Chirchiaro - Four Bedroom Villa, Sleeps 8

Vast, spectacular panoramas and pastoral charm at this country house with infinity pool.

Sitting in a privileged position on a small organic farm, and ideally located for discovering all that western Sicily has to offer, Chirchiaro is the perfect country retreat for anyone seeking authenticity, genuine hospitality, unspoilt nature, far-reaching vistas, immense skies, and the restful rhythms of rural life. With walking trails on the doorstep and a superb infinity pool for relaxation, Chirchiaro promotes a sense of well-being and reconnects you to the things that really matter in life.

Inside: accommodation at Chirchiaro is on two floors. The main entrance leads in to a hallway, off which is a double bedroom with en-suite shower room. Straight on and one soon comes to the capacious open-plan living and dining area, featuring double-height ceilings, panoramic picture windows, a huddle of sofas gathered round an impressive fireplace and a large dining table.

Access to the main terrace and al fresco dining area is made easy thanks to a set of French windows. To one side of the dining table, a door takes one into the well-equipped kitchen, which also has its own external access.

Another door near the dining table takes one into a hallway, off which are two bedrooms, a double with en-suite shower room and superb views of the countryside, and a double-twin with adjacent bathroom with hydromassage tub and shower attachment.

Accommodation at Chirchiaro is completed by a fourth bedroom, a romantic double with en-suite shower room (with small shower) located on the first floor gallery above the living and dining area. All the bedrooms on the ground floor have their own external access.

Outside: the immediate surroundings of Chirchiaro are given over to terraces, which offer a variety of spots for sitting, eating or reading. It is to the front of the house, however, where you will take most of your meals and drink to the setting sun, thanks to presence of a shaded al fresco dining area and the kind of uninterrupted views that you will never tire of.

The terraces give way to lawns, vineyards, wheat fields and, to one side, accessed via a few steps, to the large pool area. Here, a large expanse of lawn delimits the superb infinity pool and a shaded area furnished with sunloungers. Once you've settled in here, with those hypnotic views spreading out in front of you, you might find it hard to move much. Good job then, that this area is served by its own barbecue, sink and dining table!

For those wishing to keep fit while on holiday, Chirchiaro offers many possibilities for walking, running and cycling direct from the door: a farm track leads straight to the Bosco della Baronia, an area of woodland with around 8km of trails.

It is possible to arrange cookery lessons at Chirchiaro (classic local recipes, bread-making using the farm's own flour, making and bottling tomato passata, etc.). Occasionally farming activities take place on the farm surrounding Chirchiaro, including grape and olive harvests. Guests are welcome to participate.

This property is surrounded by countryside, some of which is unfenced and may include drops or steep slopes. There are also terraces with low walls and drops within the property. We therefore recommend that younger children are supervised by an adult when exploring the grounds.
Chirchiaro is situated in the rolling hills of western Sicily, a few kilometres as the crow flies from historic Salemi. The owner's organic farm, which surrounds the property, produces extra virgin olive oil, wine, honey, fruit and vegetables, all of which guests can sample during their stay. And if you're there during the grape and olive harvests, you'll be able to take part or watch.

Paths lead out directly from the property to the Baronia Forest, which has over 8km of walking trails. From the top, it is possible to see the ancient Greek theatre of the Segesta in the distance. We warmly recommend you explore the paths, taking with you a picnic of homegrown produce, local cheeses, cured meats and bread.

The nearest small town for shops and amenities is Vita, just a 10-minute drive away, while for cultural day trips, Chirchiaro is ideally placed for exploring the many treasures of western Sicily, thanks to its relative proximity to both legs of the A29 motorway (one running between Mazara del Vallo and Palermo, the other between Trapani and Palermo).

The stunning Greek temple and theatre of Segesta (mentioned above) are just over the hill to the north, while the fascinating archaeological sites of Selinunte and Cave di Cusa (where the columns for the temples were hewn from a quarry) are about 40 minutes' drive away to the south.

Western Sicily's major historic towns, including Trapani, Marsala, Erice and Palermo are all between 50 and 80 minutes' drive away.

For a day on the beach you can choose north - 45-55 minutes to Castellammare del Golfo and Scopello, 80 minutes to idyllic San Vito lo Capo - or south - 45-55 minutes to the long sandy beaches of the Selinunte and Menfi.

The ruins of Old Gibellina - now an enormous open-air work of art (the Cretto di Burri) - and those of Old Poggioreale - now a ghost town - make for a fascinating day out and can be reached in about 45mins. Guests staying at Chirchiaro might be interested in a tour of Gibellina and Poggioreale with an expert English-speaking guide.

Arrival details will be confirmed by The Thinking Traveller after your villa is confirmed.

The Thinking Traveller can organise transfers and car hire and an agent will be in touch with you once your villa is confirmed.