Villa Donato

About this property

Perched romantically on the hills beside the small village of Scopello, Villa Donato boasts enticing panoramic views of turquoise Mediterranean waters and rolling verdant hills. The relative height of the property to its undulating surroundings creates a deserving vantage point from which to admire the abundance of natural beauty which stretches out before it.

Indoors, a tastefully implemented colour scheme of white and blue runs throughout the house’s tidily furnished rooms. The living area is bright and elegant, leading onto a modern and well-equipped kitchen, even boasting a small wine cellar with Sicilian wine. The bedrooms are commodious, with a comfortable master room with a king-size bed and a room with two single beds. A further French size bed located in the attic is available at an extra cost to sleep 2 additional guests. 

A quaint stone path leads through the rich Mediterranean garden, alive with blossom and fragrances of wild mimosa and rosemary, to the door of the property. Rustic wooden furnishings and terracotta tiles retain a more traditional Sicilian charm outside the villa. A spacious and covered sea view veranda offers a peaceful spot for drinks next to the pool, which looks fabulous lit up at night, and is equipped with an elegant sofa and chairs.  A second veranda at the back of the villa hosts a BBQ and another space in which to dine.

Villa Donato is in the perfect setting to take in the beauty of Western Sicily, being only a short walk to the nearest beach, Cala Mazzo di Sciacca, and a very short drive to the Lo Zingaro nature reserve, famous for its landscapes and rare plants. The charming village of Scopello is just over 1km away, so it is perfect for a late-night stroll to visit some authentic restaurants and bars. Further afield, you can also find the Castellammare del Golfo (12km), a delightful fishing town, and San Vito Lo Capo (55km) with gorgeous white sandy beaches.

Villa Donato is in a spectacular position to enjoy the abundance of beauty of western Sicily. The Cala Mazzo di Sciacca beach is only a short walk away and nearby restaurants and bars are just over 1km away, if you fancy lounging by the beach instead of the pool and dining alfresco on a different terrace!

West of Palermo, just after Castellammare del Golfo, the coastline becomes rugged and spectacular. Part of this coastline is Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve, which stretches for 7km between the lovely village of Scopello in the east to near San Vito Lo Capo in the west. Created in 1981, this park and its surrounding areas are one of the most beautiful parts of western Sicily.

Lo Zingaro has been shaped by nature to dramatic effect. Cliffs drop precipitously into the azure sea and the series of pebbly beaches hidden amongst a myriad of coves are as lovely as you can find in the Mediterranean. The park attracts both walkers and bathers alike and in the summer, when many beaches are overcrowded, it is a good idea to head for Lo Zingaro, walk for half an hour and find relative isolation on a virtually deserted beach.

At the edge of the Zingaro Nature reserve lies the ancient Scopello (from the Greek word "Skopelos" that means "cliff”), a small, pleasant village that was built around a 16th-century “baglio”, on the site of a former Moorish hamlet. As you will discover, this nice courtyard is now the heart of the village. Here, ceramics and souvenirs shops, as well as boutiques, cafés and restaurants lie under the shadow of a large eucalyptus. On the road to Trapani one can spot the idyllically situated Greek temple of Segesta, one of the Mediterranean’s finest archaeological sites.

Castellammare del Golfo is an attractive seaside town between Palermo and Trapani. The historic fishing port has a picturesque location, below steep mountain slopes; with a handsome curved harbour at the foot of a small headland topped with a castle. There are still small working fishing boats, and you may see fishermen mending their nets on board, or selling the day's catch. Castellammare has a pretty little central park, opposite the elegant town hall on Corso Mattarella. The park has a small children's play area, shady trees, and benches views over the harbour.

Accommodation

Villa Interiors

Ground Floor

- Open-plan living room with sofa and TV
- Kitchen with gas stove, oven, fridge, freezer, kettle, dishwasher, microwave and dining table seating 4 guests
- Master bedroom with double bed
- Bedroom with 2 single beds
- Bathroom with shower and WC

Attic (accessible via a ladder)

- Bedroom with French bed (better suited for 2 children, available at an additional cost)

Outside Grounds

- Private pool (open from approximately beginning March to beginning-November)
- Front veranda with BBQ
- Back veranda with sofa and chairs
- Outdoor Shower

Facilities

- WiFi
- Heating
- Air-conditioning
- Washing machine
- Iron
- TV