Sicily,Taormina,Villa,Luxury,Pool,Cook,Beach

Set amongst lush lemon and orange plantations, Ochroleucus Salaparuta is a delightful home with exceptional views to Mount Etna. A spectacular pool and beautiful antique furnishings.

Originally a nineteenth century manor house, Ochroleucus Salaparuta has been beautifully restored into a most attractive home. Within the estate of an aristocratic Sicilian family, the property enjoys a delightful position between Mount Etna and the sea and is only a few miles from the enchanting town of Taormina. The countryside surrounding the house is one of lush beauty with the scent of orange blossom, all varieties of plants and flowers including palm trees and bougainvillea and mystical Etna forever fuming in the background. The exterior has the attractive red tint of volcanic clay and its dark green shutters open onto a vine entangled gazebo, overlooking the lawn - a delightful venue for breakfasts or al fresco lunches on those hot summer days. The garden is richly endowed with lavender, hibiscus, fig, date and centuries old palm trees, creating the perfect natural enclave for dining on the lawn beneath large parasols; accompanied perhaps with a chilled drop of Planeta, a local Sicilian white wine.

Inside, Ochroleucus Salaparuta has been thoughtfully and stylishly decorated and furnished. This is a wonderfully comfortable home with old Sicilian tiles on the floors, wooden beamed ceilings, nineteenth century antiques and family heirlooms. A most attractive sitting room with fireplace and staircase leads up to a spacious study with views across the garden and from the smaller second sitting room, also with a fireplace, there is a nineteenth century spiral staircase leading up to an  enchanting double bedroom with views to Mount Etna. The dining room walls are decorated with painted plates depicting the rich history of Sicily and the well equipped kitchen has colourful tiles on the walls, typical of Sicily. The independent annexe to the side of the garden is ideal for a couple with a child or maybe grandparents and is extremely comfortable and useful for parties wishing to have a little more space and flexibility.

The pool, its edge hand made from local lava stone, is hard to draw oneself away from, providing stunning views across the orange groves to Mount Etna itself. There is an excellent gazebo here and long sculptured stone benches - another perfect spot to enjoy long, lazy lunches, dipping into the pool now and again. There are plenty of sunloungers, a shower and a fridge for keeping drinks cool. Nearby there is a wealth of fascinating places to visit - Taormina with its Greek amphitheatre and pretty streets, the Alcantara gorges, the historically and culturally absorbing towns of Siracusa and Noto and of course, Mount Etna! There are beaches, tennis courts and golf for the active and a wealth of fantastic places to savour the many delicacies for which Sicily is so well renowned. Villa Del Pardo is a fabulous and welcoming destination from April through to November and a magical place to arrive at when all is wet and grey back home!