Accommodation
Located on Sicily’s spectacular southern coast, close to the temples of Agrigento, is Rocco Forte Hotels’ first resort style property. Equally appealing to couples and families alike, it is fronted by a magnificent stretch of private beach and sits amidst a verdant backdrop of olive and lemon groves. Woven subtly into the landscape using natural local materials, the rooms, suites and villas marry the warmth and ambience of Sicily with contemporary restraint; boasting private terraces and beguiling sea views, with designs overseen by renowned designer Olga Polizzi. Gourmet experiences encompass eight venues - including four restaurants and five bars - from beachside barbecues at Amare, panoramic dining at Liolà to sophisticated Sicilian and Mediterranean specialities at Zagara. Indulge in soothing rituals by Forte Organics, Sepai and Pevonia at Verdura Spa, inspired by local traditions. Three golf courses, tennis courts, watersports, a football pitch and one of the largest infinity-edge swimming pools in Europe ensure there are more than enough diversions for guests.
From Spring through to Autumn, the whole family can take to the water at Verdura Resort and make use of its wide range of watersport facilities. Windsurf, kayak or kitesurf on the waters that lap the resort's superb beach or take a private speedboat excursion to Torre Salsa - fish, snorkel or stop to enjoy a sunset picnic before heading back to the resort.
Rocco Forte Hotels have created bespoke journeys that allow you to explore the colourful history and culture of Sicily. Travel in true Italian style in a vintage Fiat 500 through traditional villages and surroundings that have inspired many celebrated works of literature and cinema, including the top-selling novel in Italian history, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's 'Il Gattopardo' (The Leopard). Nearby, Agrigento is home to the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with some of the best preserved ancient Greek buildings outside Greece itself.
With a private cooking class you can master the flavours of Sicilian cuisine using local produce and ingredients. On a recent visit to Verdura, Beth in our Europe team enjoyed an authentic cookery lesson with fun and informative Chef John Luca. Beth de shelled shrimps for her shrimp salad with beans and oranges for her first course, and for the main course created a tasty pasta and vegetable dish. It was delicious and so simple Beth has made it several times already since she returned home. Cookery lessons can be tailored for you from pastry classes to pizza.
Italy is a year round destination especially for city breaks, with a largely temperate climate with regional variations. Summers are hot especially from Rome southwards, whilst spring and autumn are mild. Winter in the south is warmer and drier than in the northern and central areas which can be much colder with snow fall in the mountainous regions.
Our team travel extensively, getting under the skin of every destination and hotel that we feature while building key connections and relationships along the way. In-depth knowledge of a destination is only part of what is required to curate a couture holiday experience; we also get to know you and what matters to you, meaning you receive genuine recommendations and a truly individual travel experience, and our Carrier Masterclasses ensure our travel experts are the best in the industry at tailoring bespoke and unique holidays. DESTINATIONS LINK
Read moreCarrier has been tailoring holidays worldwide for over 35 years and has firmly established its reputation as one of the leaders in the luxury holiday market. We have been voted ‘Favourite Tour Operator’ by the readers of Condé Nast Traveller magazine more times than any other company in the past decade, and have been featured in The Sunday Times Travel Magazine’s Top 10 Tour Operators for 2016. Carrier has also won several national travel industry accolades, including ‘Luxury Tour Operator of the Year’ from TTG Luxury and Advantage Travel Centres.
Why settle for ordinary when you can have extraordinary? The best suites in some of the world’s plushest hotels, the first choice of flight seats, attention to detail, no restrictions or limitations - how luxury holidays should be. Your holiday desires are well taken care of, whether you wish to learn new life skills while training with a Bodyism expert, or uncovering centuries-old bushmen secrets in Botswana with expert safari guides. Children can follow the life of a panda keeper one day and cook dinner with a Beijing housewife the next. Carrier can make it happen.
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