Chiesa Santa Maria dell'Ittrio and Ragusa Ibla- Sicily Italy

Everything you need to know about Ragusa, Sicily About Ragusa If you’re a Montalbano fan, you’ll definitely be familiar with Ragusa, but even if you’re not, this is a town that simply couldn’t fail to impress. Showcasing some of Sicily’s most memorable sights, Ragusa is one of the eight towns that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto. The town is in fact split in two – Ragusa Superiore and Ragusa Ibla – and not surprisingly, some visitors to the area are initially confused as to which one to head for. In this…

madonie-mountains-sicily-wishsicily

Off the beaten track in Sicily Unless you’re a keen hiker, you’re likely to be amongst the many visitors to Sicily’s shores who head for the beaches and completely overlook the Madonie mountains. But the mountainous reserve is alternative Sicily at its best, offering almost year round walking and a string of captivating medieval villages. The Madonie was the second nature reserve to be established in Sicily, located at the centre of the north coast of the island and extending over 35,000 hectares.  Skiing takes over in winter but during spring, summer and autumn, the network of paths through the…

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6 reasons to holiday in Sicily this spring Why wait for June or July for a hint of sunshine? While northern Europe might still be in shiver mode, get an early taste of summer with an Easter break in Sicily. What better way to spend Easter than lingering over cappuccinos at pavement cafés and feasting on the daily catch overlooking the ocean? Alongside the warm sunshine, you’ll find spectacular Easter parades and processions, delicious food, and shop windows crammed with wonderful displays of Easter goodies. Spring sunshine While Easter sunshine can be a bit hit and miss in northern Europe,…

Sciacca

Five of the best lesser known Sicilian towns Even if you’ve never been to Sicily, there’s a good chance you’ll have heard of Taormina, the impossibly picturesque seafront town on the island’s east coast. Recently thrust even further into the public’s consciousness by way of the TV series White Lotus, the town is unashamedly a treasure trove of jaw dropping views and film set snapshots. The downside, of course, is you won’t be the only tourist in town! Between April and October, the streets of Taormina are filled with holidaymakers keen to get their fill of the iconic vistas, fabulous…

WISHSCILY

Villa specialist Wish Sicily has announced a brand new collection of family friendly villas in Sicily, all with pools and many within walking distance of the beach. The villas are situated close to the superb beaches that characterise the coastline between Marina di Ragusa and Santa Maria del Focallo in south east Sicily. The villas start at as little as £117 per person per week at Giaira, a contemporary 4-bedroom villa (sleeps 9) with a private pool and large garden. Gorgeous Santa Maria del Focallo beach, a wide sandy beach backed by pine forests and dunes, is on the doorstep.…

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8 of the best beaches in southeast Sicily If you’ve explored the idea of a holiday in south east Sicily, the chances are you’ll know all about the baroque art and beauty that envelops the region’s towns, but do you know where to find the best beaches? We’re taking you on a whistle-stop tour of the top beaches around Sicily’s southeast coastline, but before we set off, a quick word about Italian beaches in general. And specifically about the very Italian phenomenon of ‘lidi’. While some beaches are free, the private beaches – the ‘lidi’ – offer comfort and shade…

blog-feefo-wishsicily

WishSicily has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience. Feefo established the Trusted Service Awards in 2014 to recognise brands that use the platform to collect verified reviews and receive exceptional feedback from their customers. The awards are unique because they truly reflect a business’s dedication to providing outstanding customer service by analysing feedback from real customers. Working with over 6,000 brands, Feefo is the world’s largest provider of verified reviews, helping brands understand customers by analysing verified reviews and providing insight into trends, needs…

Female Hands Kneading Pasta

Take a peek at our new family-friendly villas in south east Sicily It’s that time of year again, when we all dream of days filled with sunshine, and start planning a summer holiday that the whole family can look forward to. And to make it even easier for you to choose the ideal spot for your holiday, we’ve taken on several new brilliantly located family-friendly villas in Sicily that we know you’ll love. Great value at Lavinia, Scicli There’s plenty of room for a family of 6 at Lavinia, with 4 bedrooms, a living room, and a garden where you…

2023-villas-in-sicily

Five stylish villas in Sicily for 2023 Looking for inspiration for summer 2023?  We’re thinking stylish gardens and sparkling infinity pools with captivating sea views. Plus enticing interiors filled with traditional ceramics, and original architectural features that merge seamlessly with high tech mod cons and stunning contemporary design. Scroll through our 2023 collection but watch out for these villas in Sicily with a special wow factor that will leave you happy to spend entire days and evenings by the pool, just drinking in your surroundings. Multi-family gathering in Scicli New for 2023, Casale Donna Costanza in south east Sicily is…

wedding-in-sicily-wishsicily

New tailor-made luxury wedding package Are you planning to tie the knot in 2023? Why not consider a destination wedding and celebrate the special day in your life in Sicily? Escape the cost and hassle of a big UK wedding and instead keep your wedding day small and intimate, creating memories and having fun in the sun with your closest friends and family. You’ll be staying at a stunning countryside estate in northern Sicily and, better still, you’ll have someone to take care of all the organising! Our new wedding package means keeping the magic alive for a whole week.…

Sicilian landscape, Scopello.

