海の近くにあるプライベートプールとテニスコートを備えたロマンチックで豪華なヴィラ

It was a pleasure to host this family at Santa Maria, especially as they took full advantage of all the villa has to offer - not just the tennis court and the pool in the Mediterranean gardens but the peace and quiet of the Sicilian countryside. I believe they also went for a run on the beach nearby and explored the baroque piazzas of our local town, Mazara del Vallo, just a 10 minute drive away. I’m glad our guests appreciated the way the interior of Santa Maria is decorated and the choice of books to read in the library. We do hope that they decide to come back one day.

This guest is right. What makes Santa Maria stand out from other holiday villas in Sicily is the atmosphere, the castellation, the scent of jasmine filling the courtyard and the beauty of a 17th century building surrounded by lush Sicilian gardens. We are also fortunate to be close not only to some of the major archaeological sites in Sicily but also to a seaside town that offers many excellent restaurants. I do hope this guest comes back to visit us in the near future.

I'm so glad this family enjoyed their stay at Santa Maria. Early spring is a wonderful time to visit Sicily as the countryside is so green and lush after the winter rains and the temperature mild enough to enjoy sightseeing at any time of day. They made the most of the tennis court, which we have recently resurfaced, and visited some of the classical Greek sites in the vicinity. They obviously appreciated Sicilian cuisine at some of the great restaurants and trattorie for which Mazara is well known. I do hope they can come back next year and we look forward to welcoming them again.

Our guests found that Santa Maria feels like a home because that is what it is. The villa is over 300 years old and has been in Marcello's family since the early 1900s. We as a family often stay there and his brother also lives in part of the villa. We built the pool seven years ago and created a Mediterranean garden to go around it on what was originally a lemon tree plantation. We also renovated the abandoned tennis court. This was all done in time for out daughter's wedding in 2007, which we celebrated with drinks in the garden around the pool, dinner in the courtyard and dancing on the tennis court! So Santa Maria is very much a family home. I am glad our guests enjoyed eating at the local restaurants. Of course Sicilian food in general is excellent and you eat well almost everywhere on the island, but Mazara is famous for fish and seafood as it is the most important fishing port in Italy and many of the local restaurants make this their speciality. I agree with our guest that I have had some of the best meals in my life at Mazara's restaurants.

We were very pleased to welcome these two young families from the States. They had chosen our villa not just for the historical building and mediterranean gardens but because it has a private tennis court. It was great that the moderate temperatures in June meant that they could take full advantage of the tennis court during most hours of the day and then cool off in the swimming pool close by. We really enjoyed meeting this group of guests and we do hope they decide to return to Santa Maria.

Thank you for this great review. We really appreciate it when guests tell us how happy they have been staying at the villa. The fact that it looks like a castle and dates back to the 17th century adds to the romantic aura. Yes, orange trees are an important feature. Our guests can pick oranges, lemons, mandarins and grapefruits throughout the season, which goes from December to April. The western part of the island has many treasures worth exploring, from Selinunte to Mozia and Erice.

We are very glad that this family enjoyed the facilities and abundance of space at Santa Maria. We have always found that groups of different age ranges and interests benefit from the spaciousness of the villa giving them the opportunity to spread out. Indoors there is a library and a television room in addition to the living room while the grounds include not only a large Mediterranean garden around the swimming pool but also a walled orange grove, not to mention formal gardens flanking the tennis court. As this guest mentions, the villa is within easy driving distance of many of Sicily's most important historical sites, including Selinunte, Segesta, Mozia, Erice and Palermo.

We are very glad that this family had such a lovely holiday at Santa Maria. They took advantage of the privacy and calm of the grounds, both the walled orange grove for al fresco dining and the private pool with its Mediterranean garden, but also managed to find time to visit some of Western Sicily's world famous attractions, such as the Greek temples of Selinunte and the medieval hilltop town of Erice. And our guest is right, this part of Sicily especially Mazara del Vallo is still unspoilt by mass tourism, despite the wealth of architectural attractions, not to mention the very high standard of cuisine in local restaurants.

