Stay in a seafront villa in Sicily with pool

Who’s thinking about 2021 holidays? If you missed out on a holiday this year, the chances are you’ll be desperate for a change of scene, whether that’s in a city, in the mountains or by the beach. We may be biased, but right now, nothing seems quite as appealing as waking up to the sound of the sea and throwing open the shutters to bright sunshine and a brilliant blue seascape! Then coffee on the terrace and perhaps a dip before breakfast … it’s the stuff dreams are made of.

Sicily’s 1,000km plus of coastline are bathed in warm sunshine from April onwards, and there’s a huge selection of hotels and Sicilian villas with private pools either on the beach or just a few minutes’ walk away. So why not start planning for 2021 by travelling round Sicily’s coastline with us and taking a look at a few of our favourites.

Sun and sand near Palermo

For those who want to keep travelling time to a minimum, our villas near Palermo are a great option. Situated on the outskirts of the pretty seaside town of Terrasini, Villa Stella is a super-quick transfer from Palermo airport.

Better still, it has a good-sized pool and private access to a sunbathing platform by the sea. Giacona Venuti is also in Terrasini, with a seafront pool and steps down to a little bay, and is the larger of the two (sleeps 12).

Beachfront villas on Sicily’s north coast

Continuing east from Palermo along the north coast, Cefalù is one of Sicily’s most popular towns and with good reason. A promenade of seafront restaurants and pizzerie overlooks the main sandy beach while the town’s pretty medieval centre houses a UNESCO World Heritage Norman cathedral.

Choose from a selection of villas in and around the town, including Casa dei Nomadi, right on the beach, or Villa Arte Mare Blue, in a dreamy setting in the hills above Cefalù.

Further east, the town of Acquedolci ticks most boxes for families keen to combine a beach holiday with exploring Sicily’s little-visited Nebrodi Mountains. Family-friendly Casa Franchina has a pool, table tennis and toddler play area, and is just a short walk from Acquedolci’s shops and restaurants.

Stargazing on Sicily’s east coast

Carry on round past the lovely Bay of Tindari to the island’s north eastern tip and start heading down the east coast, past Taormina, towards the craggy coastline of the Riviera dei Ciclopi. At the tiny fishing port of Pozzillo, near Acireale, the terrace at Terrazza sul Mare is the perfect spot to sit and watch the blinking lights of bobbing fishing boats at night. Stroll down stone steps from the villa to the pebbly beach below or to the fresh fish stall which sets up shop each morning.

Further south, in and around the extraordinary ancient city of Syracuse, take your pick of sea-facing apartments, or villas with pools such as Casa del Carrubo, a popular 2-bedroom villa at Lido di Noto.

Our newest addition in this area is recently-refurbished Oasivera, set just 200m from the beach, and on the edge of the spectacular Vendicari Nature Reserve.

Southern Sicily and the Mediterranean

Continue to Sicily’s most south easterly point where the coast delivers mile upon mile of long sandy beaches with stunningly clear water. Here, Casa Ulisse is the ultimate stop for a beach holiday. There’s no pool, but, hovering just 50m from the water’s edge, this is definitely one for beach-lovers.

Sicily’s southern coast is best known for Agrigento and the extraordinary Valley of the Temples. While this is naturally a major draw for tourists, if you’re looking for a more authentic crowd-free experience, head for a small village such as Manfria, where Villa Silva is perched on the edge of a sandy beach. The nearby harbour town of Licata is particularly charming, with narrow cobbled streets, Liberty-style architecture and some excellent restaurants.

From Trapani to the Zingaro Nature Reserve

We end our tour on Sicily’s north west coast, close to the fishing town of Trapani where ancient churches and impressive palazzi sit side by side in the narrow streets of the town’s historic centre.  Trapani is also the starting point for a ferry ride to the Egadi Islands. Whilst not right on the seafront, Case Fil is a good base for exploring the north west corner of Sicily. If you can drag yourself away from the 18m pool, the golden sands of Macari beach and San Vito lo Capo lie to the north, and the pristine beaches and azure seas that fringe the Zingaro Nature Reserve to the east.