Browsing CategorySicily holidays

Casale Donna Costanza - WISHSCILY

Villas for every size group in our new collection How many times have you caught sight online of a dreamy villa, checked out the details and discovered that the number of bedrooms just doesn’t work for your group? Our new villas in Sicily for 2024 range from cottages for two to restored farmhouses with space for large groups, so there really is something for everyone. Best of all, each villa has its own hot tub or pool so you can enjoy relaxing in your own private space. Villas for two in Sicily Beachfront cottage The peak summer weeks are being…

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Enjoy a bucket list escape in Sicily We were delighted to see Wish Sicily recommended by the Jewish Chronicle in an article on the best Passover holidays. We all know that holiday prices – accommodation and flights – rise during peak holiday periods such as Easter or summer school holidays. But with the Jewish holiday of Passover falling several weeks later than Easter this year, families with children at Jewish schools have the flexibility to book lower-priced holidays when everyone else is back at school. Together with suggestions on visiting Canada, St Lucia and Sri Lanka, Sicily was the preferred short-haul…

best-time-to-visit-sicily

Which is the best month for a villa holiday in Sicily? It’s that time of year when thoughts automatically turn to holiday planning, whether for a main summer holiday or possibly just squeezing in a tempting spring mini break to look forward to during what’s left of winter. Of course, planning a holiday isn’t just about working out where to go, but also when to go. Visit when a destination is overrun with tourists, or too hot or too cold to do what you want to do, and it can shape your entire holiday experience. So if you’re thinking of…

best-beach-villas-in-sicily

Best beach villas in Sicily for 2024 Beach hungry? Around 95% of our 2024 villas in Sicily are within a 15-minute drive of the nearest beach, and many feature direct access to the beach, through the garden gate or along a private path. Better still, many of our beachfront villas also have a private pool. When should I book? So when is the optimum time to book your villa and which one is best for you? Timing is going to depend largely on how constrained you are by dates. If you’re limited to booking a week or two in August,…

Panoramic view of Mountain town Caltabellotta, Sicily, Italy in the sunset

10 of the best things to do in Sicily in winter Most of us think of Sicily in terms of sunshine and beaches, so a winter holiday on the island may sound counterintuitive, but there are also plenty of things to do and reasons for visiting Sicily during the winter months. November to March is naturally low season which brings the obvious benefits of great value for money and very few tourists. And as well as being the best time to explore Sicily without the crowds, this is the period when you’ll get the most authentic experience. In terms of…

visiting-sicily-valley-of-the-temples

Everything you need to know about Sicily So you’ve heard about the volcano, drooled over cannoli and arancini, and marvelled at the seascapes and idyllic sets in the White Lotus TV series. But how much do you actually know about Sicily when it comes to booking villas in Sicily? If you’re tempted by a trip to this extraordinary Mediterranean island but still have heaps of unanswered questions, read on. When is the best time to visit Sicily? Sicily is actually a year-round destination. Low season, from November to April, can be rainy but the daytime temperature rarely drops much lower…

The_Daily_Mail

Looking for sunshine without the long-haul flight? Early autumn is the perfect time to catch some late summer sun in southern Europe before the nights draw in and temperatures drop. The Daily Mail has put together an inspiring list of destinations where temperatures are still in their mid-20’s in October, and the Med waters have retained the heat from the summer sun. While temperatures in Sicily in August are possibly too hot for some, in October they’re warm enough to bask in gentle sunshine over an alfresco lunch and soak up some rays on the beach, but not too hot…

honeymoon-sicily

Five reasons to honeymoon in Sicily Getting married next year? If so, you may be putting the final touches to the wedding plans before moving on to the all-important task of choosing where to go for your minimoon or honeymoon. Which is where the fun really starts! If you’re lucky, you’ll be planning a couple of weeks away in which to unwind and spend time together after all the wedding activity. After what can be an extremely hectic period, possibly all you’ll want to do is soak up the sun on a beach or on a lounger alongside an infinity…

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5 REASONS TO VISIT SICILY IN OCTOBER For most of us, October half-term week is usually one filled with pumpkins, crisp fallen leaves and organizing playdates. So why not think about breaking with convention and planning a sunny week in a Sicily villa? As thick coats are pulled out of wardrobes ready for the arrival of winter chills and long dark evenings loom ever closer, the prospect of waiting a whole 6 months for spring can be, at best, testing. Added to that, the challenge for both children and their parents of new classes and activities, maddeningly complex family timetables…

happy-villa-holiday-in-sicily

Our top tips for happy villa holidays in Sicily The first trip abroad with a baby or toddler can often be somewhat daunting. You may just have got used to some sort of routine at home and the prospect of abandoning that framework is rather alarming. And if it’s your first attempt to holiday with a baby and a pre-schooler, then you’re forgiven for panicking! In fact, if you’ve done your homework and planned well, there’s no reason why your holiday shouldn’t be just as lovely as your now long-forgotten holidays à deux. Lovely, but different. But if you’re not…

top-natural-spots-sicily

Explore Sicily’s nature reserves, mountain ranges and islands Best known for its beaches and extraordinary architectural legacy, Sicily is also a big crowd-puller when it comes to natural attractions. Everyone’s heard about Mount Etna but fewer are aware of the island’s superb natural heritage. In fact, Sicily has no fewer than four regional parks and 76 nature reserves. Add to that mountain ranges, marine reserves and astonishing offshore islands, and you start to get a bigger picture. Because of its remarkable natural richness, a visit in the autumn months brings with it a whole host of thrilling sights, from spectacular…