I'm glad that this family found the villa so clean and comfortable and loved the pool and tennis court. They are right that there is a great deal to see in the vicinity and I would add Segesta, Mozia and Erice to their list. This family were all keen cyclists so we made sure there were enough bikes for all five to go exploring in and around Mazara. For future guests we would suggest cycling to the rocky coves that line the coast all the way to Granitola in the west, where there is a lovely beach, or turning right from the villa to follow the country road that leads to Castelvetrano, stopping off at the delightful Norman church of S. Trinità di Delia hidden away on a country estate. We apologise for the temporary lack of water but were glad to hear that the problem was solved instantly. We are very lucky to have Nanette on site, ready to step in and deal with any emergencies, which thankfully are pretty rare. We would love it if this family decided to come back to Santa Maria again

We were fortunate to be at our other villa next door when this delightful family from Canada were staying. They were very appreciative of the beauty of the villa itself and the grounds and took full advantage of the pool and tennis court. The weather was warm and balmy, even though it was late October. It was a pleasure to help them with tips for sightseeing and good restaurants, and they certainly made the most of their week at Santa Maria. We do hope to see them back at Santa Maria one day.

Yes, Santa Maria is easily accessible from Palermo and a good base for sightseeing. Great for children too as the grounds are large, and safe as the swimming pool can only be reached via the locked door from the villa. There are lovely beaches but most at least a 20 minute drive away. The local beaches come into their own In June July and August (Andy was here in May) when they are dressed up for the tourist season with bars and toilet facilities and deckchairs and paddle boats available.

Anna and her family had come all the way from California to stay at Santa Maria, so it is very gratifying to know that our villa exceeded their expectations. I was pleased to hear that this group of guests were keen on exploring and managed to see so many of Sicily’s beautiful Greek temples and lovely beaches in one week. They even discovered a wonderful restaurant that we didn't know about and which I will certainly recommend to future guests. Many of our guests comment on the layout and colour schemes at Santa Maria. The large rooms and thick walls are typical of a traditional Sicilian farmhouse, locally known as a “baglio”. Originally the ground floor of Santa Maria was used for storage of grain. Then Marcello’s grandfather, who bought it over a hundred years ago, converted it into a family residence, opening up granary stores into living spaces. However some parts were left as storage facilities. When Marcello and I renovated the ground floor in 1999, we were determined to keep the living area as Marcello’s grandfather had designed it. We had to make some changes to the remaining storage rooms to accommodate bedrooms and bathrooms. This is where my would-be interior designer ambition came into play. It was fun painting the house in a myriad of colours, actually against the advice of my architect, brother-in-law, who would have liked to see it covered in celibate monastic white. But I think my passion for colour paid off. Well most of our guests seem to like it anyway. Yes, the rooms are large and whenever we go and stay there, I revel in the sheer space, not to mention the privacy it affords. I am someone who needs to get away and be on my own from time to time, and this is why I love being at Santa Maria. There are separate rooms for watching television, reading in the library, eating and socialising, not to mention the gardens - orange grove, swimming pool garden and the formal gardens in front of the villa. From the photographs Anna, sent me I can see that she, her friends and family are enthusiastic and accomplished cooks. The kitchen at Santa Maria is extremely well equipped so I'm sure they will have appreciated that. All in all, Santa Maria is a wonderful base from which to explore Western Sicily, but also to enjoy the company of friends, and at the same time to get away from it all, read and relax. It is just great to have a review from guests from the United States and I hope this will encourage more of you to come and visit.

This family from Idaho have been very appreciative about their experience at Santa Maria. They are Italophiles of long standing and had already been to Sicily nine years previously. We had the pleasure of meeting them during their stay and were delighted with their enthusiasm for Sicily and especially for the atmosphere at Santa Maria. With its castle-like aspect and medieval origins, Santa Maria attracts guests with interest in history and architecture, while offering all the comforts of the ideal holiday villa. We hope this family will return.

We were delighted to welcome this charming German family to Santa Maria. They took full advantage of the spacious grounds around the villa, playing tennis every day, weather permitting, and spending time in the gardens and at the pool. The weather was not as warm and dry as is usual in October but the cooler temperature gave them the opportunity to visit some of Sicily"s most celebrated sites such as the Greek temples of Selinunte and the medieval hilltop town of Erice, as well as Palermo, which is only an hour away by car. As their stay coincided with our annual olive harvest, they were able to take part and then accompany us to the olive press to see how the olives are processed and sample the oil fresh from the press. They told us that they loved the ambience of this historical villa and especially appreciated the decor and furnishing. We do hope they return to Santa Maria one day.

This charming family made the most of their time at Santa Maria enjoying the tranquility of the swimming pool and surrounding Mediterranean gardens. They also took full advantage of the location and got to explore the area. The villa is deep in the country but also within easy reach of the town of Mazara, the beach and the Ancient Greek site of Selinunte. We often stay there ourselves so we have made sure the kitchen is well equipped and the whole accommodation furnished and decorated to the highest standards. I am so pleased this family enjoyed their holiday so much and that reading my book contributed to their enjoyment.

