RSS
Home
New luxury in Sicily
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
When you think of Sicily, sprawling five-star resorts don’t usually come to mind, but that’s about to change. Next month, the most rustic of the Mediterranean islands will be home to the most luxurious resort in the region. Set to host its first visitors in May, Verdura Golf and Spa Resort will be the only property in the Mediterranean to offer an across the board 5-star experience. Boasting two championship golf courses, a first-rate spa, a yoga center, six restaurants, a private beach and 55 luxury private villas, Verdura is certainly upping the ante when it comes to Sicilian hotels.
An hour’s drive from the international airport in Palermo, this gem of a resort is situated on Sicily ’s picturesque southwest coast. Every room and suite features an ocean view and a private terrace looking out onto Verdura’s 1.2 miles of private coastline. Interiors are designed to reflect the character of Sicily and the “art of simple luxury.” Four-poster wooden beds, polished concrete floors, Italian lighting and locally fired pottery help complete the vibe.
Venturing outside, guests will find golf courses designed by renowned golf architect Kyle Phillips. Famed for creating championship courses at Kingsbarn in Scotland and The Grove in England, Phillips has constructed two championship 18-hole courses and a 9-hole course that blend perfectly with Sicily ’s landscape. Each course offers spectacular views of the sea and challenging play among olive and orange groves.
As with most new resorts these days, there is also a “green” element to Verdura’s design. Solar panels installed on the central facilities building, spa and lower lake area will provide power and hot water throughout the resort. They’ve also installed double-glazed windows in all the bedrooms (they conserve energy by improving insulation) and low energy light bulbs around the property. In conjunction with the resort’s “no car policy,” electric buggies will be the prime mode of transport for guests.
There’s enough to keep you busy on property, but the Rocco Forte Collection has pumped $175 million dollars into the Verdura with the aim of propelling Sicily to the top of the list of luxury destinations. So, they encourage guests to explore the culturally rich villages and rugged terrain that lie beyond the resort.
With exploration in mind, Verdura has put together a broad list of excursions -- both land and sea – to help guests discover the best of Sicily . A few highlights include a helicopter tour over the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO world heritage site; a trip to Taormina to explore Mt. Etna (you can walk along the noticeably warm walls of this active volcano that recently erupted in May 2007); and a boat excursion to the beautiful Aeolian Islands of Lipari and Vulcano.
Looks like to get the most out of your trip, you’ll need to stay at least two weeks! Better go book the vacation time…
Related Articles:
Comments
- November 13, 2009
- "Around the World in 80 Sips" NYC Wine Event
