Reviews
Villa in Sicilia di fronte Eolie
We spent a week in this very spacious villa with stunning panoramic views of the coast and Aeolian Islands. It was possible to pick fresh organic fruits and vegetables in the huge garden and to relax in the pool, sauna and jacuzzi. The beach is 10 minutes’ walk from the villa. The location is very convenient for trips to Palermo and to the south of Sicily. The owners were very helpful in all matters. Upon request, a delicious dinner was prepared for my birthday. Everything was great! Many thanks to the owners of the villa, and hopefully see you again!
Regina October 2019
Des hôtes aux petits soins
Tout a commencé par un très bon dialogue avec Maurizio qui nous a proposé des excursions déjà avant notre arrivée (je vous conseille la visite du stromboli et l’excursion en bateau privé). Ensuite nous sommes arrivés et avons été accueillis par sa sœur Barbara qui a bien pris le temps de tout nous expliquer et toujours disponible (elle nous a aussi réservé des parkings bien situés pour moins cher). Elle nous avait aussi proposé une soirée pizza qui n’a pas pu se faire car le cuisinier n’était pas disponible et à la place elle nous a cuisiné des spécialités siciliennes(un vrai régal). Le papa nous a fait visiter le grand jardin (intéressant aussi). A ne pas rater tous les soirs le coucher de soleil incroyable sur la terrasse sur les îles éoliennes. Le must prendre l’apéro devant le coucher de soleil sur la terrasse devant (d’ailleurs il vaut mieux être devant que derrière côté piscine car le seul bémol de la maison c’est une route très passante côté piscine). Le jacuzzi a aussi une belle vue. Encore merci à nos hôtes qui m’ont changé les idées après le décès de mon papa.
Virginie P. August 2019
Superb
Huge beautiful property – best swimming pool we’ve ever had at a villa, tennis court and gardens were great (we picked whatever was ripe from the orchard, if you went later in the summer you would have abundance!). Local bakery is great, beach is 10 minutes walk away. Barbara and Maurizio couldn’t have been more helpful, wonderful hosts. All in all a very impressive property, we loved it!
Katelyn C. August 2019
Séjour formidable dans belle propriété avec piscine
Très jolie villa avec vue sur la mer et sur un beau verger où nous avons pu cueillir oranges, citrons, prunes, mandarines, raisin, tomates… pour le plus grand bonheur des adultes et des enfants. Intérieur vaste et agréable avec air conditionné dans toutes les chambres sauf celle des enfants. Nombreux coins aménagés avec confortables transats autour de la maison ce qui permet à chacun de trouver un petit coin tranquille. La gentillesse et disponibilité des propriétaires ont permis de passer un excellent séjour familial, sans oublier la délicieuse cuisine locale préparée par Virginia, vive, pétillante et cuisinière hors pair. Très belle piscine avec un muret haut qui protège des risques d’accident pour les jeunes enfants. Seul petit bémol, la proximité de l’autoroute qui passe devant la maison mais dont on parvient à faire abstraction avec le chant des cigales et les cris de joie des enfants dans la piscine!
Marie D. August 2019
Fantastic stay!
We were a party of 14 and no complaints. Hosts Maurizio and Barbara attended to our every need from giving us directions and info on things to do and places to visit to procuring tickets in advance for our excursions! Father was charming .. he showed up and gave us a tour of the grounds and helped us pick fruit and vegetables on the grounds. Villa has everything one would want for a fabulous stay only regret is we couldn’t stay longer! If you want a luxury stay book this villa! Grazie di cuore dai Villagers.
Alessandra S. July 2019
Villa in Sicilia di fronte Eolie
Our group of 3 families spent a week at this beautiful villa near Messina. Maurizio, the host, was great about communicating with us ahead of time and helping us make plans. This was very helpful as I was planning a trip not only for my own family, but two others with various interests and nine kids raging in age from 9-19. There was plenty of space for all 15 of us and everyone had a great time. The villa property is gorgeous, beautifully maintained by a gardener and overlooking the sea and a breathtaking view of the Aeolean Islands. The sunsets were spectacular! The pool is pristine and there are well maintained plants and flowers everywhere and shaded parking. The property is very large and has it’s own orchard full of olive and countless varieties of organic fruit trees (of which you can pick and eat from). Maurizio’s very charming and hospitable father, Aurelio, gave us a lovely tour of the orchard and gave us an appreciation of the vast variety and quality and number of things they grow there. The villa is within walking distance to Celona, a nice restaurant with very good food that also sells gelato, coffee and pastries as well as excellent pizza and Italian fare. It is also a short walk to a local beach and a short drive to the supermarket and various shops and restaurants. The property also has a sauna and hot tub (with a view of the sea), a basketball and tennis court and sports equipment, a beautiful outdoor eating space that easily seated all 15 of us, a grill and pizza oven, and a washing machine and clothes line. One of the best things about the villa was the hospitality of our hosts. Maurizio, his sister, Barbara and their father were amazing. Maurizio was very responsive and easy to communicate with and helped me set up a boat cruise to the Aeolian Islands for our group prior to the trip; he also helped me set up a pizza making class at the villa and a group meal at the villa. He also personally met our group when we got there and gave us great advice about local things to see and do. During the week, Barbara checked in with us to make sure we were comfortable, organized the pizza making class with a local pizza chef and even brought us her own home made jam made from the villa’s fruit trees. There was much more to see and do in the area than we could possibly experience in a week, so we had to pick and choose as we were trying to find a balance of exploring and relaxing and wanted to spend plenty of time relaxing and enjoying the amenities at the villa. Besides the full day boat cruise, other things we enjoyed were the pizza class at the villa using the traditional outdoor pizza oven (outstanding!), a day trip to Siracusa (Greek and Roman theaters), the market in Ortega; a day trip to scenic Taormina, a beautiful beach near Messina where the two seas meet with a gorgeous view of the Italian mainland which we would not have found without Maurizio’s help. Others in our group also enjoyed Noto and the Pools of Venus. There were many beautiful and interesting places within an hour or two of the villa. We wish we would have had time to see more. On our last evening, Barbara, Maurizio’s sister who is also a chef, came and cooked a truly amazing dinner for our group. She is a very interesting and kind woman and made us feel so welcome. The only thing we were sad about was it was our last night and we didn’t have room or time to finish it all. If I would have known, I would have scheduled the dinner earlier in the week to make sure we could enjoy every bite. My only regret about our vacation was not staying at least an extra week. We are truly appreciative of Maurizio, Barbara and Aurelio’s outstanding hospitality and would return.
