Villa Amina

Sicily is a country where you go to appreciate the wonderful things in life: truly astounding architecture, crystalline waters, white sands, majestic mountains, the sun and of course, the renowned cuisine, which really does deserve its reputation. From the very best of fine dining to simply sumptuous street food, you won't go hungry on this island!

And located on the west coast, you'll discover all this and more from the comfort of your very own countryside villa near the sea. Made for unwinding in style, Villa Amina emanates a relaxed vibe. Ornamental gardens and wooden decking surround the generous swimming pool, where you can lay on a sun lounger, sit reading a book in one of the comfy chairs or dip into the cool waters - fun for everyone! You'll even find a full outdoor kitchen so you can carry on appreciating the alfresco life while cooking up verdure grigliate or pasta with sardines.

You may want to play chef for the night. The long, traditional indoor kitchen is perfect for whipping up that evening meal, ready to serve in the open plan dining and living area. An elegant living space - the living room complete with warm rugs, vintage furnishings and comfy sofas still retains its chic minimalist style, as does the adjoining dining area - both located at the bottom of the grand sweeping staircase. How's that for an atmospheric experience...

The bedrooms carry on the theme. Whitewashed or warm coloured walls adorned with well-thought-out ornate pieces and dark wood furnishings, add character and flair - an inspirational place to lay your head. With three double bedrooms and a twin, it's ideal for larger families.

Want a long soak? You may want it to be as long as possible in one of the striking bathrooms. A large, grand room featuring gold accents, from the gilded mirror to the taps and furniture, this is one pleasant spot to have a bathe.

Villa Amina is a classic villa, made for relaxing, but with all that lovely countryside surrounding you, it may tempt you to take a scenic hike. Or you can venture into Mazara del Vallo with its historic centre of Baroque and Norman buildings. Meandering through the streets of this fabulous fishing port you'll get a real feel for the civilisations that have passed through. Just don't forget to sample a taste of the region - especially the seafood!

Features

1. 4 bedrooms + extra bed and sofa-bed (10-person price)
2. 4 bedrooms (8-person price)
3. 3 bedrooms (6-person price)
   Villa Interiors
   Raised Ground floor

• Open plan living room with fireplace, comfortable sofas and sitting corner
• Fully equipped kitchen with breakfast bar and stools
• Extensive, atrium-style lounge with sweeping staircase
• Bathroom with jacuzzi bath and shower
• Laundry room
  First Floor
• Three double bedrooms
• One twin bedroom
• Bathroom with bath
• Terrace

Outside Grounds

• Private swimming pool
• Covered outdoor kitchen with built-in barbecue
• Al-fresco dining area
• Lovely orchard
• Decking with sun loungers and umbrellas
• Poolside convenience shower room (no soap/shampoo allowed)
  Facilities
• Wi-Fi
• Air-conditioning in bedrooms, living room and small annexe next to pool
• Two flat screen TVs
• Washing machine and dryer
• 2 dishwashers
• Hairdryers

Location

Villa Amina is located around 3km from the heart of Mazara del Vallo in the south-west corner of Sicily. There are local restaurants and shops within a kilometre or two and it's just a few minutes in the car (or a short cycle ride) to reach the centre of the town.

It's well known just how many civilisations have conquered and passed through Sicily and nowhere is this more evident than in Mazara del Vallo, where you'll discover an amazing labyrinth North African Kasbah, a Norman cathedral, important Greek statues, traditional Italian piazzas and stunning Sicilian beaches. And, with the largest fishing fleet in Italy, you may want to opt for succulent seafood and fish at the many restaurants and trattorias around the town.

Within around 1.5km you can reach a lido with a restaurant and sunbeds by the seafront; it's a great place to walk and admire the sea-views. On the other side of the town you'll find beaches with white sand and crystal clear seas; it's no wonder snorkelling and diving are popular here. Dotted along this coast you'll find lidos with pretty beach restaurants as well as sun-loungers and umbrellas to rent.

On the lovely west coast of Sicily, you can also visit the sweet town of Marsala (25km), where you should take a tour of one of the many wineries, or continue north to the magnificent port city of Trapani (51km) with its incredible historical sites and wonderful beaches. From here, take a boat trip to the idyllic island of Favignana with its glorious beaches or take the cable car up to the historic town of Erice (60km), also a great place to hike (it takes about two hours to hike from Trapani to the top of Mount Erice where you will find the town surrounded by superb views).

Heading north of Trapani, San Vito Lo Capo (100km) boasts a stunning beach and many excellent restaurants specialising in couscous (there's a couscous festival in September).

Palermo (130km) can also be visited in a day if you wish to discover its vibrant atmosphere, world-famous street markets, endless museums and historic splendour.

Sicily is of course famous for its archaeological heritage, none more so than in Agrigento (118km) at the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Whilst near Agrigento, look out for La Scala dei Turchi beach with its brilliant chalk cliffs as well as kilometres of sandy beaches along the southern coastline, many almost deserted and absolutely beautiful.