Rocco Forte Private Villas, Verdura Resort

The Villa’s three bedrooms are located either upstairs or downstairs (according to the villa layout). Two are deluxe bedrooms and one is a grand master bedroom.

These rooms have an open floor plan which combines a fully equipped kitchen with dining and living areas.

The villa holds an occupancy of 6 adults in 3 bedrooms with King-sized beds and an extra bed available on request.

These rooms are spread over 2 floors. Three of the four bedrooms are located upstairs on the first floor, each has en-suite bathrooms, king-sized beds and a view over the coast.

The master bedroom has a private outdoor terrace. The fourth bedroom has a master bedroom, and is detached from the rest of the Villa with separate entrance.

The size of the rooms are approx 297sqm and holds up to 8 adults with King-sized beds and an extra bed is available on requestion.

One babysitter for a maximum of two children can be arranged with Verdura and carries an hourly charge.

Children of all ages have fun, create masterpieces and even learn a range of new skills in Verdùland. RBabies from newborn to 3 years have their own sleep room, outdoor playground and indoor play area, whilst RKids for children aged 4 to 12 years have a fantastic indoor space with a number of different zones, including TV room, arts and craft area, video games room and even a science lab and kitchen. A 1.2m outdoor heated pool, means there's plenty of time for a cool down in between activities. The Fort sits slightly separately from the Kids Club and is a cool hub where teens aged 13-16 years of age can meet, listen to music, play video games or even compete in a game of table tennis. Open during the day and early evening, teens can also benefit from a wellness and spa offering, which complements the on-site activities beautifully.

All three groups of the Verdùland Kids and Teen Club introduce four themes within their activity programs, education, sport, art and food ensuring learning whilst having fun go hand in hand.

RKids and RTeens are complimentary and open for 7 days a week in high season. Rbabies has an hourly, half day or full day charge including lunch and must be booked in advance.

Verdura Resort has an award winning golf course and was ranked number one in Italy, at the 2016 Awards by Golf World Magazine.

Kyle Phillips has created the three links-style golf courses at Verdura. There are two 18 hole championship golf courses - The East and The West, which challenge golfers of all abilities (there are 5 tee positions on each hole) and a nine-hole par-3 will appeal to novices and juniors. There is also a practice and teaching facility, plus a driving range and putting green with a chipping area.

Rocco Forte Health at Verdura, offers a five step approach for both your body and mind. Each of the programs are tailored to the individual and focuses on a specific area to target, Fit, Slim, Detox, Anti-Age or Relax. Guests can choose between a three or six day program, that integrates all five pillars of Sebastian Kneipp's approach to wellbeing, which incorporate Water, Plants, Exercise, Nutrition and Balance. All programs give a combination of expert advice, support and offer suggestions to include aspects of your plan into your daily life, once you've returned from your vacation.

The resort's tennis club house is located at the far end of the resort and has six floodlit clay courts. Guests can cycle there or alternatively a golf cart will be available to take you. The tennis center is run by Sunball Academy, who are able to organize tennis clinics for both adults and children as well as individual lessons with the pros.

Voted 2012 Best Hotel Spa in Europe by readers of Conde Nast Traveler and re-branded in January 2016, the Rocco Forte Spa is one of Europe’s most advanced luxury wellbeing centers.

As part of the Rocco Forte group, the spa uses a 4 stage approach to treatments and relaxation; Rocco Forte Rituals, Rocco Forte Fitness, Rocco Forte Nourish and Rocco Forte Organics. The spa is a retreat of unparalleled luxury and serenity, with the philosophy centerd on balancing both the body and mind.

Therapies and treatments offer an holistic approach to health and many treatments use organic Sicilian ingredients, including fresh plant extracts, marine salts, seaweed mud and cold-pressed plant oils.

Therapists can also work with guests to develop a more tailor made program of treatment and fitness activities as part of the Rocco Forte Health Programme.

The setting, amongst olive groves is a tonic in itself. Housed in pavilions grouped around an open-air courtyard, the 4000m² spa has 11 treatment rooms (including double treatment suites), a 25m indoor swimming pool, a large hammam, saunas, a state-of-the-art 170m² gym and a hair and beauty center. The Spa Bar, with a terrace overlooking the gardens, offers light meals, fruit and vegetable juices and infusions as well as healing teas. Verdura spa has four outdoor thalassotherapy pools. Heated between 25° and 37° centigrade, each offers varying salt densities, minerals and organisms, with a series of waterfalls and whirlpools. These waters are used to tone, moisturise and revitalise the skin, as well as encourage circulation.