Kirsten June 2019
Villa in Sicilia di fronte Eolie
We were in this magic place big , not Italian but polish – like Italian family – 5 kids from 2 years old to 8 years old – and in the end those beautiful property still standing 🙂 The garden was plenty of fruits – our kids could feel like work and travel taking fresh oranges from the tree to make fresh juice 🙂 Jacuzzi with magnificent views of all of 7 islands . The perfect day with cooking ( Barbara and Virginia) thanks for all 🙂 We recommend stay in this place for everyone. No words can make all very good opinions about our stay is enough – if You are reading this – you have really to check – place, villa and especially magnificent family of Maurizio as our host 🙂
Alicja June 2019
Fantastic Villa
The villa was very impressive with spacious rooms and grounds. It is on a hill with great views over the sea. Our party of 10 ranged in age from 8 to 87 so it was great that there was plenty of space so that we didn’t feel like we were getting on top of each other. The orchard and garden were perfect for hide and seek, tag, and other games. The temperature of the large pool was “bracing” (it was October) but that didn’t stop us spending time in it and the hot tub and sauna were great! The beach was only a 10 minute walk, we had a lovely day playing in the sand and swimming in the sea. We also went to Mt Enta and Taromina both well worth the visit; we also enjoyed some lazy days around the villa. Maurizio and Barbara were very welcoming and stayed in touch to check everything was ok!
Liz M.Shrewsbury, Shropshire October 2018
Family time in a fantastic house
We were in this magic place big , not Italian but polish – like Italian family – 5 kids from 2 years old to 8 years old – and in the end those beautiful property still standing 🙂 The garden was plenty of fruits – our kids could feel like work and travel taking fresh oranges from the tree to make fresh juice 🙂 Jacuzzi with magnificent views of all of 7 islands . The perfect day with cooking ( Barbara and Virginia) thanks for all 🙂 We recommend stay in this place for everyone. No words can make all very good opinions about our stay is enough – if You are reading this – you have really to check – place , villa and especially magnificent family of Maurizio as our host 🙂 We stayed two weeks in this dreamy house. We were four couples two teenagers and a few babies. It was just the right place for us. The house is very well organised and each room was always animated. The owners were so amazing to all of us. We had many request and they were always at our disposal which has helped us a lot. They found some very good olive oil and biscuits so we could bring some back home for example. They brought some lovely brioche ( traditional breakfast) one morning and of course they would bring us the amazing vegetables from the garden and eggs sometimes. There is a lot to do around which was a great thing. There are some nice beaches half an hour away and a very “simple” one down the road ( you will have to take your car though) where we would go every evening. In the village near the house there is also a nice beach with clear blue water where all the local families goes too which we enjoyed as well.
BiancaA367, Paris France July 2018
Spectacular oasis in the midst of amazing beauty, culture, history, and cuisine. Trip of a lifetime!
Spectacular oasis in the midst of amazing beauty, culture, history, and cuisine, with a phenomenal host and guide – Maurizio – who is passionate about the area and all it has to offer. Our family of three generations – including ages 17 through 89 – had high and varied hopes for our gathering in Sicily and they were delightfully exceeded. The villa is a lovely, comfortable and intriguing place that invites and accommodates group gatherings as well as independent wandering and quiet time – all with spectacular views of the extensive gardens, sea, sunsets and the Aeolian Islands. We availed ourselves of so many of the villa’s wonderful features, including the many gathering spaces inside and out, the refreshing pool, the fabulous pizza oven with our pizza master chefs, and the abundant and well-tended garden providing delights of fresh lemons, oranges, kumquats, plums, pears, among other fruits not yet ready and awaiting other guests. The villa also provided a much welcome retreat after a full day of adventure in the surrounding area – and we took great advantage of its great location near the variety of destinations offered. During our two-week stay, every day we were treated to a new adventure – almost always recommended by Maurizio. We enjoyed delicious local dining and wine tasting, visiting fascinating historically significant towns, land marks, museums, and archeologically rich sites, as well as enjoying breathtaking views from huge stone monoliths, diverse island destinations, and small towns and large churches perched against the rugged landscape. Maurizio, as well as his father, and all of the wonderful network of people who are as passionate about this beautiful part of Sicily and providing quality experiences, service, and local products, are incredibly gracious, kind, and generous with their time and assistance with enabling a most memorable trip. They are rightly proud of this wonderful villa and the surrounding areas, and we have come away feeling enriched, renewed, and relaxed with an abundance of memories and hopes to return some day soon. Grazie Mille
Abby D., Grand Rapids, Michigan USA July 2018
Geniales Anwesen
Riesiges Anwesen, welchem die Bilder nicht im geringsten Gerecht werden. Sehr schöne Anlage mit Orangen-, Zitronen und Grapefruitbäumen welche man im Vorbeigehen pflücken kann. Riesiger Pool, inkl. Jacuzzi und Sauna. Sehr nette und hilfsbereite Vermieter.
Nico K. May 2018
“Impressive villa in beautiful grounds with ample opportunities to relax”
The villa itself has plenty of space indoors and outdoors with nice wood panneling, high ceilings and marble staircase. Both indoor and outdoor kitchen with wood fired pizzaoven, huge swimmingpool and extensive grounds with a variety of fruit and olive trees.We were allowed to pick whatever fruit we wished. Great views to the Aeolian islands and many places to relax ao hottub, sauna, tenniscourt and a number of terraces to relax with a book . Great house for a larger group. Very helpful and responsive owner who organised for us fe a pizza making course with a professional pizzamaker. Only drawback is the noise of the traffic of the highway at the back of the grounds but to our surprise we got used to it rather quickly and it was far less disturbing than we initially feared.
