Sizzling sunshine, dazzling blue seas and vibrant piazzas that hum with life late into the evening. Summer in Sicily is all about heat and a slow, indulgent lifestyle filled with lazy pool days and lingering meal few hours on the beach, then lunch under the gazebo and enjoy a decadent snooze in the shade or in the cool, pristine interiors of your private luxury villa. And before you know it, it’s time for an aperitivo and another delicious meal.

Capture the essence of life in Sicily

Spend summer in Sicily and escape life’s hectic schedules, swapping frenetic itineraries for true relaxation. Yes, there’s still time to head out across the waves, enjoy a spot of diving or a private tour, but essentially, the summer months are about slow living and a well-earned rest.

And while a hotel stay may seem the obvious choice, checking into a luxury villa ensures space, privacy and a sense of Sicily beyond the tourist trail. Set your own pace, indulging in slow mornings and dawn to dusk outdoor living, rota meals in, either casually thrown together or prepared by a private chef who will introduce you to the very best of Sicilian cuisine. At Casa dei Nomadi, your chef will whip up a delicious dinner for you to enjoy on the beachside terrace, against the backdrop of the sound of the waves.

Share precious time with friends and family

Perhaps more than anything, villa life is about creating precious memories with family and friends. Which means that finding the right villa for your family or group is, of course, critical: everyone needs their own space, as well as comfortable shared living spaces in which to relax and enjoy valuable time together. Enjoy outdoor living at Villa Sirelia where lounge and dining terraces look out across the green foothills of the Nebrodi mountains, and an outdoor kitchen introduces a laidback feel to mealtimes.

Beachside relaxation

If you prefer to avoid driving overseas, keep life simple by booking chauffeur driven tours when you want to explore, and checking into a villa on the beach. Flit between the sea and the pool at the newly refurbished villa Aqua Turchina, where a garden gate leads directly onto the beach. As the sun drops, pour the aperitivi and slip through the garden gate onto your own private beach patio to watch the waves from the comfort of your sun lounger.

Delicious food and wine

Sicily’s food and wine scene is a thrilling mix of tradition, including the summer months. Gastronomic opportunities range from street food to fine dining restaurants with exciting contemporary menus. In addition to a strong reliance on local produce, you’ll find sweet and sour flavours, pistachios and couscous finding their way onto menus, alongside Sicily’s classic aubergine-based ‘pasta alla Norma’. And naturally, there’s also superb seafood, including swordfish, sardines and red prawns.

Take a deep dive into local life, browsing market stalls piled high with freshly caught fish, ripe, sun-drenched fruit and vegetables, and ricotta and pecorino cheeses produced by hand. At Acquedolci on the north east coast, Il Piccolo Casale is in a foodie heaven, set between the bounty of the sea and the intense flavours of the aged cheeses, hazelnuts and artisanal cured meats that dominate the food landscape in the Nebrodi mountains.

Explore Sicily with a tailor-made tour

Lastly, be sure to add the finishing touch to your holiday by including a couple of private, tailored tours. Explore the rugged Riviera dei Ciclopi coastline by boat or sail across to Sicily’s offshore islands – the volcanic Aeolian Islands to the north east, or the Egadi Islands to the west of Sicily – pausing for dips in turquoise bays. Exclusive wine-tasting and tailor-made chauffeur-driven tours with a private guide to Syracuse or Palermo, to UNESCO-listed temples or to natural sights such as Mount Etna, will provide a bespoke five-star experience without interfering with the uninterrupted leisurely pace of life at your private villa in the sun.

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