Buon Giorno is a casual restaurant serving an international full buffet breakfast.

La Zagara is an à la carte, adult only fine dining restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine prepared with fresh local ingredients. This restaurant is open all year round.

Amare is a beach restaurant serving fresh and simple cuisine for lunch and dinner including: salads, grilled fish, barbecues and pizza baked in a wooden oven.

Liolà is a Sicilian Trattoria serving home made pasta, fish and seafood. It is located by the 15th century watchtower and is very distinctive with its brightly colored chairs and tables.

Granita Bar is a vibrant lounge with terrace overlooking the gardens and sea serving Mediterranean tapas and specially designed cocktails, and is open all year round.

Pool Bar - serves light meals and drinks by the pool

Torre Bar - serves all day snacks and drinks. A buffet-style lunch is served daily.

Spa Bar - serves nutritional, low calorie salads and energy drinks.

The area around the Verdura Resort offers a fascinating glimpse into Sicilian life and culture.

A short drive away is the picturesque seaside town of Sciacca. You can explore its medieval alleys and baroque churches, find a seafood restaurant for lunch, then relax on one of its many sandy beaches. Every February it attracts people from all over Italy for its Carnival, one of the biggest in the country and a dazzling parade of colorful costumes and giant papier-mache figures.

Further south along the coast is the ancient town of Agrigento, founded in 582BC by Greek settlers. Here you will find the unforgettable Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with the remains of eight Greek temples. In July, their illuminated columns make a beautiful backdrop to the annual Blues & Wine Soul Festival. Another spellbinding ancient site are the Ancient Greek temples at tranquil Selinunte.

You can also soak up the simple pleasures of the countryside around the resort. Explore vineyards, olive and lemon groves, or find your own secret sandy cove. And don’t forget to take advantage of the resort’s 1.8km stretch of private coastline. Ask the concierge for more details of nearby walking routes and drives.

City-style push bikes for adults (some have baby seats) and child bikes are available for guests to use all over the resort on a complimentary basis. As the resort is very spread out, there is no better way to get to places than by bike via the numerous biking and running trails (it is a 7km round trip around the resort). Children especially love it! If you wish to receive a more 'professional bike' or wish to take the bikes outside the resort, there is an additional local charge.

If you'd like to learn a few new culinary tricks, or discover how to create some of Sicily's incredible flavors, then how about a session with Fulvio Pierangelini, Italy's celebrity chef or the Resort's brilliant Executive Chef? With the freshest local ingredients, the resort's outstanding chefs will give you some tips on how to create some spectacular dishes.

Available between the 1 July - 2 September, children aged between 5-16 years of age, can become master footballers and enrol at the Juventus Football Training Academy. More details can be found here.

Sunball Tennis Academy based at Verdura in an International Tennis School that uses ITP's Play & Stay concept as its main method of teaching. Focussing on coordination, ball feeding, team spirit and movement, players of all ages are able to learn the basics or help improve their game.

There is clubhouse on-site serving both drinks and snacks, plus a tennis shop which offers both equipment to buy or rent.

There are six clay courts to choose from and guests can choose either a private or group lesson or alternatively hire a court for their own game.

Verdura's pristine motor yacht, Salpa 38.5, is available to hire in July and August for private excursions to explore the beautiful Sicilian coast. A dedicated crew, completely at your service, will lead you through your memorable journey - whether you want to unwind and relax or get adventurous snorkeling in the magical and enchanting Sicilian waters or even follow the steps of the ancient Greeks.

Prices start from €1150 for 1-4 people and €1450 for 5-8 people (excluding VAT).

Includes canapés, champagne and soft drinks.

Duration about 4 hours. Prices are subject to change.

As you would expect from a resort situated on the coast, the water sports offered are exemplary. The Water Sports Club offers a number of activities from kayaking, stand up paddles and snorkeling to the more adrenalin fuelled activities such as waterskiing, wakeboarding and banana boat rides. There are a number of funboats, laser's and a laser bahia for sailing and a few windsurf boards and sails. Managed by Verdura's friendly and qualified team of instructors, rentals, private lessons and introductions to water sports are all available. Introductions to water sports are complimentary and purely theory based, taking place in the pool or on the beach. For those that want to learn to swim or just eager to improve their stroke, the swimming academy offers private lessons for all levels and abilities in the infinity pool.