A historic hunting lodge in Sicily’s evocative heartland.
With its elegant, perfectly proportioned facade, its spacious, high-ceilinged interiors and extensive grounds, Villa Armerina is a special place indeed. Views of the rolling countryside abound, not least from the well-placed pool, and it is extremely easy just to put your feet up, close your eyes and soak up the calming atmosphere of life in the country.
Inside: accommodation at Villa Armerina is set over two floors. Original features abound throughout the property, including beautifully crafted stucco mouldings, vaulted ceilings, Sicilian ceramic flooring and the regal sleeping alcove in the master bedroom.
The ground floor is divided into two wings, at the centre of which is a voluminous entrance hall. To one side is a comfortably furnished drawing room, a small single bedroom with a French bed and a shower room, while to the other is the kitchen and a large, elegant dining room.
A staircase leads from the entrance hall to the first floor and a second large drawing room with views over the gardens. To the right is the huge principal bedroom, complete with sitting area, original sleeping alcove, dressing room and en-suite bathroom with tub. To the left is the equally spacious twin bedroom, which also has an en-suite bathroom with tub.
The last bedroom, a double, is also accessed from the first floor drawing room and has a washroom next door (for showering or bathing guests staying in this room would use one of the upstairs bathrooms or the shower room downstairs).
Outside: the façade gives onto a terraced, tree-lined lawn offering extensive views over the surrounding countryside. The pool, complete with a shady pergola, is set in an equally panoramic position down a short path to the side of the main house.
Behind the pool the grounds stretch up the hill and a long row of cypress trees leads to the main gate. There are plenty of excellent areas for outdoor dining, both in the shade of the large trees on the front lawn and on the panoramic sun-deck by the pool.
Thanks to the design of this property, which keeps the house cool in summer and warm in the winter, there is no air conditioning. Please contact us for more information.
One section of the access road to Villa Armerina is a little rough, so we recommend guests hire a car with high ground clearance.
The villa is set in one of the rural heartlands of Sicily. In fact, the area around Piazza Armerina was once known as the "granary of Rome". The rolling hills and forests of this area inspire images of the hunting depicted so vividly in the superb mosaics of the world-famous Villa Romana del Casale (UNESCO Heritage Site) a short distance away.
Piazza Armerina is well situated for exploring the centre of Sicily, and a great selection of sandy beaches on the south coast are just over an hour's drive away.
The actual town has a beautiful mediaeval quarter with an impressive duomo. Most of what you see in the centre was constructed between the 15th and 18th centuries. It is also well furnished with shops and there are several supermarkets on the outskirts of town. About 20 minutes' drive away is lovely Caltagirone, another historic hill-top town, famous for its mosaics and well worth a visit. Enna, the provincial capital offers stunning views over the centre of Sicily and a history that extends back to ancient times.
Arrival details will be confirmed by The Thinking Traveller after your villa is confirmed.
The Thinking Traveller can organise transfers and car hire and an agent will be in touch with you once your villa is confirmed.
