What could be more glitzy than a sun-splashed getaway to Sicily? Everything about this sunny, tri-cornered island off the toe of Italy’s boot exudes glamour – from its awe-inspiring natural sights to its shimmering coastline, picturesque seafront towns, and Blue Flag beaches lapped by the cobalt-blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

After a bruising two years and the Covid-stricken summers of 2020 and 2021, we all deserve a holiday. The largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily is blessed with an abundance of riches, and should definitely be on your travel list. This sun-kissed southern Italian island’s astonishing history, easygoing charm, flavorsome cuisine, and over-the-top accommodation options have made it synonymous with luxury escapes.

Here are the best Sicilian destinations for a luxurious and relaxing break in the sun. Select Sicily Villas, one of the island’s leading and most exclusive vacation rental companies, will make sure you find the best accommodation.

South-Eastern Sicily – Noto 

For a sun-splashed getaway with a little bit of everything that makes luxury holidays in Sicily so enticing – culture, great food, seaside relaxation, and postcard-worthy beaches – you really can’t beat Noto, the honey-colored limestone capital of Sicilian Baroque. One of Italy’s finest gems, Noto is an eighteenth-century Baroque masterpiece of town planning, just waiting to be explored.

So why not rent a super-luxe villa in the surrounding area? The epitome of high-class luxury, Villa Orizzonte is a contemporary-design luxury retreat with perfectly-manicured gardens, satellite TV, and its own private 60-foot stone swimming pool offering to-die-for views while lounging poolside.

Sleeping up to eight people, this panoramically positioned, next-level villa to rent in Noto is ideal for a group of friends and family willing to spend quality time together away from the crowds.

• READ MORE: LUXUO Recommends: 5 Enchanting Destinations To Visit For Wine Lovers

North-Eastern Sicily – Taormina

It’s impossible to talk about luxury holidays in Sicily without mentioning the glamorous hilltop town of Taormina, nicknamed the Pearl of the Ionian Sea. This bijou town perched dramatically on a slope high above the shore has been luring royals, intellectuals, and big-name travelers since the days of the eighteenth-century Grand Tour, from Ernest Hemingway, Goethe, and D. H. Lawrence, to Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor, to name just a few.

Taormina’s third century B.C. Greco-Roman open-air amphitheater is still used today as a venue for classical operas, concerts, and theatrical events. Stars who have played here include Bruce Springsteen, Kasabian, and Sting. 

Not surprisingly, Taormina is still a favorite with the rich and famous, and draws a number of celebrities, A-listers, and business elite who are seeking the best of the best. For lodging in this area, check out Villa Mazzarò, an ultra-luxe cliff-side villa with panoramic jacuzzi, offering pretty much everything one could wish for in a summer house, from no less than eight bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, to an inviting 32-foot long swimming pool, super-fast Wi-Fi, and a barbecue pit for BBQ parties.

North-Western Sicily – Scopello 

You may get a feeling of déjà vu, as Scopello’s bay, on Sicily’s north-western coast, happens to be one of the most photographed beaches in the whole of the Mediterranean, and even appeared in a number of Hollywood movies and TV series, including Ocean’s Twelve with George Clooney and Brad Pitt, and the hit Sicilian detective series Inspector Montalbano.

An easy drive west of Palermo, Scopello is a great place to soak in traditional Sicilian culture while marveling at the huge faraglioni rock formations that rise out of the Mediterranean Sea. With old warehouses and fishermen’s cottages round a little cove hugged by steep-sided cliffs topped with a medieval tower, the ancient, cappuccino-colored tuna processing plant in Scopello is one of the most photogenic locations in Europe. It’s not hard to work out why this tiny coastal hamlet in the province of Trapani has long been popular with film directors, and magazine photographers.

Located in Scopello, Bay View is an architect-designed, two-bedroom villa boasting on-point interior décor, modern comforts, state-of-the-art amenities, and a stunning infinity pool with the most breath-taking views. Check it out!

• READ MORE: 7 Most Luxurious Experiences to Have in Ibiza

South-Western Sicily – Menfi

About an hour’s drive southwest of Palermo, the historic wine town of Menfi should definitely be at the top of your bucket list. Don’t let its size deter you! Myriad activities await. The exquisite, quaint town of Menfi offers plenty of activities suitable for high-end travelers, from wine-tasting, windsurfing, and cycling through spectacular nature, to scuba diving, kitesurfing, and snorkeling in clear waters filled with a wealth of marine life. The possibilities are endless.

Now you want to know about the best luxury villas in south-western Sicily with private swimming pool, right? For affluent holidaymakers who want a quiet, private hideaway in the heart of western Sicily’s unspoiled coastal landscape, Essence is the perfect luxury retreat to enjoy an unforgettable vacation. Luxury knows no bounds at this top-of-the-range modernist villa sitting on a panoramic, olive-tree-strewn hill looking out to sea over the luscious vineyards of world-famed winemaker Planeta.

South-Eastern Sicily – Siracusa

Nearly as prestigious as Athens, Corinth, and Carthage when it was a Magna Graecia colony, the ancient coastal city of Syracuse (Siracusa in Italian) is a true gem on the south-eastern coast of Sicily, now listed among UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. The little adjoining island of Ortygia is where most of the historical sites are located, including fabulous Baroque buildings, a medieval fortress, and a couple of splendid Greek Doric temples.

One of the most requested rental properties in this part of the island is Prestige, listed in Select Sicily’s ever-growing portfolio of deluxe villas. This exclusive property offers the privacy, space and comfort of a private home paired with top-notch amenities, enticing views, and direct, private access to the transparent waters of the Ionian Sea. Pool dwellers, foodies, and sea-lovers alike will find plenty to treat themselves to, whether that’s lounging by the pool with one of Andrea Camilleri’s books, sipping on some local wine as the sun sets, or swimming in crystal-clear, glittering blue waters before a dinner of freshly caught fish.

Planning your next glamorous getaway? As you can see, renting a super-luxe sea-view villa is the way to go. All of the properties mentioned are available to rent through Select Sicily, a luxury vacation rental company dedicated to providing top quality accommodation in sunny Sicily. For more information and reservations, please visit the company’s website Selectsicilyvillas.com.

For more travel reads, click here.