Jan Pieter K., May 2018
Beautiful villa with huge gardens and facilities
The villa is located in an amazing location in Messina with incredible views. The surrounding gardens are huge and extremely well cared for. The villa includes a pool, tennis and basketball courts, sauna and jacuzzi. The gardens are full of fruit and olive trees where you can pluck anything at will. The host Maurizio is extremely helpful and will assist you at all times. The main bedrooms have recently been refurbished and are all airconditioned. I would definitely recomment it!
Alexander G., December 2017
Our stay at Villa LaZagare was outstanding!! Beautiful grounds and a good mix of amenities suitable to every age in our group. The Villa is a delightful place and “fit” our 14 person family exquisitely. Truly an important factor in making our vacation one to remember. The Villa will be our first choice on future visits to Sicily. Thank you to Maurizio and his father.
Terry, Poughkeepsie, New York USA December 2017
Beautiful relaxing villa, perfect for families and friends!
Villa Le Zagare delivered everything it promised and more. Attentive hosts Maurizio and his father have created a little oasis. Yes, it’s close to the motorway but easily forgotten when you look across the 150 fruit trees that grow in their orchard to the sea and the 7 volcanic islands beyond. We stayed with friends at the end of October and although the pool was chilly it was too tempting not to go in, and the hot tub is close at hand! The tennis court/ basket ball kept our sons out of mischief as did the fruit picking and egg collecting. The villa is situated up a steep narrow road and at the bottom there is a bakery, butcher/cheesemonger, and a restaurant that has great pizzas, ice creams. pastries including the Sicilian arancini and cannoli! The walk home is good for the calf muscles and you can work off some of those Sicilian delicacies or do what we did and have them take-away as a reward for reaching the top! Driving is a bit challenging if you are not used to the local ways -but the villa is very close to the main highway for Messina and Taormina and it’s not far to Torre Faro which is the closest point to Italy. The best part of the holiday is just the space the villa allows you, terraces and balconies mean you are never on top of one another and there are plenty of options to dine outside. The gardens and orchards are obviously a labour of love, and they make the villa setting spectacular!
Alexander G., October 2017
Sicilian Paradise
It’s rare that your accommodations become the focal point of your vacation, but with this majestic home on a hill, that was the case. It’s a special property with warm and hospitable hosts and we highly recommend it for a family, large group or reunion. We were a group of nine – two families with five kids aged 15 and under. The owner, Maurizio, was extremely attentive and kept in touch during our entire stay. The villa is spacious and wonderful with direct views of the sea, including the Aeolian islands. The Sicilian sunsets were amazing. The grounds are beautiful and include a pool, outdoor dining area, tennis/basketball court, bountiful orchards and gardens. The hosts were very warm and helpful, and allowed us to pick fruits and vegetables and treat the villa as our home. The villa is just outside of town and a short ride from the Autostrada and within an hours drive to most major sites, including Taormina and Mt. Etna. We are back home in NYC and dreaming of our Sicilian retreat. We highly recommend it.
Maria C., NYc, New York USA, August 2017
Great house in lovely setting (main road right next to swimming pool area is noisy) with hosts being very helpful. Quite a distance to many tourist attractions and main beaches but wonderful gardens with gorgeous fresh fruit and veg.
Karen, Saint-Cergue, Switzerland, August 2017
Excellent villa with fantastic views and extensive garden with great outdoor facilities.
We spent a really lovely week relaxing at villa le Zagare. The house was large and immaculate and sunset from the large upstairs balcony was truly amazing. What made it for us were the extensive grounds with fruit trees, places to sit and read, a lovely swimming pool right by the house, hot tub and sauna as well as the tennis court which we used extensively. In addition, the villa is only a few minutes walk from a lovely pizzeria and the local beach. From booking to arrival Maurizio was really helpful and always responded very quickly. Whilst we were there he gave us good suggestions for outings and, in addition, his father took us around the whole estate helping us to pick fresh fruit, vegetables and even collected fresh eggs for us to eat as well. The only slight downside was the main road nearby but this did not bother us particularly. We recommend this property as it has everything you need if you simply want to relax in beautiful surroundings but is also not too far away from places if you want to visit interesting places in north east Sicily. Maurizio and his father are also friendly and helpful if you need anything.
John G., Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, August 2017
Very good host, very responsive and helpful across all fronts. We stayed here with multiple guests and our 3 children and had a very good time to sort out any requests. Pros of villa: space, amenities (Pool, hot tub, tennis, garden etc.). wonderful sun settings and very close to main roads to get to local beaches and for sightseeing if desired. Note: One needs a car to get to family friendly beaches with lidos (best ones 20-30 minutes by car) especially with toddlers of young age and there is constant noise from local adjacent highway (which you get used to after a few days). The nearby village is wonderful to buy local fresh fish/meat/vegetables.
Fabian, London United Kingdom, July 2017
Villa Le Zagare is the most gorgeous house you can imagine!
Villa Le Zagare is the most gorgeous house you can imagine: every room is beautiful and elegant, every window, hallway and staircase worth a photograph, every view from the balconies and porches spectacular. It was a privilege to be a guest in this home for a week with our children and grandchildren on our long-anticipated trip to Sicily to celebrate my turning 70 this fall. There was plenty of room for the 11 of us…including 4 children ages 8, 10, 13 and 15. When I asked our granddaughter, who turned 11 on this trip, what her favorite part of the Italian vacation was, she said, “the villa!” The large swimming pool was gorgeous and a perfect respite from the July heat. We all enjoyed our coffee by the pool in the mornings, and ate our dinners in the gazebo every evening after watching the sunset from the upstairs balcony. The kitchen was well equipped for our family of cooks, and the adjoining pantry perfect for the extra dishes, glasses, and food storage. Maurizio’s family owns the villa, and he was a most helpful host who was available for questions and assistance with various transportation and planning questions. His father, Aurelio, still gardens on the grounds and we were so grateful to receive fresh eggs from his chickens on 2 occasions which we cooked for breakfast! The grounds include literally hundreds of fruit trees, and all of it is meticulously cared for. There is plenty of parking under olive trees! Just down the road is a wonderful tabacchi with excellent coffee, and a bakery where we ordered one of the best birthday cakes I’ve ever tasted. There are grocery stores and fruit markets close by. From the villa we took several day trips, including to Mt Etna, the Eolie Islands, Alcantro Gorge, Milazzo, and Taormina. All of these are worth the effort! A reality of vacationing in Sicily is that one has to drive some distance to get places, and we had 3 cars among us. Driving was fine, not at all as bad as we were led to believe. There is no such thing as perfection, and I must mention two things. First, the villa does not have central air conditioning, and it was very hot when we were there. Five of the six bedrooms have air conditioners that worked fine but one bedroom just had fans. Fortunately there was always a lovely breeze by the pool. Second, the villa sits just below the autostrade and traffic noise can be loud. I was surprised at how little it bothered me as long as I was distracted by reading or conversation.
