Villa Kiwi

Intelligent restoration has created a chic contemporary house within an ancient, farmhouse or masseria. At first glance Villa Kiwi still looks like a traditional masseria, retaining stucco and lava-stone walls and a typical external lava-stone staircase which carries you up to the main living area.
Step inside, however, and you are in a minimalist Mediterranean living space, with large open spaces, carefully selected materials and a deft and playful dash of isolated colour.
The living room, with high vaulted and frescoed ceilings, is divided from the dining area by a fireplace so minimalistic as to be almost imperceptible. The designer kitchen (with a very cool cooking-island) lies between the dining area and a glass-walled terrace, making both inside and outside eating equally effortless. A guest bathroom completes the living zone.

A corridor leads to two bedrooms, one large and one small, each with ensuite bathroom. From an audaciously sculptural flight of steps, leads first to a designer bathroom, and then to a double bedroom, walled with glass (which can be covered by a heavy but luminous screen). Leave the screen open, and you can lie in bed and look straight across to the chic swimming pool. Le tinto the celing is a skylight for moon- and star-gazing. The stairs continue up to a spacious attic bedroom with ensuite bathroom.

Outside, a large area with lawn and conifers is crossed by a path of ancient lava-stone cobbles leading to a dazzling large pool flanked by a Modernistic glass-screened pavilion – designed as a reception area for parties, it also functions as an extremely chic ‘relax zone’ offering shelter from the sun, wind and showers.

Inside
Upper level
Living room
Dining room
TV zone
4 double bedrooms
4 bathrooms
1 guest bathroom

Outside
Garden with extensive grounds
Large pool
Pavilion
Bathroom
Palmento
Terrace

The amazing views
The startling contrast between the hi-tech comforts and state-of-the-art design of the interior and the traditional architecture of the original building.
The impressive views of the summit of Mount Etna
Looking for mushrooms in the woods in the early mornings
Taking a 20 minute drive down to the sea to swim on the dramatic coast of Acitrezza
Trekking on Etna then relaxing by on the poolside Lying in the cool shade of the trees on a hot summer’s day
Contrasting the peace of the villa with a night on the town in lively Taormina
Making day trips to see the museums, markets and archeological sights of Catania and Siracusa  – and indulge in a bit of shopping
Exploring the Costa dei Ciclopi, whose natural needles of offshore rocks are said to have been thrown into the sea from Etna by the Homeric monster, Polyphemus.

This is a perfect house for groups of friends or family. The pool, the Modernist pavilion and the palmento also make it ideal for holding a party or other event.
The house is ideal for families with children – they can play on the lawn or in the pool while parents relax. The villa is a perfect base for anyone who loves outdoor adventure sports – the area offers trekking, mountain-biking, pot-holing, river rafting and tubing as well as snorkelling, kitesurfing and water-skiing.
As the villa is in one of Sicily’s most prestigious wine-producing areas, it is an ideal base for anyone interested in wine. The local produce of Etna is likewise exceptional, with superb local honey, hazelnuts, walnuts, strawberries, salami, mushrooms and pistacchios.
The villa is also superbly located for anyone who wants to explore the cultural highlights of southeast Sicily – Taormina, Siracusa, Catania and the Costa dei Ciclopi are all at hand.

• Catania airport 17 miles
• Taormina  27 miles
• Acitrezza 7.4 miles
• Siracusa 49 miles
• Golf club 28.6 miles