It was a great pleasure to meet this family while they were staying at Santa Maria. They certainly appreciated the tranquillity of the pool and gardens but also went out of their way to explore the rich culture that Western Sicily has to offer. They also loved Sicilian food both in local restaurants and the meals catered by Antonella in the villa. I am so glad that the holiday was a success with all three generations of the family. We hope they will return one day.

It was a pleasure to have this family to stay again after nine years. We are always gratified when guests return to Santa Maria, as they often do, and find it as beautiful as ever.

I am so glad that this group from the United States enjoyed their stay at Santa Maria. They appreciated the orange grove, the Mediterranean garden and the pool Unusually, they had not hired a car, so we put them in touch with our trusted driver, Francesco, who escorted them on shopping and sightseeing expeditions. Santa Maria is three kilometres away from the town and the beach so we always recommend that guests hire a car. In this case we arranged transfers with Francesco, who also catered to the guests' transport and shopping needs. I note the comment about takeaway. This is a novel idea for us as we have never had guests without a car before. It may be possible for certain pizza places to deliver to Santa Maria, which is three kilometres away from the town centre. We can certainly look into that. However we have an excellent cook who provides a catering service in the villa at a very reasonable, cost so generally we would recommend a catered meal instead. The bicycles available may not be state of the art for professional cyclists but they are all perfectly functional and have been used by other guests during this season. A pump is provided with the bikes and if guests cannot find it, all they have to do is ask Alessia, who is always at hand and ready to help. We do hope this group returned to the United States with happy memories of Santa Maria.

We are delighted that this family enjoyed their holiday at Santa Maria. They certainly took advantage of what Western Sicily has to offer, not just the excellent food and wine, but also Greek temples to visit. I agree that the villa is a relaxing place to stay and the history and distinctive castle-like aspect of the villa make it stand out from other villas available to rent. It is nice to know that Kam's daughters particularly enjoyed the library, which is also my favourite room. Many thanks to Alessia who looks after our guests so well and I hope this family will come and stay again one day.

We agree with Philipp that Santa Maria is very original - not just because it's a castle but also because of the setting - extensive grounds with an abundance of flowering plants, not to mention the private pool and tennis court. We were lucky enough to meet Philipp and his family and friends and found them delightful guests. I 'm glad there were still oranges and lemons on the trees for them to enjoy. They also very much appreciated fish from the local fish market and the local wine obtainable from various local wineries. We do hope that they decide to return one day.

I agree that the entrance to Santa Maria with its castellation and circular towers is quite daunting, built as it was to resist attacks from marauding brigands However the villa itself is extremely comfortable as all our guests will find. The weather has been wonderful in August this year, hot but not too hot and the gardens around the swimming pool are looking glorious. I am very glad that this family appreciated the villa, pool and gardens so much. They did well to take advantage of one of the many local vineyards and frequent the ice cream parlours in Mazara. For those who have yet to visit, i should say that the wine from this region is outstanding, especially that made from the white Grillo grape, while the ice cream is simply the very best. After all it was the Sicilians who invented ice cream in the first place! I do hope this family returns to Santa Maria one day.

So glad this family enjoyed their two week stay at Santa Maria. The gardens around he swimming pool are now mature and at their very best in summer with hibiscus, oleander and frangipane all in flower. The tennis court is always a hit with families like this one with teenagers and younger. And of course there is so much to see in our corner of Sicily and this family clearly did some exploring. We hope they will come back to Santa Maria agin one day.

I'm so glad that this family enjoyed their stay at Santa Maria. They are right - there are so many splendid sights to see in the neighbourhood from the baroque centre of Mazara itself to the Greek temples of Segesta and Selinunte. They made the most of their time here with sightseeing in the morning, relaxing by the pool in the afternoon and tennis matches early evening. The gardens are looking particularly good this year as we made a special effort in preparation for a family wedding in June. We pride ourselves on a well equipped kitchen as we are enthusiastic cooks ourselves. We also love to barbecue and have now provided two barbecues for the villa. I do hope this family will come back to Santa Maria one day.

I agree with this guest that Santa Maria is a perfect place to relax with its lovely pool, tennis court and lush gardens. Within easy reach of the motorway it is well placed for sightseeing. The magnificent Greek site of Selinunte is close by and the sea can be reached within minutes. These guests particularly enjoyed the north west coast off where they hired a boat at Castellamare and enjoyed the views of the Zingaro nature reserve from the sea. We are fortunate to have my sister-in-law on hand to welcome guests and offer any help or advice they require.