Surrounded by farmland and olive trees in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed region of Val di Noto, this nineteenth-century villa is as Sicilian as it comes. The honey-coloured stone building is a thing of beauty and is full of pleasant surprises, from terraces with sumptuous views and pretty coloured tiles in the bathroom to a traditional fireplace. Many of the walls are painted a cooling shade of white and there's also a pair of minimalist four-poster beds to squabble over. Outside is where you'll find the real showstopper, though — a temptingly blue swimming pool surrounded by a stone wall, loungers and a pagoda for escaping the sunshine. Keep wandering around the grounds and you'll come across a vegetable garden, aromatic plants and a cute courtyard ideal for long lunches. When you're in the mood for days out, the historic town of Ragusa lies twenty-five minutes away in the car, while it's possible to get to the beach at Marina di Ragusa in under twenty. Your host can also arrange weddings for up to eighty people upon request in the ancient warehouse or Mediterranean garden facing the olive orchard.

Additional fees

• Speak to your host to arrange weddings for up to 80 people in the stone warehouse (not heated) or Mediterranean garden. This costs a fee of €1,400 and requires a minimum stay of six nights in the high season (please ask for exact dates) and four nights during the rest of the year. The fee includes cleaning after the event, but guests will be responsible for arranging and providing their own catering, rental tables, decorations, music, and other details.

Additional fees subject to a 3.5% handling charge.