Highlights of north west Sicily If you’re planning a villa holiday on Sicily’s west coast, you’ll certainly be thinking about spending a day or two in Palermo where you can marvel at ancient mosaics and art in palazzi and churches, and stroll through colourful markets. There are also plenty of attractions that are easily accessible as a day trip from Palermo. Just an hour or two away by car, these easily match many of the city highlights yet are frequently overlooked. So we’ve put together a list of some of our favourites, with a couple of tips to help you…

BEST-HIDEAWAY-VILLAGES-SICILY

SIX OF THE BEST HIDEAWAY VILLAGES IN SICILY Sicily’s beaches and coastline are undoubtedly the big magnet for most holidaymakers, but venture slightly inland to explore several of its hideaway villages and you’ll enter a whole new world. This is where you’ll find glorious views, centuries old architecture and a traditional way of life that allows you to step right back in time. Rent one of our villas in Sicily and explore some of the best hideaway villages on the Island. Greek and baroque architecture at Palazzolo Acreide Sicily’s massive 1693 earthquake resulted in the rebuilding of eight towns in…

palermo-sicily

FOCUS ON PALERMO Step off the plane or train in Palermo and despite still being in Italy, you’ll find yourself in a world of souk-like markets, Arab-style domes and eye popping baroque architecture. Yes, Palermo is the regional capital of Sicily but it’s also a fascinating hotchpotch of cultures and traditions. In fact, few places in the world rival Palermo when it comes to cultural melting pots. Unification with mainland Italy didn’t take place until 1861 and by then, the numerous invaders – Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Spanish and Normans – each left their mark on the island, creating a unique…

Food and pastry. Cannoli from Sicily

Focus on Sicilian food We’re frequently asked how Sicilian food differs from the rest of Italy and what makes our cuisine so unique. After all, we too eat pizza and pasta and demolish huge quantities of gelato! In fact every region of Italy has its own distinctive cuisine but this is particularly noticeable in Sicily where our daily diet is an extraordinary legacy of the island’s history, resulting in a dazzling combination of flavours. Add to that a mix of ingredients that have been enriched by the Sicilian sun and our steadfast commitment to so called ‘cibo chilometri zero’, that…

LoveEXPORING

Wish Sicily in LoveExploring LoveExploring, the inspirational guide to independent travellers, has included a Sicily villa stay with WishSicily in their recent round-up of best places to visit in October. October is a delightful time to visit Sicily. Days are still filled with sunshine, the most popular tourist sites are now crowd-free, and the sea still retains some of the summer heat. In the southeast of the island, the Vendicari Nature Reserve welcomes the arrival of thousands of flamingos and other aquatic birds en route for warmer climes in Africa. October is also the time when many of the smaller…

The_times_blog_wishsicily

Good to see another great round-up of some of the best places to stay in Sicily in the weekend’s Times newspaper, including our villa Nefele. The feature looks at some of Sicily’s most stylish accommodation, from modest villas to the island’s new generation of wine resorts and luxurious hotels. Wine experiences, extraordinary ancient sites and striking scenery are also par for the course – we’ve even caught the attention of Mick Jagger who last year bought a property near the south eastern tip of the island! A new addition to our collection this year, Nefele continues to attract rave reviews…

Pizzo dell'Ovo

Book a villa in Sicily to celebrate in style in 2023! Are you one of the many who have lost out on celebrating a milestone birthday or anniversary in recent years, or have simply missed sharing experiences with friends? If so, there’s no time like the present to start planning for 2023! Several of our villas in Sicily are big enough for parties of 20 and more, with a whole range of services that cater for large groups, designed to make your holiday even more memorable. Choose from chef services, tours and gastronomic experiences – we’ll make sure you’re well…

luxury-villas-in-sicily-for-rent-wishsicily

Stay in a luxury villa in Sicily this October Not quite ready to wave goodbye to summer? In Sicily, the sunshine often reaches well into October when, as an added bonus, prices are lower and beaches blissfully quiet. Throw into the mix some wonderfully luxurious villas in Sicily, swimming in seas still warm from the heat of the summer sun and lingering over leisurely seafood lunches, and suddenly, a week in Sicily seems like a great idea! Luxury villas with great prices Our newest property is the wonderful Casale Donna Costanza, a beautifully restored rural home that’s made for sharing,…

focus-on-taormina-sicily-wishsicily

Sicily’s best-known coastal resort Ask anyone who’s holidayed in Sicily whether they’ve visited Taormina and the chances are they will have done. The fact is this jewel of a town attracts more tourists than anywhere else on the island. Staying here is not everyone’s cup of tea – exploring some of the lesser-known corners of Sicily can be far more rewarding – but there’s no denying that there are plenty of reasons to visit. After all, this is a town where dazzling blue seas and the dramatic outline of Mount Etna form the backdrop to achingly pretty medieval buildings and…

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Summer holidays are drawing to a close. However, for those who still have the wonderful prospect of a late summer break to look forward to, journalist Anna Selby has pulled out a few suggestions in her Telegraph article on how to holiday like an Italian, including a stay at our Sicily Luxury Villa Dionisio. Yes, we certainly know how to holiday! Years of practice makes perfect and we’ve really turned the concept of ‘dolce far niente’ into an art form! Here, a summer holiday is all about leisurely sea dips, delicious meals with friends and family, and enjoying a simple evening…