Castle Licata

It’s hard to imagine a more stunning location for a holiday or party than this evocative medieval castle dramatically clamped to a rocky crag dominating one of the most splendid beaches on Sicily’s south coast. Dating back to the 14th century, this castle has been improved and altered over the centuries to keep it in step with the times. It is is now an extremely comfortable — and practical — luxury home, suffused with historic atmosphere and aristocratic finesse. The castle is surrounded by a magnificent park full of palm trees, aromatic, rare and historic plants (many of which are normally to be found only in botanic gardens) and has a fantastic swimming pool, as well as direct access to the sea through an ancient flight of steps carved into a tunnel in the natural tufa. The castle is set on two levels connected by a grand staircase. On the top floor is a recently constructed and very comfortable apartment comprising a large living room, kitchen, terrace and 7 bedrooms (six doubles and one twin) each with private bathroom. On the piano nobile is a typical Baroque “enfilade” of grande reception rooms culminating in the Blue Room, two dining rooms, a guest bathroom and two bedrooms (one double and one single) accessed up a small staircase. A sweeping terrace runs alongside the numerous reception rooms. A second staircase leads down to more bedrooms (five doubles, one twin and a single). All the bedrooms have views of the sea.