Luxury Holidays in Italy: Our Top Sicilian Countryside Escapes

This time of the year makes us all crave some glorious sunshine; with spring fast approaching, it is time to start planning your next retreat. If you have been longing for a luxury escape to the countryside, Prestige offers a number of outstanding properties in Sicily. Holidays on this Italian island are guaranteed to leave you feeling rejuvenated thanks to its peaceful and serene ambiance.

About Sicily

When you travel to this charming region for the first time, you will be drawn in by its glorious sunshine and delicious Mediterranean cuisine. Though there are many large towns to visit, including the Baroque gems of Ortigia, Scicli and Raguso, if you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Sicily offers peaceful holiday hideaways too. There are various authentic agriturismi that are cosily nestled away from urban commotions, as well as top oenophile Sicily holidays on offer. Here are my two favourites.

For an Agriturismo Experience: Mandranova

Offering a brilliant combination of peaceful urbaneness and terrific sightseeing destinations, Mandranova is the ideal location if you want to alternate between visiting the local sights and lying under the warm Sicilian sun. This country house is set in a picturesque olive farm; as everyone knows, Sicily holidays wouldn’t be complete without an olive oil tasting session. This property gives you the perfect opportunity to explore the history of the olive production process in Italy. After all, 40% of the country’s olive oil is made in Sicily.

The property’s biggest selling point is its rustic charm. By re-using and modernising old technology Mandranova has revamped the farm’s old agricultural irrigation tank, the gebbia, and turned it into a small but perfectly formed swimming pool. It offers the ideal rural escape, while also neighbouring the awe-inspiring Greek temples of Agrigento.

For an Oenophile Escape: La Foresteria Planeta

Resting in the heart of acres and acres of Sicily’s infamous vineyards, La Foresteria Planeta is the perfect place to enjoy the finest wining and dining in Italy. As one of Sicily’s largest wine producers, the Planeta brand initially built this stunning property to accommodate their wine trading guests. Today, though, it has opened its doors to discerning travellers who are looking to experience luxurious Sicilian life at its best.

Designed like a large and friendly house, the property boasts 14 guestrooms decorated in a contemporary style. Such intimate cosiness, paired with the laidback atmosphere, will instantly make you feel at home. You can even have gourmet cooking lessons with their top chefs or treat yourself to an exclusive wine tasting at the Planeta Ulmo winery. After all, food and wine become a way of life when on Sicily holidays.

It’s time to stop dreaming about embarking on a rural retreat and turn that fantasy into a reality. The Prestige team can help you organise every detail of your trip to Sicily. Holidays have never been easier to plan! We will take care of everything, from accommodation to car hire, so you can just relax and map out your sightseeing route across the Sicilian countryside.

Author Plate

John Dixon is an experienced world traveller and the Managing Director of Prestige Holidays. For over 30 years, he has been providing luxury Sicily holidays, as well as holidays to Bermuda, Croatia and many other destinations around the globe. John tries to visit each of the destinations regularly in order to ensure the quality of his properties, and stay up-to-date about the latest local news and events. He has a taste for the finer things in life and has an interest in arts, history and culture.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.