The Moorish castle
8 Guests
4 Bedrooms
4 Bathrooms
An intriguing, welcoming, refined and luxurious castle in a location that is central to all that is best of western Sicily, Al Jafar offers wonderful views of the sea, the Egadi Islands and Erice, an ancient walled garden with stunning pool, furnishings and fittings of the highest standard, and discreet, efficient service that is the hallmark of Sicilian hospitality. Have a read of this article on The Financial Times featuring Al Jafar (subscription needed).
Looking to know more about Al Jafar?
Our team has visited each of our villas, so they can share the finer details and help explore flexible date options
Winner of Condé Nast Traveller’s 2025 Best Villa Rental Company in the World
Keyholder highlights
- Historic castle
- 18m-long pool
- Wide-open views
- Intriguing architecture
- Luxuriant walled gardens
- Children's play area and pool
Gallery
Aerial views of Al Jafar.
Al Jafar's superb pool is set in a charming sunken garden.
A stunning view of the property.
The main courtyard where you will most likely take your meals.
The elegantly slender pool stretching out before you.
Just across a country track is Al Jafar's very own children's garden.
Includes
- Sole use of the villa and the grounds
- The support of our Villa Specialists to help you select your perfect villa
- The expertise of a dedicated team to help you fine-tune the logistics of your trip and to plan a range of experiences, many of which are exclusive to The Thinking Traveller
- A Local Specialist available during your stay for emergency support
- A comprehensive guide to your villa and its surrounding area, including our restaurant recommendations, cultural highlights and other activities
- An easy-to-use online holiday planner to keep all your booked experiences and services in one place, ensuring that nothing gets missed during your stay
- The ability to coordinate and share the details of your trip with your group via Your Account
- All sales taxes, electricity, gas, Wi-Fi, linen, bath towels, pool and/or beach towels
- Access to our in-villa wine delivery service – choose from our handpicked menu of the best regional wines and find them waiting for you at your villa
- A daily cleaning service (up to 4 hours/day, 6 days a week excluding Sundays and Bank Holidays) and a mid-week linen change
- Every day (excluding Sundays and bank holidays) the villa staff is responsible for the preparation of breakfast which is served at 9.00am. This service includes grocery shopping for breakfast items, preparing the table for breakfast and cleaning up afterwards. The breakfast usually includes a wonderful spread of fresh bread, croissants, local pastries, brioches, yoghurt, muesli, cornflakes, fruit juices, fresh milk, butter, ham, cheese, seasonal fruit, tea selection, coffee and local jams. All food costs are included and offered by the villa. Please kindly let us know your preferences for a sweet or savoury breakfast, any special requests, and kindly advise in advance of any allergies or dietary requirements.
Excludes
- Flights
- Car hire
- Transfers
- Meals (except for breakfast)
From the Guest Book
Read the insightful reviews from travellers who have experienced this villa and our service firsthand.
What we loved about Al Jafar were the beautiful interiors and the fantastic staff.
Maciej Dworzanski October 2025
We had a wonderful stay at Al Jafar! The villa is stunning and is even more beautiful in person than in the photos. The villa staff were so kind and went above and beyond to ensure we had the perfect stay. And they put so much effort into their wonderful breakfasts. We highly recommend The Thinking Traveller and Al Jafar and can't wait to return soon.
Javana Kuvac September 2025
What stood out about Al Jafar was the architecture and the pool. Sum up our stay in a few words? Simple, caring, top-notch, generous, beautiful.
Mans Marlind September 2025
Al Jafar is a fantastic characterful property with friendly, efficient staff and impeccable service. We had a wonderful stay again.
JH July 2025
What stood out about Al Jafar were the beautiful gardens and pool area and the outstanding service from the staff at the villa. The breakfasts and the in-villa dinners were amazing.
Verified guest, June 2025
We had a great holiday at Al Jafar, thank you. The villa and all staff were excellent. A special mention to house manager for looking after us all so well.
Verified guest, September 2025
Excellent
4.7/5
1,174 Reviews
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The Area
Al Jafar is ideally situated for an exploration of Western Sicily. The nearby towns of Trapani, Erice and Marsala all boast beautifully restored centres with fascinating histories and some great restaurants. The Phoenecian island of Mozia is just a few km away, as are the beautiful salt pans where migrating flamingoes nest. There are a couple of beaches in and around Trapani itself while the one at nearby San Vito Lo Capo is one of the finest anywhere in the Med. A day trip or two to beautiful Favignana and the Egadi Islands is a must: a 15-minute hydrofoil trip and you'll be in an island paradise of beaches, idyllic coves and transparent waters! If all that weren't enough, the dramatic Greek sites of Segesta and Selinunte are within easy striking distance too.
