Are you tired of crowded tourist spots and selfie-stick lines? Discover Authentic Sicily and our collection of hand-picked farmhouses, winery lofts, and eco-friendly homes. Vineyards, olive groves, and unspoiled coastlines surround them. Experience the hidden gems of Sicily.
These retreats place you within reach of Sicily hidden gems, where village life moves at its gentle rhythm among narrow streets and ancient scents.
Why Choose the Quiet Side of the Island?
- More Space, More Silence – Large gardens and private pools far from tour-bus routes. Far from Overtourism and Loud Crowds
- Locally Rooted – Walk to weekly produce markets, tiny bars, and family-run trattorias.
- Sustainable travel – Many houses run on solar panels, feature bio-pools, and promote zero-km food. Live your unique experience from a comfortable, eco-friendly villa.
- Alternative travel (/sicily-countryside-villas/) – Trails, canyons, and archaeological parks most visitors never see. True
- Better Value – More square metres per guest than coastal hotspots.
Where You’ll Stay – Hidden gems in Sicily
Catania & Surroundings
- Caltagirone – World-famous ceramic workshops and the 142-step Santa Maria del Monte staircase; graceful Baroque rebuilt after 1693.
- Grammichele – A perfectly hexagonal piazza with six radiating streets; unique 18th-century urban design.
- Vizzini – Medieval maze of narrow lanes dotted with unexpected Baroque shrines.
- Militello in Val di Catania – Compact UNESCO centre of sculpted sandstone façades and quiet courtyards.
- Savoca – Stone houses on a rocky spur, lemon terraces, and hillside churches made famous by The Godfather.
Base yourself in our villas in Taormina or the more expansive Catania holiday-villa collection (/holiday-villas-in-catania/) for easy access.
South-East Baroque towns – Val di Noto
- Noto – The “Stone Garden” of Sicilian Baroque, glowing honey-gold at sunset.
- Scicli – Film-set lanes and cave churches carved into limestone ridges.
- Marzamemi – Tiny tuna-fishing village with pastel boats and piazzas perfect for aperitivi.
- Ragusa Ibla – Domes, palaces, and switch-back lanes cascading into a ravine.
- Modica – Vertical town famed for Aztec-style chocolate and tiered balconies.
Stay nearby in villas in Noto, amid almond and carob groves.
North Coast (Palermo) – Cefalù, Castelbuono & Monreale
- Cefalù – Arab-Norman cathedral, medieval lanes, and soft-sand beaches under the Rocca.
- Castelbuono – Stone castle, slow-food pastry shops, and gateways to the Madonie woods.
- Monreale – Glittering Byzantine mosaics and one of Europe’s finest cloisters.
- Santo Stefano di Camastra – Colourful ceramics shops along a breezy seafront.
- Pollina – Cliff-top hamlet with panoramic Tyrrhenian sunsets.
Find the right base among our villas near Cefalù.
West – Erice, Scopello & Salt Flats
- Erice – Cobblestone lanes reached by cable car, with views stretching to Africa.
- Scopello – Dramatic fishing stacks and turquoise coves beside Zingaro Reserve.
- Marsala – Pink-tinged salt pans dotted with windmills and historic wine cellars.
- Mazara del Vallo – North-African Kasbah vibes and the bronze “Dancing Satyr”.
- Trapani – Curving Baroque peninsula, lively fish market, ferries to the Egadi Islands.
Pair these with some beautiful villas on the western coast of Sicily, with gorgeous sandy beaches and crystal clear waters.
Northern Mountains – Madonie & Nebrodi
- Petralia Soprana – Italy’s “most beautiful village 2018”, perched 1,100 m high.
- Gangi – Stone houses cascading down a cone-shaped hill.
- Geraci Siculo – Cool high-altitude lanes and balconies over oak forests.
- Montalbano Elicona – Megalithic rocks and an Aragonese castle.
- San Marco d’Alunzio – A Patchwork of Greek, Arab, and Norman ruins above the sea.
Choose a stone farmhouse from our countryside collection for starry skies and cool nights.
Etna Volcanic Foothills – Between Lava & Vineyards
- Linguaglossa – Black-soil vineyards and chestnut woods on Etna’s northern flank.
- Randazzo – Lava-stone churches, artisan cheese shops, direct train to Catania.
- Castiglione di Sicilia – Tiered alleys, Arab-Norman ruins, dramatic Alcantara gorges.
- Zafferana Etnea – Honey festivals, lava-flow trails, vast Ionian views.
- Milo – Cool summer music festivals and forest hikes on Etna’s greenest slope.
Browse the complete Catania/ Taormina holiday villa collection to explore both the volcano and coast.
Things to Do Nearby
- Cycle the Ciclovia dei Parchi: ride the Giardini Naxos–Randazzo stretch through Alcantara Gorge and Etna woods.
- Join the harvest: snip grapes at Planeta Ulmo (Menfi) or Donnafugata Guardiola (Randazzo).
- SUP with flamingos: sunset paddle in the Stagnone salt pans near Marsala.
- Bake like a nonna: knead semola dough and fire it in the 17th-century wood oven at Case Vecchie (Vallelunga).
- Canyon picnic: swim the turquoise pools of Cavagrande and lunch under its carob trees.
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Best Months to Visit
Season What to Expect Crowd
Plan Your Trip
Are you ready to explore a hidden side of Sicily that many travelers miss?
Skip the usual tourist spots and wander through quiet medieval streets. Enjoy fine wines at family-owned vineyards and experience the warm hospitality of the island.
With Scent of Sicily, our team will take you away from the crowds and guide you to untouched places in Sicily, like charming fishing villages and peaceful countryside retreats.
Our booking experts will help you find the perfect property. We will set up unique activities like private wine tastings, guided walks on hidden paths, and home-cooked meals by local chefs.
Sicily is more than just its famous sights. It also has wild nature reserves, stunning baroque cities, a rich history, and secret spots where time feels like it has stopped.