Salli b., July 2017
Superb house, beautiful garden… Great Host. We recommend the place
Anne, Paris France April 2017
Great holiday!
We loved the house and the beautiful garden with jacuzzi and tennis court. We gazed at the view of the islands and the sea. Fresh fruit in the morning to make juice was great. The house is very spacious and Maurizio helped us with directions and reservations. The noise coming from the road nearby is the only downside, but after a few days it gets used. We recommend the house for a beautiful holiday!
Leendert-Jan P. April 2017
The villa is incredibly beautiful with a stunning view of the Eolian islands. All very clean, facilities are all you can wish for and it smells really nice because of all the orange trees. Mauricio is a wonderful host and prepared a very good local dinner with local wines and went above and beyond to help us when one of our suitcases went missing. Only thing that’s not perfect is that it’s close to the highway so you have some background noise.
Eline, Utrecht, The Netherlands, April 2017
This villa is beautiful inside and out. Very clean, beautiful orchards, breathtaking views of the sea. We used the space for a large gathering of friends, and it had everything we needed. Maurizio is quick to reply to questions and is very helpful. Our stay here was perfect.
Lael, California, USA March 2017
Maurizio and his family were the perfect hosts and we felt very welcome in their house. We travelled a group of three families (a total of six kids in the group), and there was plenty of room in the house for us. The house is beautiful and the grounds are superb. We loved the possibillity to pick fresh fruits from the trees and walking around the huge park with the kids. We used all the outdoor facilities: The tennis court, the pool, the jacuzzi, and the sauna. And we should not forget to mention.. The view from the house is stunning! Only remark is the noise from the highway, which is present all day and night. However, we forgot about it after a couple of days and it did not affect our holiday. Just down the road we shopped fresh bread for breakfast and we enjoyed the beach just a short 10 minutes walking distance away. The best ice cream and pastry store is also located just down the road, we spent time here every day! Definitely recommendable and worth a visit 🙂
Kathrine, Frederiksberg, Denmark, October 2016
The villa and location were just as described – even better in some ways. We loved relaxing at the villa and especially enjoyed the visits from Maurizio’s father and uncle. Maurizio was always quick to answer any questions and arrange for services that we needed. We loved being able to pick fresh fruit every day and the gardener was also very friendly and helpful. The pizza that we made in the pizza oven was delicious, too. We would definitely rent this villa again and recommend it to others.
Ginny, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA September 2016
A beautiful, elegant and restful villa
We were a party of 3 families from England – 13 in all. Villa le Zagare is a large elegant villa, well equipped and with great communal areas but plenty of space to spread out and relax. The views out to the sea and the Aeolian Island across the gardens are breathtaking. The grounds are beautiful and immaculately maintained. Every morning (we were there late August) we could pick figs and grapes for breakfast – the best figs we have ever tasted. The tennis court and pool were well used by our party. Maurizio is a charming and attentive host who looks after you above and beyond what you would usually expect from somebody renting you a villa. Our group was pretty independent, but if you would like him to organise trips he will gladly do so. Maurizio’s wife cooked us a fabulous Sicilian meal one evening. From the villa you can walk down to a great local bakery (Pane Nostrum) and an excellent butchers/general store. There is also a very good Pizzeria which also sells bread/patisseries. You can also walk to the local beach (10 minutes or less) where you can buy ice cold granite from a beach shack. There is also a nice beach at Santa Saba a few km east. Places easily reached from here (if you are heading towards Palermo you need to drive the other side of Villafranca and pick up the Rometta motorway interchange) include the Greek theatre at Tindari, Milazzo (and boat trips to the islands) and Taormina. I wish we had gone as far as Palermo – another time maybe. In all a wonderful place to stay in beautiful surroundings and perfect for big groups.
Sarah E., August 2016
Maurizio and his farther made us feel very welcome. The villa is beautiful, the ground huge and filled with wonderful fruits. We were a group of 14 including 5 kids and the Villa was a perfect size. The outdoor terraces are all beautiful, the sunsets wonderful, the cooking facilities are superb (great kitchen, outdoor grill, and pizza oven) and the grounds are well kept every day by a gardener. We enjoyed our days in the Villa as much as we enjoyed going to the beautiful beaches in the area. The only slight downside is that the Villa is close to a motorway. And whilst you cannot see it you can hear it, but you quickly get used to it and so really not a problem at all. Would highly recommend.
Tarek, London, United Kingdom August 2016
La Bella Vita
You’ve read about a place like this in books. It exists. You’ve seen this kind of place in movies. It is here. You’ve visited this life in your dreams. Come and live it! Our time at Villa Le Zagare was , in one word, SUBLIME. We spent 2 luxurious weeks with family and friends living a slice of the Sicilian lifestyle like locals. Everything you need is within walking distance of the house; a quiet beach, a perfect bakery, a man selling fish off a cart, Antonio and his meat market/grocery. We had big intentions of doing lots of day trips from the villa but we never really wanted to leave! In a short time we felt like locals and truly loved it. The orchards provide their abundance for you to enjoy- fresh squeezed orange juice and lemons for your fish, walks that will inspire you to write, and shady spots to contemplate your good fortune. There is a tented area that is lovely for morning yoga or a party. This is a perfect film set! A big thank you goes out to Maurizio and Aurelio for creating such an enchanting space, and to Edi for taking such good care of it. Until next time, I will just say, “Ciao Bella!”
