villa Set Over the Portopalo Seascape
The verdant green of the Mediterranean countryside and the golden beaches of the island’s coast come together to form the setting for this clean-lined luxury villa. Set on a slight incline, its panoramic views over Portopalo, a southern seaside village where the water is ultra-blue and dotted with scieri (tuna-fishing boats).
Contrasting boldly, this villa in Sicily is an ultra-white, angular structure fringed with palm trees, Mediterranean vegetation and views of the sea upon arrival.
Wide open spaces contain contemporary-styled interiors, framed by large picture windows. A fireplace separates the fully-equipped kitchen from the living area. The home spills out onto the terraces and 6x12 meter swimming pool, while in the front, there is a large, integrated and shade-providing portico that is perfect for gathering for an al fresco meal. A brick-built barbecue is located next to the kitchen door, making serving easy.
A hallway off of the main living area transports you to three double bedrooms which also have large picture windows connecting the interior to the outside terraces. Two have sea views, while the third looks onto the countryside. One of the bathrooms is en-suite. The villa can accommodate up to six guests.
And if you’re entertaining teenagers (or are forever young), there is a basement area with a games room, reachable from the inside of the home, with a full-size snooker table. There is also a bathroom with a shower, and a laundry room on this floor. It extends to an eternal terrace and staircase, which takes you up to the main floor.
The home includes linens and pool towels, once-a-week maid service for three hours, a weekly change of linen and bath towels, and local support. Extra maid service can be arranged for 15 euros an hour.
Beaches, Old Railways and Ruins
Villa Essence situates you on the west coast of Sicily, where many beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag 16 years in a row (a certification of the Foundation for Environmental Education). Portopalo and Lido Fiori are especially safe and clean, and are recommended for young children.
A fifteen minute drive will take you to the medieval town of Castelvetrano (where the famous buttery green olives are from), with a lovely town square and plenty of restaurants.
Be a green tourist and travel the countryside by bicycle, on the Castelvetrano-Ribera railway, now defunct for trains but open for cyclists. Golfers will appreciate the Verdura Resort, 25 km away from the villa. And an unmissable treasure is the Selinunte Acropolis, the largest archaeological park in Europe and Marinella di Selinunte.
Nature and archeology lovers might also consider a trip to UNESCO-recognized Valley of the Temples, in Agrigento. It takes about 45 minutes to get to this remarkable ruin of Classical Greek architecture.
Head north and you can reach Trapani, with beautiful bays and Caribbean-blue waters, and from here, many take day trips to the Egadi Islands, where you can enjoy a Sicilian lunch on board, sunbathe on the boat, and enjoy the spectacular sights and even snorkeling when you get there.
LOCATION
Sicily, Italy. Closest airport: Trapani Airport (63km away) or Palermo Airport (91km away)
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring, Summer, Fall
