Olive House

An Early 20th-Century Sicilian Cottage Frozen in Time

Restored and styled by Milanese architects Marco Giunta and Viviana Haddad, this vacation home for rent in Sicily has all of the simple charm and comforts of a traditional Sicilian house. 

Almost as if frozen in time, the home's modest design is typical of the early 20th century and is filled with lovely vintage pieces, original tile and a down-to-earth familiarity.  

The duo who split their time between Sicily and Milan have converted a dozen crumbling cottages into contemporary guesthouses, always leaving the patina of age and their time and place intact.

Shaded by ancient olive trees with the scent of the Tyrrhenian Sea wafting through, this is sweet and atmospheric little island escape. 

Set along the northern coast within a short walk to the shoreline, this vacation home for rent in Sicily is a charming and cheery little slice of early 20th-century island life. Lightly restored to bring out its character and original features, the two story cottage is typical of the area. 

The ground floor includes a sitting room, a small eat-in kitchen, a double bedroom and a guest bathroom. The master bedroom is upstairs and offers both a private bathroom and a separate dressing room that can double as an additional single bedroom.

Surrounded by a large grassy garden shaded by ancient olive trees, there is a nice alfresco dining and seating area where you can enjoy open air living - and new for 2020, a 8x3m swimming pool.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Wifi throughout, satellite TV, kitchen and bath amenities, housekeeping every three days, private parking. Optional cook, daily housekeeping, massage and boat rentals on request. 

AROUND

The popular resort town of Cefalù sits along Sicily's northern coast a little more than an hour east of Palermo. A UNESCO designated town and historic fishing harbor, the pretty medieval streets are dominated by a 12th century Norman cathedral and an ancient hilltop fortress. 

Charming and authentic, it's known for its excellent restaurants that serve local seafood and wines and its many interesting shops. 

The beautiful town of Santo Stefano di Camastra, famous for its ceramics and tiles is within a short drive and the rugged Madonie mountains are just over an hour drive inland with great hiking and forest trails and several medieval villages to explore. 

Two of the island's best north shore beaches, Mazzaforno and Settefrati are within a ten minute walk. For day trips, you can venture even further to the seven Aeolian islands, the volcanic chain just off shore. Sicily holds many natural and cultural charms, from Noto to Catania, the sister cities of Ragusa, Modica Scicli and beyond, the island is meant to be explored and savored.  

LOCATION

Cefalu, Sicily, Italy. Nearest Airport: Palermo Airport (103km)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring through Fall