Polly, Laguna Beach, California, USA July 2016
Magical, Beautiful Sicily
Booking an vacation rental online can be difficult because you are not quite sure what you will be walking into, but Maurizio’s home surpassed our expectations and dreams the second we pulled up the driveway. Our family of 14 stayed very comfortably in the villa, and we made sure to enjoy every inch of space provided to us both indoors and outdoors. Our family not only enjoyed cooking meals in the kitchen, but also utilizing the outdoor pizza oven, grill, pool and basketball courts! We made sure to also catch the amazing sunsets from the home’s terraces in which the sun drops directly into the ocean. Maurizio’s passion for Sicilian tourism was welcomed as he helped up organize tours and other excursions during our time at Villa Le Zagare. Maurizio made sure our stay in Sicily was nothing less than perfect. We could not have asked for a better, more responsive, and personable host than Maurizio; we can not wait to return to his home and spend time with someone whom we now consider a friend. If you’re looking for the perfect ‘home base’ with easy access to major motorways and true country living while you are in Sicily, look no further. Grazie!
Ann Marie M., Boston, MA USA July 2016
Beautiful character villa in Sicily
My family of 15 from Australia stayed in the beautiful Villa Le Zagare in July of this year. I had commenced my search to find the perfect villa for us all about 12 months out from our arrival date. Initially my dream had always been to rent a villa in Tuscany to celebrate my 50th birthday with my immediate family. I spent many days, weeks and in fact months searching through all the many booking sites and locations that the amazing Internet has to offer. My criteria was however quite specific, I wanted a villa with a pool as I knew it would be hot in Italy in July, a large and spacious villa with nice outdoor entertaining areas so that it didn’t feel like we were on top of each other. I wanted to be near to local amenities and places of interest without being in the centre of a busy township. I also had on my list a tennis court as our 5 children who range in age from 10years old to 30 ( and partners) like to be active and enjoy a social hit up. I wanted to be within close driving distance to places of interest and day tripping options so our party could head off during the day to explore and discover. Whilst pouring over the Tuscan options it also occurred to me that being from Australia, my family all love being close to the ocean and are drawn to it. As I was searching, I kept being drawn to sites in Sicily that were showing stunning coast lines crystal clear water and beautiful long beaches as well as islands that lay close by. Sicily was also a place that none of my family had been to before, unlike other parts of Italy and this also appealed to me as it was an opportunity for us to discover and explore it together for the first time. There was something about Villa Le Zagare that kept me coming back to it. I began to converse with Maurizio the owner about the villa, it’s location and what it had to offer. He was very helpful, informative and honest about his property. I also found the reviews very personable and genuine which gave me the feeling this was a special place. The villa could not have been more perfect for us. It is a beautiful grand old home without being too precious or pretentious. It sits on a lovely property with only a few hundred metres walk to the Aeolian sea and a quaint local beach of Orto Liuzzo. Each morning we walked down the road to “Celona” the Mecca for all things Sicilian in the way of pastries, pizza, pasta, gelato and bread as well as good coffee ( once we got the order right! It was a 10/10
Elizabeth L. July 2016
Great for large groups
I’m staying here with 4 families. There’s a large pool, beautiful grounds, a sport court. It is walking distance from food shops, pizza, grocery, and the beach. The owners have brought over fresh eggs and home made jam. Most bedrooms have air conditioning. The views are amazing.
Syrahsmom, California USA July 2016
Stunning
Mom and I stayed at this piece of paradise (Villa Le Zagare) for a week. The location was fabulous and the property had everything imaginable! The owner, Mauricio, is so hospitable and quite knowledgable about the area. He even assisted us with our trip to Panarea and Stromboli since I do not speak Italian. The beach is in walking distance if you do choose to leave the property, otherwise everything is at the Villa! There is a pool, hot tub, sauna, tennis etc… Did I mention the fruits and vegetables that grow in their never-ending gardens? Delectable. If ever I return to Sicily I would go back to the Villa Le Zagare in a NY minute! Dolce Vita ! Lisa
Lisa, Viera, Florida USA June 2016
Picked fruit from the orchard for breakfast each day
A lovely villa. Maurizio is a wonderful host and very helpful. The grounds are wonderful. We picked oranges, grapefruit, lemons and mulberries to eat fresh from the trees. Maurizio and his family brought over eggs and granita (frozen dessert). The pool is large, the hot tub has fantastic views of sunset over the islands, there is loads of space. We played tennis – all the equipment was supplied in a chest in the hall. The rooms are large and airy and beautifully furnished. The kitchen is small, but well supplied. We had a meal cooked by the chefs who come to the house. It was absolutely amazing. Great food – they did an entire vegetarian meal, with an additional meat course to suit our vegetarian and it was one of the best meals I have ever tasted.It was very reasonable and they bought dessert and wine too. I would certainly recommend it. Maurizio was very helpful for arranging outings and meals for us. He suggested a fish restaurant in Milazzo, The fish was good, but they really couldn’t cope with a vegetarian who didn’t eat fish, even though this had been explained to them when the booking was made and again when we arrived. Be careful of this – if you all eat fish, I’m sure it would be great. All in all, a wonderful place. Una posta meravigliosa. Ce sono alberi nel orto con le arance, i pompelmi, i limoni per mangaire. Le camere sono grande, e la piscina e grande anche. C’e un jaccuzzi con una bella vista.
Greatbigshowoff, Cardiff, United Kingdom May 2016
Amazing villa for large group
We loved staying at this beautiful villa. It was perfect for our large group of friends who could comfortably enjoy all it offered. I loved being able to pick fresh fruit from the gardens and the sunsets were magnificent. Maurizo was wonderful and on hand to assist us with organising excursions and also helped with any other requests we had. We have so many fond memories and am so pleased we chose this villa. I would definitely recommend.
Debnz85, Melbourne, Australia April 2016
Amazing holiday home for big groups, perfectly located and organized
Couldn’t recommend this house more. It has all the facilities you could possibly need for a wonderfully relaxing holiday. We were a group of 17 friends between the ages of 25 and 30, and despite our large size, fit comfortably in the house. The pool, jacuzzi and tennis court made it a great place to relax, have fun and bond, and I assume it would also be particularly useful for families with small children who are limited in their ability to move around. The house is perfectly located between the north coast, with Milazzo and Cefalu, and the East coast with Toarmina, Catania and the Etna national park. It’s also right in front of the Isole Eolie, which are a natural paradise and great for day visits. Truly a wonderful home, with a great host who made us feel welcome and helped in every way possible to suit our needs and make the holiday as smooth sailing as possible. The little town in which the house is situated also has a minimarket, that sells everything you could need in terms of food and supplies, a pharmacy and a wonderful bakery/pasticceria for some sweet treats, coffee and breakfast. If you’re looking for a house where you can relax, but also enjoy touristy sights not too far away, this is the place for you!
