Maison Marza

Consisting of two self-contained units – each with its own kitchen, indoor and outdoor dining tables, and a living room – this villa on the southern tip of Sicily is perfect for a get-together with your extended family or a group of friends who'd appreciate their privacy.

The ground floor is the more spacious of the two, with a larger communal space for socialising and benefitting from direct access to the gorgeous poolside patio. Out here, you're free to spend your days soaking up some sun by the water, enjoying refreshing dips and escaping the midday heat with lunch at the covered outdoor dining table.

Climb the exterior staircase up to the first floor for access to two further bedrooms and an additional kitchen and dining area. Guests staying up here even have access to a separate outdoor table – a perfect breakfast spot for those who take a while to warm up in the morning.

Just 450m from the nearest stretch of beach, you'll find a secluded sliver of sand remaining at high tide. So for more expansive sweeps, follow the coast north to the likes of Marina Marza (1.5km) and the dune-backed Santa Maria del Focallo Beach (4km). Continue 11.5km west and you'll land in the port town of Pozzallo. As the area's most important port for over 700 years, its relative wealth has historically attracted pirates. However, today you're far more likely to encounter tourists drawn by its family-friendly Blue Flag beaches.

Home truths:
*There's a sofa bed in the living room for maximum flexibility
*Four of the bedrooms have air conditioning, while one comes with a fan only
*Access to the home is via a private entrance
*The dining table doubles as a laptop-friendly workspace
*Given your location, a car is a necessity when staying here – there's on-site parking available for up to two vehicles
*Your host welcomes well-behaved dogs here – breed restrictions apply, so please check with your host before your stay
*Child-friendly amenities such as a highchair are available on request
*The home is set across two floors, so it may not be suitable for those with more limited mobility