Villa Netos

Two Stories. Two Pools. Two Families: One Great Vacation

A newly built view villa on a gentle rise above the sea outside now famous Noto, this sleek steel and stone getaway has two swimming pools on two separate stories, making it a perfect set up for two families or couples traveling together who want privacy, but also plan to play, gather, and unwind collectively.

Sentinel olive trees shade an outdoor lounge, infinity pools stretch toward the sea on the horizon, and slatted shade structures join oversized sliding doors to create an indoor/outdoor vacation haven ideally laid out to welcome two parties vacationing together. Each floor is an independent home, but paired with its neighbor for outdoor living. The overall vibe is tropical with a touch of dark metal mystery, and the generous terraced lot with neat rows of fruiting olives, a few thick palms and a grassy plot of lawn adds to the alfresco allure. Crisp, comfortable furnishings are luxurious yet approachable, and the building’s dual levels are joined by an exterior stairway.

AROUND

Located about a mile outside of the Baroque village of Noto made famous in television’s White Lotus, the villa overlooks an arid plain leading to the sea, with views extending all the way to the neighboring Isle of Portopalo on clear days. Celebrated for its dazzling Baroque architecture of pale local limestone palaces and its sun soaked sands, Noto occupies Sicily’s southeastern tip. A UNESCO-protected town chock full of architectural standouts, Noto’s heart is its cathedral and across-the-street neighbor, the Palazzo Ducezio. Around the corner, the Palazzo Nicolaci’s balconies curl, curve and swirl, and the entrance to the town is marked triumphantly by the Porta Reale. Noto’s majestic buildings really define Sicilian Baroque. Built in the 1700s, the small town is big on lauds and honors. It’s got UNESCO World Heritage status, churches, theaters and palaces galore, and it hosts a long-standing annual flower festival, the Infiorata di Noto that transforms the already stunning small city into a fairytale of architectural grandeur lined by streets carpeted in flowers. 

Dozens of beaches, from the pebbly to the sandy, extend along the coast—this is a Mediterranean island, after all. But before heading to the water, take a walking tour of the stately city and take note of all its Baroque curiosities—gargoyles and curlicues, cherubs and grotesque visages, regal balconies and swirling, winding, carved stone balustrades. Grab a granita from one of the town’s many cafes and chic taverns, and check out the Fountain of Hercules across from the majestic Church of San Domenico. Admire the noble palaces such as the Palazzo Trigona Cannicarao, the Palazzo Castelluccio, and the Palazzo Astuto and window shop along Corso Vittorio Emanuele between the Porta Reale and three church-anchored piazzas. Noto’s Cathedral is a superstar, a much-photographed and cinematic structure that starred in the 1960 film L’Aventurra and more recently made an appearance in White Lotus, Season 2.

Around Noto, nearby Ragusa is also a Baroque masterpiece, a town of two “downtowns” in which 18 buildings are UNESCO protected. The village of Modica occupies a deep gorge below the 300-meter-high Guerrieri bridge, also a town divided into two parts where domes, bell towers, and church spires rise from the red tiled roofs. The hamlet is Marzamemi is one of the island’s prettiest seaside villages, a stony beauty with an adorable harbor, arms’ length width streets made narrower by blooming geranium window planters, and a piazza worth reclining on before dining in one of its charming seafront seafood restaurants. 

LOCATION

Avola, Syracusa, Sicily, Italy. Nearest airport: Catania (1 hour)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: May to October