Sciacca: Rocco Forte revives his designer villas

Sicily has for years been a favourite destination for British holidaymakers – and others besides – with a wide range of hotels and properties for sale. However, the island lacked branded residences – branded residences – one of the most successful market segments globally. Rocco Forte Verdura Resort is attempting to fill this gap. In 2021, it launched a project for villas – the construction of which was completed in 2024 – linked to the five-star hotel that has been open for many years on the island’s south-western coast, between the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento and the historic seaside town of Sciacca.

The villas, built in the traditional style using traditional materials such as local stone, sand and wood, and featuring natural colours such as terracotta and ochre, are situated on a hill overlooking the hotel, with views of the Mediterranean Sea. Completely self-contained, the twenty existing villas have between three and four bedrooms, all with spacious private gardens and a swimming pool. They have been let out in recent years but are now on the market. Prices start at three million euros. To meet the demand for bespoke and customisable homes, the second and larger phase of the project has also just been launched, offering the opportunity to purchase 47 larger off-plan villas, spread over two storeys and with up to seven bedrooms, situated near the golf courses. Prices start at 5.2 million euros.

Designed by ASA Studio Albanese and Olga Polizzi, design director at Rocco Forte Hotels, the villas will offer guaranteed privacy and access to all the hotel’s facilities, including ten restaurants, a kilometre and a half of private beach, the spa, tennis and basketball courts, the riding school and two 18-hole golf courses. Villa owners wishing to generate income from their investment will be able to join the Rocco Forte Rental Management programme to let their properties when they are not using them. The market for branded residences is expanding rapidly worldwide. According to the latest report from Savills, this type of property commands an average premium of 38 per cent globally, a figure that rises even further in the most sought-after tourist destinations where such options remain limited.