You can enjoy a peaceful location with a stay at Villa Santa Croce which is just outside the pretty town of Santa Croce Camerina. You will find a restaurant just 150 metres from the villa and some shops and other restaurants in the town. A short trip of 5 km from the villa will take you to some of Sicily's most beautiful beaches in the quaint town of Punta Secca.
The house has its own lovely swimming pool of 12 x 6 metres and two covered outside areas with furniture. You can spend hours enjoying each other's company and a swim together during the warmer months. The villa inside is also spacious and there is parking space outside for several cars. From the plot (about 100 m from the house) there is the most beautiful view of the valley and the sea.
Read more about Villa Santa Croce
A holiday at Villa Santa Croce means that you can experience much Sicilian character and ambience and also wonderful beach days with the family. Sicily in general is blessed with beautiful beaches, but this particular area is especially beautiful. Punta Secca has a long stretch of fine sand and turquoise blue water surrounded by a pleasant small town that is becoming increasingly popular due to it being used as a film set for an Italian drama series "Montelbano". The popular Marina di Ragusa is just 5 km away also with fine sandy beaches and a gorgeous old town with lots of character and cosy piazza's, plenty of shops, restaurants, a weekly market and some entertainment in high season.
There is much to discover in the district of Ragusa and the city of Ragusa approx 24 km from the villa. The classic Baroque town is located on cliff top above sea level with narrow alleyways and many marvellous architectural treasures that really should be explored. By car, there are many other historically and culturally interesting places to visit such as: Taormina, Agrigento, Siracusa, Noto and Vittoria. Trips to Malta by boat or the north of Sicily - Palermo and the Aeolian Islands are also possible from here.
If you are a large group you may wish to rent the whole place together giving you 3 double bedrooms, a kitchen and dining area and a living room in one part, also with three bathrooms, then a separate bedroom in another, and another double bedroom with an extra kitchen plus the possibility of using a sofa bed also with another two bathrooms. The house also has a laundry room.
3 bedroom apartment Timo sleeps 6 + 1:
You can rent this largest apartment in the house with a separate entrance and a terrace. It has a large living room with a kitchenette and dining table, three double bedrooms, two with private bathrooms attached and the other with a bathroom in the corridor. The lounge has satellite TV. For an extra fee one extra person can sleep in the living room.
Room Menta - sleeps 2 ( + 1):
Menta is between Timo and Studio Artemisia and can be rented alone, as part of the villa or as a compliment to one of the apartments. It contains a double bed and a bathroom with a toilet and shower. It is possible to add an extra bed if rented with Timo.
Studio Artemisia - sleeps 2 + 2 :
Artemisia is a beautiful studio apartment with an entrance from an outdoor terrace. It consists of a large living room, which at one end has a living area with a kitchen and a dining area, with a sofa bed for two people and a sleeping area with a double bed. Charges apply to use the sofa bed and it is best for children under 12 years. There is also a bathroom with a shower.
The villa lived up to our high expectations - the pictures at the website describes the place well. Mid/end October we had 21-27 degrees Celsius, mainly sun, a shower one day and a storm one night. The pool was used every day - and the sea 5 km. away was probably 22 degrees.
Upon arrival we met with the owner Rosario at his address. He jumped on his motorcycle and showed us the way to the villa. However we first had to pick up the family we went with. They had gotten a bit lost. Rosario took over the cellphone, identified where they were and picked them up. After a short tour, he showed us a nearby, very nice pizza place (Mulino Vecchio). Very accommodating - and easy for us, it was 9.15 in the evening.
Bonus: There's a dishwasher at the place - and a new hot tub, which should be a bit hotter.
We were on trips for half a day to Ragusa, Modica and Scicli which are all worth a visit. The towns by the ocean are naturally a bit dead this at time of the year.
Remember to visit all the great restaurants in the area - you can use the app Gambero Rosso :) The lunch at the 2 stared Duomo in Ragusa is a bargain. But it is also very lovely to eat at the villa's terrace.
Be aware of: The garden around the house is green and well-kept. The area around it, where there 500 m. away is another villa, is at any rate at this time of year a bit brown and barren to look at, and there is very limited opportunities for walks directly at the address. The area is marked by intensive garden management. As long as you don't expect rolling green hills and a beautiful view, it is not important.
