Villa Arcadia
Garden with three pools and waterfalls
near Palermo
Welcome to Arcadia! Set within a historic grove of nespole (loquat plum trees) and surrounded by a truly magical garden, Villa Arcadia — comprising a main house and two annexes — lies on the north coast of Sicily between Palermo and Cefalù. Here outdoor life has been turned into an elegant way of living, and what is more, it’s just 50 metres from the sea, with its own mooring. It is perhaps the garden which is the villa’s most extraordinary feature, created by the owner as a miniature version of one of the grand botanical landscaped gardens of days gone by. To integrate it with the nespoleto, the garden was designed as a kind of hanging or terraced garden with a splendid collection of exotic palms, aromatic plants and tropical flowers around the superb swimming pool complex.
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The villa is between Palermo, Monreale and Cefalu at the center of the UNESCO cultural site denominated Arab-Norman Palermo and the cathedral churches of Cefalù and Monreale’ at 40 min reach from Trabia.
There are three pools on different levels, linked by waterfalls. The main pool is a 20m by 8m infinity pool, from which, spanned by a picturesque little wooden bridge, a waterfall cascades into a large hydromassage pool with room for twelve people. From here, another fall pours into a small (6m by 3m) shallow pool ideal for children. Beside the main pool there is a comfortable — and covered — outdoor kitchen with a dining area and bathroom/shower.
The main villa has a dining area on a spacious patio with a barbecue tiled with traditional Sicilian ceramics. Near the entrance is a large ornamental pond with papyrus, lotus flowers and carp. Opposite, is a spacious open gazebo (about 180 square metres), an ideal place to relax, read, play ping pong or even watch TV.
The villa comprises four separate, independent structures.
The main house is on two levels. On the ground floor there is an elegant dining room, a living room with an antique upright piano, a second living room and a guest bathroom with bath and shower. There is also a superbly equipped modern kitchen with a large window overlooking the garden. On the upper floor are four bedrooms and a twin bedroom (four doubles with ensuite bathroom, and a twin which share a bathroom with shower and hydromassage bath – suitable only for children). Each bedroom has a private balcony with views of the sea.
Also on this floor is another kitchen and dining room with access to a large terrace overlooking the nespoleto.
The first annexe (Glicine) is at the back of the main villa, with its own private access. It has two bedrooms, a double and a small twin each of which has an ensuite bathroom with hydromassage shower. There is also a living area with kitchen and a furnished terrace kept private by lush vegetation.
The second annexe (Primula) is surrounded by a large garden, and would be ideal for a family with children. It has a double bedroom and a children’s bedroom with bunk beds, and two bathrooms, one of which has a hydromassage shower. There is also a modern kitchen with access to a private furnished terrace amid the nespoleto.
The third annexe ( Agapanto) a secluded cottage for two on a raised uphill location within the garden and orchard of Villa Arcadia offering a panoramic view on the sea bay. Consists in double bedroom with private bathroom, living and little kitchen overlooking over the panoramic patio with outdoor dining area. Agapanto is ideal for couples looking for the privacy of their own accommodation while being immersed in a beautiful garden. The bedroom can also accomodate a cot bed.
Useful information:
The twin bedrooms in the main villa is suitable only for children; The beach is in easy reach (across a busy state road) but there is private access, and facilities including changing room, bathroom and shower.
Your villa at a glance
Main house: Ground floor – large living room and dining room
Guest bathroom (with shower and bath-tub)
Large fully-equipped kitchen
First floor: 5 bedrooms ( 4 doubles and 1 twin) 4 bathrooms ensuite
Second small kitchen
Second small living room/studio.
Glicine: On two levels First level One small double bedroom with ensuite bathroom Living room with kitchen Upper level Double bedroom Ensuite bathroom with shower and hydromassage tub.
Primula: One double bedroom with ensuite bathroom, one children’s room with bunk beds, a second bathroom a living/dining room with a fully equipped kitchen with access to the garden.
Agapanto: Double bedroom with private bathroom Little living room Kitchen Private terrace
We like
Swimming in the big pool, then relaxing in the hydromassage pool below it.
The delicious celery-juice cocktails made by the owners at sunset.
Exploring the garden with its rare plants
the rich selection of delicious sicilian home-style dishes prepared by the dedicated staff
Taking a trip in the RIB for an unforgettable swim at the Formiche rocks and Capo Zafferano.
A tradition fishermen’s feast franco a piscaturi at Porticello
Visiting Villa Valguarnera guided by the owner, a well known author and a knowledgable and captivating guide
Exploring the Arab-Norman heritage of Cefalù and Palermo
We think
The villa is ideal for big families or groups, with or without small children.
It’s a great villa for a mixed age group, with the three pools, the huge gazebo and sea nearby.
The villa is gorgeous — inside and out — and the gardens fantastic and conveniently located for cultural-artistic tours (organised by the owners): the UNESCO site of Palermo-Cefalu-Monreale is at 40 min driving distance and six other UNESCO cultural and natural sites in Sicily are within 1h 30min – 2h 30min reach
Nearby
- Palermo airport 38.5 miles
- Palermo 20 miles
- Cefalù 30.4 miles
- Trapani airport 88 miles