Alessia M, April 2016
Härligt hus med alla bekvämligheter nära havet
Vi var ett stort sällskap med vuxna och barn som bodde i huset under en vecka. Vi njöt av huset med pool, tennisbana och en fantastisk fruktträdgård där vi hjälpte till med olivskörden, vi promenerade och motionerade i omgivningarna, badade vid den närbelägna stranden och gjorde utflykter till Etna, en vingård, Eoliska öarna, och Messina. Värden Maurizio var hela tiden mycket hjälpsam och ordnade bl a besöket på vingården. Den enda anmärkningen är att huset ligger nära en motorväg, men det tänker man inte på efter några dagar.
Johan S, Knivsta, Sweden October 2015
My friends and I stayed one long week-end in this beautiful Villa. We had high expectations due to the photos and it turns out the house is even BETTER! It’s huge! the living room, the bedrooms, the bathroom are all charming and really spacious; and the park is really peaceful. We also spend a lot of time in the jaccuzi and the sauna which was great because the not so warm weather didn’t allow us to use the gigantic swimming pool… Maurizio is a perfect host, he always answered really quickly to our message before and during our stay, he welcomed us and offered us a lot of options of restaurants or activities to do in the area. I would highly recommand staying in his house while in Sicily!
Matthieu, Paris France October 2015
A great place with a great host!
To celebrate our seventh ‘5th anniversary’ as a students club from Leiden (Netherlands) we (10 ‘girls’ of 50 years and older) stayed in Villa Zagare for one week. And it was great in every possible way! When we arrived sunday evening Maurizio welcomed us with a wonderful 4-course dinner, accompanied by a really delicious red wine. Also during the week Maurizio was a perfect host, who recommended us about all kind of places of interest, lovely restaurants, wine tastings etc etc. The villa itself is clean, fully equipped with beautiful rooms, swimming pool, hot tub and a fantastic view on the sea and the Aeolian Islands. And not to forget the large garden where we could pick and choose all kind of fruits like grapes, lemons, mango, figs and plums. All this, together with the nice wheather, the beautiful towns, villages and other idyllic spots on Siclly makes that we will never forget Sicily, Villa Zagare and Maurizio 🙂 With kind regards from all of us, Karin Beck
KarinB1406, Wassenaar, the Netherlands September 2015
Beautiful house with very nice owner
We spent a week in Villafranca. The house is as shown in the picture, very beautiful with a magnificent garden with all kinds of fruit trees. The swimming pool is the largest that I have had of all previous rentals. The tennis court is also very nice and in good condition. The inside of the house is very comfortable. All of us loved the beds and we slept really well. You can see the sea and the Eolian islands from the terrace with beautiful sunsets. As the days went by, we loved the house more and more. There is a motorway near the house and this concerned me initially but ended up not being a problem. Maurizio is a real gentleman and was always ready to help with anything we needed. There are quite a few things to do within 30 to 40 minutes of the house. I regret not spending more time visiting the islands. Also the beach in front of the house (5min walk) is not the prettiest but has a local feel to it and the water was amazing.
850didierd, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg August 2015
Lovely Family Vacation at Villa Le Zagare
Maurizio and his family were simply wonderful during our stay at their villa. We arrived very late the first evening and were not able to fully appreciate the grounds and the view but him and his sister welcomed us with a late dinner and great recommendations. When we woke for our first full day we were simply stunned by how beautiful and relaxing the property was. It was truly a spot for connecting with family, appreciating the gardens and watching the sun set as every night it seem to be spectacular. The age group of our family ranged from 10 to 86 and there was something for everything. My 3 sons went swimming, played basketball, and just explored the grounds. My 86yr old father in law enjoyed sitting outside and appreciating the view. Maurizio and his father showed us around the property, told us about the variety of different edible fruit trees, although some things were not quite in season we were still able to sample many wonderful fruits straight from the trees. We never lacked for fresh fruits and vegetables. A couple of nights Maurizio beautiful sister cooked a lovely meal for our family and we dined outside and just enjoyed each others company. The weather was hot the whole time which we didn’t mind. Some mornings we would walk down to the nearby bakery and have breakfast. We did a couple excursions during our time at the villa which included a boat trip to the Aeolian Islands and stopped to swim and eat lunch. We visited 3 of the islands, but would have loved Stromboli so maybe on our next trip. We also took a day trip into Taormina which was about 45minutes from the villa. The city was beautiful but very touristic. Then we took a day trip to Mt. Etna which was enjoyed by all family members, it was about 1.5hours from the villa. Our trip to Messina and Villa Le Zagare will be a memorable trip for so many reasons and our family greatly appreciates the hospitality that Maurizio and his family showed us.
Simply Spectacular, New York City NY, USA July 2015
Ottimo soggiorno in bellissima struttura
Villa bellissima in ottima posizione con panorama con vista sulle isole Eolie. Parco ricco di profumi mediterranei con piscina e campo da tennis. Piacevoli interni con camera confortevoli Ottima accoglienza e grande calore da parte dello staff Io e la mia famiglia abbiamo fatto davvero una bellissima vacanza.
Pierfrancesco M., Prato, Italy July 2015
We stayed for 2 weeks (2 famies) at Maurizio huis in July, the weather was great to use swiming pool, our kids favorite
Marzena, Achterveld, The Netherlands July 2015
First class villa at first class location
I stayed at the house for a week with my family, my father in law and my wife’s sisters family. All in all 10 people, grown-ups and kids. I can only give the warmest recommendations. The villa is luxurious, the food is great and the people are friendly. One of the best vacations ever. The only drawback for us was that we did not stay long enough. Another week would have been perfect.
Tobias L., Göteborg, Sweden June 2015
Excellent Stay
May 2015. 5 adults, 3 young children. The property itself and surrounding grounds are magnificent with views of the sea and the surrounding fruit gardens. The villa and grounds are spacious with plenty of space for my young children to explore. You can walk through the gardens and pick fresh fruit right off of the trees.
