For kite surfers looking to combine time on the water with a luxury villa break, there are some exquisite options in beautiful Sicily.
Quarantine-free Sicily, the largest island in the Med is just across the Strait of Messina from mainland Italy’s big toe. It offers idyllic beaches, cerulean waters, archaeological treasures, luscious vineyards, great food, fine wine and a chance for some winter sun.
And this gorgeous sun-kissed Italian island is also one of the best spots in Europe for kitesurfing too.
Kitesurfing over Lo Stagnone Lagoon
Located in the westernmost part of the island, the Stagnone lagoon is in the lively coastal town of Marsala about an hour and a half’s drive from Palermo. You will probably know it for its distinctive sweet dessert wines yet the destination lures kite surfers like bees to a honeypot.
The Stagnone Nature Reserve, designated as a protected marine reserve in 1984, is suitable for all levels, including beginners who can learn this fun and exhilarating sport surrounded by experts. Along the shallow waters of the lagoon, dozens of clubs and kite schools offer courses and equipment rental. All you need to do is strap yourself to a kiteboard and let a big kite pull you across the pretty water of Lo Stagnone Lagoon.
The natural reserve of Stagnone is a huge, shallow, flat-water lagoon, whose persistent winds blow up to 30 knots – perfect conditions for kite surfers. With over 350 windy and sunny days a year, you can pick pretty much any time to kitesurf at Lo Stagnone, meaning “large pond” in Italian. Furthermore, kitesurfing doesn’t really require as much social interaction as many other sports.
Incidentally, with over 2,000 hectares to explore you can check out the Phoenician 2,500 year old archaeological site of Motya, and the flamingo-lined salt pans dotted with windmills along the shore from Marsala to Trapani. The old salt pans are still at work and high-quality sea salt is still extracted from the bay of Lo Stagnone and exported worldwide.
The flat, shallow lagoon is especially beautiful at sunset when the Sicilian sunshine casts the chessboard of salt pans with a pinkish honey glow. Imagine watching the sun set while sipping a glass of locally made sweet Marsala.
So why not rent a private villa in the surrounding area? For kite surfers looking to combine time on the water with a luxury villa break, there are some great options out there. Check out our recommendation for two luxury properties available to rent in the area through Select Sicily Villas, one of the island’s leading vacation rental agencies, boasting a large portfolio of deluxe pool villas, private hideaways and countryside retreats in true Sicilian style.
Stay at Seven Islands, Marsala, West Sicily
Seven Islands is a top-of-the-range sea-view villa that has been cleverly designed to make the most of its awe-inspiring views. As the name suggests, this stylishly furnished five-bedroom ultra-luxe villa offers wide-open panoramas of the Aegadian archipelago it overlooks.
On a clear day, the 180-degree vista stretches all the way to the jagged mountains of the Aegadian Islands and the picture-postcard perfect islets dotted with Phoenician ruins and saline windmills belonging to Lo Stagnone Nature Reserve.
It’s no surprise, then, that Seven Islands is one of the most requested luxury rental villas in western Sicily. Now available to rent through Select Sicily, the property sits in an enviable, panoramic position above the charming Baroque town of Marsala, Sicily’s most westerly city.
Seven Islands Villa’s combination of chic elegance, high-spec amenities, multiple outdoor relaxation areas, heated pool with hydrotherapy jet, Finnish-style sauna and close proximity to sandy beaches, lush vineyards and excellent seafood restaurants serving the freshest of fish, all make for an extremely relaxing, VIP experience.
Stay at Ferla Verde, Marsala, West Sicily
Beautifully finished and designed, Ferla Verde incorporates everything that is desirable in a luxury villa rental: space, comfort, a slightly elevated position, postcard-worthy views, elegant, airy interiors, a wooden sauna and a truly inspiring heated pool complete with jacuzzi and counter-current jets for lap swimming. The 40-foot long pool practically speaks for itself.
Enveloped in total peace and quiet, this perfectly proportioned, contemporary-design five-bedroom villa is perched on a forested hill close to the wine town of Marsala, with its world-class wineries, artisanal gelaterias and shops selling locally produced food, olive oil and handmade pasta.
The epitome of luxury living, Ferla Verde can house up to ten guests, making it perfect for large groups of friends and family willing to spend quality time together after having been cooped up indoors for months during the coronavirus lockdown.
If the all-consuming stress of the past few months has you wanting to enjoy la dolce vita, bask in the golden sun, soak up zen vibes and relax in your own private jacuzzi with a glass of wine, Ferla Verde will definitely be the perfect luxury retreat to enjoy an unforgettable stay with your loved ones.