Getting to and around
Palermo airport:
85km-53miles-50minsTrapani airport :
16km-10miles-16minsCatania airport:
313km-194miles-3hr30Comiso airport:
337km-209miles-4hrsNearest sandy beaches:
a 15-minute drive away in Trapani or Lido MarausaNearest shops and amenities:
Paceco, 5mins drive, or Trapani, 7km-4miles-20minsNearest restaurants:
in Trapani (20 mins)Erice:
19km-12miles-25minsSegesta:
32km-20miles-20minsMarsala:
25km-15miles-35minsSan Vito Lo Capo:
42km-26miles-1hrThe Egadi Islands:
20mins (Favignana and Levanzo) to 1hr (Marettimo) via a regular and cheap hydrofoil service from the port of Trapani.Local Experiences
Culinary experiences in Western Sicily
Every civilisation that dominated Sicily was inspired by the produce this fertile land offers. In western Sicily it was the Arabs, French and Spanish who shaped the roots of the local culinary tradition, that went on to develop throughout the centuries into the unique, rich and eclectic specialities we find there today.
Discover
Private boat charters in West Sicily
Transparent waters lap dramatic, time-scarred sea stacks and weather-beaten cliffs, home to tumbling prickly pear trees and 16th and 17th-century watch towers. The old tonnara (a tuna fishing hub) is set evocatively between the cliffs, and a little time spent snorkelling here will be time well spent indeed. Then it’s off again, sweeping through the limpid waters of Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve, whose towering mountains rise majestically from the sea. Idyllic pebbly coves break up the sheer rocky masses, and before you know it you’ll be rounding the headland and sailing west to Sicily’s most northwesterly town, the fishing village and seaside resort of San Vito Lo Capo, renowned for its golden sands, electric blue waters, and delicious fish couscous.
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Private guided tours in West Sicily
From first glance, it would seem that the Saracen and Norman rulers of Sicily could have had very little in common. The former had arrived from North Africa and were part of the Golden Age of Arab civilisation that had made such huge strides in the fields of mathematics, economics, agriculture, science, poetry, and architecture. The latter were an offshoot of the Vikings from the frozen north of Europe, adventurers and hardened warriors.When the Normans ousted the Saracen forces in 1090, however, there was no obliteration of all things Arabic. Indeed, the men from the north were hugely impressed by what they found, and rather than destroying Arabic culture, they embraced it. Many institutions were retained, Islam was tolerated, and Saracen landowners were allowed to keep their estates. North African habits were adopted by many Normans as they acclimatised to life in the middle of the Mediterranean. Souks prospered, cool Arabic courtyards were de rigueur, and many Normans, including some of the sovereigns themselves, lived more like Emirs than knights. Where the fusion of cultures really stood out, however, was in the architecture.
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Private Guided Tours in Southwest Sicily
Our private guides are tried and tested experts in their field, with many holding PhDs in their particular specialism. Book a tour or two with them and you'll come away with fascinating insights into your destination's towns, archaeological sites, food, wine, landscapes and geology.
Discover
Wine tastings in Southwest Sicily
The triangle of Menfi, Marsala and Sciacca is one of the oldest outpost for wine production in Sicily thanks to the versatile and mite climate created by the sea breeze coming from the coast. Some of the most important Sicilian indigenous grapes, such as Grillo and Inzolia were born here and throughout the centuries have been wisely combined to produce among the most popular wines of the region. If you want to start exploring Sicilian wine you should probably start here, and we would be pleased to help.
Discover
Culinary experiences in West Sicily
The west of Sicily is a great destination for food lovers. Inland, the scenery is dominated by vast expanses of vineyards and olive groves, and some of Sicily's best wines – for example those of the Alcamo, Trapani, Erice and Marsala areas - and olive oils are produced in this corner of the island. Restaurant menus offer a fabulous array of fresh fish and seafood dishes. Fish cous cous is one of the signature dishes, a tradition that is celebrated every September at San Vito’s international Cous Cous Fest. Other stand-out specialities include busiate al pesto trapanese - a homemade pasta served with a pesto of tomatoes, garlic, almonds and basil - and spaghetti alla bottarga - salt-cured tuna fish roe grated on steaming pasta.
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