WISHSCILY

8 fabulous villa pools in Sicily There’s only one place to be when the mercury starts to climb and that’s in the water! If your idea of heaven is topping and tailing your day with an early morning dip and a sunset swim in your own private pool, then the chances are your choice of villa will be strongly influenced by the pool. Most of our Sicily villas have a private pool but they can vary enormously. Not surprisingly, show-stopping infinity pools with a view remain a firm favourite with most guests but if you have toddlers, a lagoon-style pool…

last-minute deals in sicily villas

Find a last-minute villa in Sicily If you live in the UK, you may find that cloudy skies, scattered showers and cool temperatures are driving you to re-consider your summer holiday options. Worried you may have missed the boat for a holiday in the sun? In fact, once you start searching, you’ll probably find there’s more on offer than you first thought. You’d possibly expect prices to go through the roof at this point, but booking a last-minute holiday may not be as expensive as you think. And in fact, you may even pick up a bargain! And while you…

monreale-sicily

Top Sicilian experiences and places to visit Sicily’s location, geography and history go a long way to explaining just what makes the island so unique. Offering a vivid assortment of everything from Greek temples to jeep adventures, wine-tasting on the slopes of an active volcano, and some wonderful culinary traditions, the island provides holidaymakers with ample opportunity to peek into its fascinating culture. These are some of our favourite things to do and see in Sicily. Take a trip to Monreale cathedral A must for anyone staying in western Sicily, the UNESCO world heritage Norman cathedral at Monreale is an…

eating-in-sicily-pane-milza-wishsicily

Everything you need to know about Sicilian street food and traditional cuisine So how much do you know about Sicilian food? You wouldn’t be alone in assuming that it probably isn’t that different from that of the rest of Italy and, to a certain extent, you’re right. Think fruit and vegetables bursting with flavour, and a healthy dose of olive oil, nuts, seeds, and fish – in essence, the classic Mediterranean diet. And, in common with mainland Italy, a rigorous commitment to using seasonal, locally grown produce. However, if you’ve stayed any length of time in Italy, you’ll know that…

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Find the best things to do and see in the baroque town of Scicli More understated, and generally less visited than some of its neighbouring crowd-pullers, Scicli is certainly worth a visit if you’re on holiday in southeast Sicily. One of the eight towns in the cluster of UNESCO Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto, Scicli is both smaller and more lowkey than Modica and Ragusa, but nevertheless, utterly charming and with plenty of attractions to fill a day or two with leisurely sightseeing. Where is Scicli? Scicli is conveniently located between the coast and rural heart of…

activities-and-tours-in-sicily

Cultural attractions, activities and gastronomy in Sicily There’s little question that Sicily’s a natural choice when it comes to a beach holiday. With mile upon mile of sandy beaches and an enviable scattering of pretty coves fringed by translucent water, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to soaking up the sun by the sea in Sicily. But that’s not to say that Sicily is only about sun and sea. For a start, UNESCO World Heritage sites and ancient temples dot the landscape, and towns and cities are awash with extraordinary art and architecture. Then there are nature reserves, Europe’s…

beach-villas-in-sicily

Relax in your seafront holiday villa in Sicily If you’re planning a holiday in Sicily in July or August, the chances are you won’t want to be too far from the water. Of course, having a pool in your garden certainly ticks some boxes, but there’s nothing quite like the simple pleasure of stepping through your garden gate and on to the sand. Not surprisingly, our beach villas in Sicily are generally the first to get snapped up, but if you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, take a look at our collection of seafront holiday homes in Sicily…

last-minute-deals-in-sicily-villas-wishsicily

May and June villa discounts Springtime is the perfect time to visit Sicily. Mild temperatures are ideal for sightseeing or hiking, and beaches and tourist hotspots have yet to be filled by the summer rush.  Elsewhere, sprinklings of wildflowers are emerging on Sicily’s nature reserves and hillsides, and delicately flavoured spring fruits and vegetables are beginning to appear on local market stalls and in mouth-watering dishes at restaurants. And we’re making a springtime visit to Sicily even more irresistible! We’ve reduced the price of a large selection of properties by up to 20% in May, with further discounts at plenty…

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…