Villa Baglio Campofranco, Donnalucata

Baglio Campofranco is a splendid Sicilian Manor, surrounded by 15 hectares of land with apricot and carob trees and a large swimming pool, the perfect location for a truly relaxing holiday with family and friends and a great starting point for exploring the treasures of Southern Sicily, includin... Read more

Elegant 5 bedroom holiday villa with pool / sleeps 8+4

Baglio Campofranco is a splendid Sicilian Manor, surrounded by 15 hectares of land with apricot and carob trees and a large swimming pool, the perfect location for a truly relaxing holiday with family and friends and a great starting point for exploring the treasures of Southern Sicily, including the Baroque cities of Scicli, Ragusa Ibla and Modica. The ‘Baglio’ is a typical Sicilian building, most likely a medieval Norman invention and composes of low buildings surrounding a fortified courtyard and a strong gate. An architectural design somewhere in-between a fort and a castle. 

The villa with swimming pool (17 m x 7 m) lies on a hill, only a short distance from the coast and the lovely sandy beaches of Donnalucata and Plaja Grande which are only a 10 minutes drive from the villa. The many outdoor areas of the villa, including the charming inner courtyard, the spacious pool area, the secret herb garden, the gazebo and the roof terrace (with sea-view) invite guests to enjoy ‘dining al fresco, having afternoon tea in the herb garden, relaxing and reading, sun bathing and many more activities. There is also a ping pong table available for some extra fun.

The walls of Baglio Campofranco fence in a residential complex of about 600 square meters (150 of which are the courtyard) and comprises of a day and a night zone. The day zone is composed of the elegant, two-part salon with library and dining room and the spacious and perfectly equipped kitchen. The night zone which is located on the opposite side of the courtyard, composes of 4 spacious double bedrooms and 1 large bedroom with 4 bunk beds. Each of the bedrooms has their own en-suite bathroom. The children's bedroom has a bathroom with a particularly powerful double shower, which is great fun. An additional WC can be found in the courtyard. From the courtyard a staircase leads up to the upper terrace, from where you have a wonderful view of over the hills and the sea. Good to know: one of the double bedrooms is accessible only via the other bedrooms, or from the courtyard.

The Building: The stones from which the Baglio was built in 2011 were recovered from the ruins of the original, 18th century building. The courtyard of the property forms a central point, connecting lounge, kitchen, bedroom and bathrooms. The partially covered courtyard, flanked by a stunning palm tree, is the ideal meeting place for breakfast, followed by a refreshing dip in the pool. Due to the thick walls of the property it is very well insulated against the heat (and cold) and the temperatures inside stay mild even during the hottest summer months.

Location: The property is located on the edge of the nature reserve 'Irminio Biosphere Reserve', named after the river that springs from the 'Monti Iblei' and flows to the sea at Scicli. The reserve is ideal for hiking in a lush, unique, diverse landscape. The heart of the reserve is only 10 minutes drive from the villa. Long sandy beaches which are also not too crowded in summer, can be found in Donnalucata an ancient fishing village within 5 km distance. Already described by the Greek and today boasting 3500 inhabitants, it is known far and wide for its fish market.  According to legend the goddess of fertility and harvest 'Demeter' or 'Ceres' as named by the Romans, provided a particularly good spring of fresh water for Donnalucata. The main town of Scicli (Donnalucata, the adjacent Sampieri and Campofranco are locations under Scicli) is only about 10 minutes by car and is famous for its beautiful Sicilian Baroque architecture. The location of the Baglio also lends itself to exploring the famous baroque cities of Ragusa Ibla, Modica, Noto and even Siracusa. This is also the region where the famous ‘Montalbano’ TV series is being filmed. The beach house of the ‘commissario’ can be visited in Punta Secca, only about 15 minutes drive from the villa. If you want to experience more, in July and August there are hydrofoil ships from Pozallo to Gozo and Malta.

Every morning the maid cleans and resets the bedrooms, bathrooms and living room. The lovely caretaker lives in the property nearby and is always happy to help with any queries.

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