Given it was only May and the weather was not yet too warm, the large was a bit chilly but there is also a large hot tub that the children used every day, which is also a great place to take in the sun setting into the sea behind the islands.
The asset is conveniently located close to the autostrada which made it very easy to explore many different parts of the island within 60 minutes – ranging from Cefalu to the west and Taormina and Etna to the south.
Maurizio and his family were extremely helpful in arranging matters from a boat trip to the islands to excellent Sicilian meals cooked at the villa. He cares not only about your satisfaction with the villa but your entire experience in Sicily, which we found to be an interesting and inviting island, rich with history and culture. Overall an excellent stay.
Brian N., McHenry, IL, USA May 2015
We are two families, 9 persons that traveled to Sicily beginning of May 2015 to stay at the beautiful Villa. The Villa and the surroundings are even more beautiful than on the pictures. The nice Swimming Pool was still a bit fresh, but that’s to expect in early May. We used all its benefits like the Jacuzzi with great sea view and the tennis court. We enjoyed lush breakfasts in the garden and good wine on one of the other terraces. Maurizio was very friendly, always available and helping us if needed. He gave us many tips on how to get to Taormina and other interesting places. We spend more days relaxing at-, and enjoying the beautiful house and did not go out to visit other places, what better compliment can you give! This Villa is a great place, we surely will come back.
Rob, Doorn The Netherlands May 2015
one of our best holidays….
August 2014. 4 adults, 5 children. From the moment we arrived and throughout our stay at the beautiful Villa Le Zagare we were treated like old friends. Maurizio really went out of his way to make our stay fun, relaxing and welcome. No request was too great: from taking us to and around the local supermarket, arranging water-skiing sessions, snorkelling, vine yards, booking restaurants to sourcing raw pumice stones as souvenirs. The family that run this incredible estate are testament to its natural beauty. The stay was full of many memorable moments and incredible food. Our first night, Sonia cooked an incredible dinner (banquet would be a better word!) for us all. We also ate at the family restaurant: Solo Sophia. Again, the food was fantastic; our children still talk about the many courses of delicious, local food. We enjoyed regular visits from Elio, often bringing fresh produce from the garden, and on a couple of wonderful evenings, he taught us to cook local dishes and joined us for dinner. The villa was stunning, the photos do not do it justice, and the pool, gardens and hot tub were equally fabulous. The kids loved playing tennis and basket ball in the garden and we equally loved picking fruit and vegetables from the garden for lunch or dinner. Watching the sunset from the hot tub whilst sipping prosecco is a must! The villa has ample accommodation. It is light and airy and very clean. We have left our two weeks with a love of the island, the food, the sunsets, and the knowledge that in Maurizio, Elio and their family, we have true friends. We hope to return soon.
James T., Haywards Heath, United Kingdom August 2014
Amazing – we will be back!
We spent an amazing 2 weeks here in August 2014. There were 9 of us in total; 4 adults and 5 children aged 13,10,7, 5 and 1. From the moment we arrived at the villa we knew it was going to be perfect; Maurizio and his wife welcomed us and had prepared the most fantastic dinner for us which we ate on the magical terrace. It has got to be the quickest holiday I have ever relaxed into – after dinner and lots of lovely local wine, England and the stresses of working life quickly evaporated into a distant memory. The house is beautiful. They have thought of everything. It is well furnished, comfortable and equipped with everything you could possibly need. And the grounds……stunning!! A massive pool which kept the children entertained; a hot tub with the most amazing views over to the Aeolian islands – and a perfect place from which to enjoy the dramatic sunset each evening; a tennis court and gardens containing an abundance of fruit and vegetables which Maurizio actively encourages you to forage from. While the house and grounds really are sufficient on their own to keep you entertained if you simply want to relax and unwind, I really recommend hiring a car for exploring the local area – although you will need nerves of steel as Sicilian drivers are true to the stereotype. Maurizio is the most fantastic host. He is so passionate and knowledgeable about the local area and thanks to him we had some incredible days out; wine tasting at Oliveri where we met the impressive Flora; a visit to Tindari to see the Graeco-Roman ruins and site of the Black Madonna; a day at the beach in Oliveri where you take a boat to the sand flats and the local restaurant will deliver your lunch to you by boat; an excursion to Taormina, as well as water skiing and snorkelling trips. You also can’t visit the area without visiting Mount Etna – wow! A review of this holiday would not be complete without a mention of Maurizio’s dad, Elio. He kindly offered to take us around Messina and on a couple of occasions joined us for dinner at the villa. His spaghetti vongole has to go down as one of the best meals I have ever eaten – the food combined with Elio’s fascinating stories, which really helped us to get an insight into the local area, and some very lovely local wine – made for another perfect evening. Maurizio and his family really were the perfect hosts. We will certainly return – not only because of the wonderful villa and their hospitality – but also because 2 weeks was simply not enough time to explore this wonderful part of Sicily.
Sara B., Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom August 2014
Wonderful villa for family holiday in Sicily
My family – 13 of us – enjoyed a wonderful stay at Villa le Zagare this month. The villa itself is large and comfortable, and easily met the needs of our large family, from grandma and grandma, moms and dads, and grandchildren. Most bedrooms have air conditioning, though not everyone used it because the nights were so cool during our stay. Sleeping with the windows open does mean that you will hear the traffic from the nearby A20, but nobody in our family was bothered by it. The grounds of the villa are spectacular, with fruit orchards, vegetable gardens, large grassy areas, tennis court, hot tub and pool. There was something for everyone. We especially loved eating our meals in the outdoor dining area. Maurizio, the owner, went out of his way to make sure our stay was comfortable. He is a gracious and attentive host. He even arranged for a visit to the nearby Gaglio winery in Oliveri, a highlight of our stay! Other highlights including having Maurizio’s wife, Sonia, cook a huge, multi-course meal for us one night. And his father cooked dinner another night. Perhaps most spectacular of all were the sunsets. Maurizio promised they would be different every night – and they were. We all enjoyed watching the sun set over the Mediterranean while relaxing with a glass of wine. It was a holiday we will remember fondly. Many thanks to Maurizio and all the rest at Villa le Zagare!
Ken G., Washington DC, Columbia District USA July 2014
Two glorious weeks at Villa le Zagare
The reviews contained on this website are what we experienced in our two week stay at Villa le Zagare in July. The reviews are all deservedly accurate and believable. There were 13 of our family who enjoyed the many advantages of the villa. As you consider staying at this villa you can have full confidence that the website photos are accurate and depict what you can expect in this rental. The location of the villa is ideal near the autostrada which makes a number of locales very convenient: Taormina, Mt. Etna, Messina, Milazzo (where you can catch the ferry or hydrofoil to the Aeolian Islands) the ferry at Messina connecting to the mainland, Catania with its airport and many other interesting spots in Sicily. The villa itself has attractions galore: magnificent swimming pool, basketball and tennis court, plenty of room within the villa with 6 bedrooms, large living and dining room and very attractive outdoor covered eating area. And the sunsets are magnificent. You’ll find that Maurizio (and his father and uncle) are wonderful warm people who are easy to contact for information and assistance. Maurizio’s wife Sonia prepared a magnificent meal at the villa that afforded the chance for all who wishes to help prepare the more than abundant and delicious meal. We had a great two weeks!
Ronald G., Walnut Creek, California USA July 2014
Superbe villa !15 j.confort, luxe et beauté!
Dans un environnement verdoyant et typique, un luxe d’aménagements (grande piscine toujours impeccable, terrain de tennis, jacuzzi et autre sauna, plus une potager qui regorge de légumes et de fruits et un vaste jardin qui permet de s’isoler) rend les journées trop courtes pour jouir de tous ces loisirs. Et, cerise sur le gâteau, des hôtes accueillants et attentionnés qui nous régalent et nous assistent si nécessaire. Quel plaisir de déguster leur vin blanc Angimbe et leur si raffraichissant petit déjeuner sicilien ! Et combien nous regrettons leur pasta a la Norma ! Sans arrière pensée nous conseillerons avec plaisir ce site à nos amis. Maurizzio et sa famille ont été parfaits et leur gentillesse, leur assistance et leurs conseils ont rendu notre séjour inoubliable. Nous tenons à les assurer de notre reconnaissance et de nos souvenirs les plus chaleureux.
François V. July 2014
Wonderful villa with an amazing garden!
We were a party of 9 adults and 3 children who rented the villa to celebrate a family occasion. Upon arrival at the house, we were taken by the beautiful surroundings! The house is beautiful, gives a grand and rustic impression. The six bedrooms are very spacious and tastefully decorated. There is plenty of storage space in each room. The living room is large and there is both WiFi, computer and a large flat-screen TV. In short, the images on the homeaway site is entirely fair of the house, both in terms of condition and atmosphere! But what is the villa’s large advantage is clearly the garden! The house sits up on a hill and has a fantastic view of the sea – we were stunned several evenings of the beautiful sunset! The garden is well maintained and there are all sorts of fruit trees such as oranges, grapefruit, peaches, figs, grapes, etc., that are ready to be picked depending on the season. We were shown around by both Maurizio and his father, who shared with us what the garden had to offer. We have probably never tasted such delicious tomatoes! The pool was also very tidy and clean, as well as the jacuzzi, which was nice to use in the evenings! The tennis court was used extensively. The house offers several terraces and has several different outdoor furniture, which gave the opportunity to be alone despite a large company. The large outdoor table placed under a roof was perfect for dining and we sat easily 12 people together. Maurizio was very dedicated and keen that our stay would be as good as possible! He arranged several different daytrips for us. We also let Maurizio arrange for catering to the house one evening, something we all appreciated! The food was delicious! Near the villa is a bar / ice cream parlor / restaurant, where we frequently purchased fresh breakfast breads, cakes and wonderfully delicious ice cream. The beach below the house was very nice, not in any way encumbered by tourists. The water was clean and clear! A supermarket is also nearby. This place is definitely a gem for those seeking unspoilt countryside and relaxation away from the obvious tourist areas (which, however, are within easy reach if you want). It’s clear that this villa has a special meaning for Maurizio and his family and we are very happy that we chose this place for our vacation! We hope to soon return to this beautiful place and explore more of Sicily! We give our best recommendations to this villa! //Pär with family and friends
Ewarud, Tidaholm, Sweden June 2014
This place is a gem!
This is really is a great place for a relaxing holiday. The team are great and very welcoming, especially Elio (- who really is the gem of the place, so knowledgeable of the grounds and Messina). Elio made us feel very welcome, and made sure we were comfortable, settled and had everything we needed. And so did the rest of the team, making the whole stay easy and enjoyable (- Maurizio even helped arrange taxis at the last minute). On arrival, we had the team welcome us and show us around. They left us so many welcome drinks and fruit that we were sorted for our stay! The house has beautiful sitting areas, very big and easily sleeps 2 or 3 families; very elegant decor. There’s a pool which was great for the kids and the jacuzzi was perfect for the adults (especially late afternoon watching the sunset). They even thought about tennis equipment which meant the kids played tennis a few times. There are acres of fruit and vegetables, so you just need pasta and meat!! It was great to wake up and wonder the property to grab some fresh fruit – what a way to start the day! It is 5mins from the beach and a local pizza / bread place (which sells ice creams and granita). One night we had Sonia cater for us. She was very accomodating despite our last minute request and provided a fabulous meal to end our amazing stay. We definitely recommend trying her services. This property is a special place in Sicily!
Adrian C., August 2013
wonderful holiday
We spent one week at Villa Le Zagare together with other 4 couples and Children. Weather was warm enough to enjoy the pool which is just outside the villa. In the tennis court we had nice moments doing funny tournaments. Rooms are spacious and the see view in front of the Eolian Island is just amazing. Maurizio and his family delivered a great service. Being owner of a delicious restaurant and catering service in Messina, we asked one night to make an entire dinner just for us. Cook came and we had the best of Sicilian taste just in the garden. Amazing and not expensive!!! They can bring guests directly to the Eolian islands by boat but unfortunately the season is not hot enough. Pity for us. What ever you ask they are able to deliver!!!! We are so happy to have been there.
Jack v., May 2013