In the peaceful western hills
8 Guests
4 Bedrooms
4 Bathrooms
Sitting in a privileged position on a small organic farm, and ideally located for discovering all that western Sicily has to offer, Chirchiaro is the perfect country retreat for anyone seeking authenticity, genuine hospitality, unspoilt nature, far-reaching vistas, immense skies, and the restful rhythms of rural life. With walking trails on your doorstep and a superb infinity pool for relaxation, Chirchiaro promotes a sense of well-being and reconnects you to the things that really matter in life.
Looking to know more about Chirchiaro?
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Winner of Condé Nast Traveller’s 2025 Best Villa Rental Company in the World
Keyholder highlights
- Breathtaking vistas
- Panoramic infinity pool
- Pastoral peace
- 0-mile produce from the organic farm
- A quintessential Sicilian country retreat
Gallery
Aerial views of Chirchiaro.
Approaching the house.
The pool from another angle.
Looking from the lawned pool area towards the house.
Chirchiaro and its pool with a backdrop of hills and fields.
A shady spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
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 mid-week cleaning and linen change service
Excludes
- Flights
- Car hire
- Transfers
- Meals (unless otherwise specified)
From the Guest Book
Read the insightful reviews from travellers who have experienced this villa and our service firsthand.
What did we love about Chirchiaro? The beautiful views. The perfect clean infinity pool. The well-kept garden and orchard. The well-equipped kitchen. It was very comfortable and quiet and we received a very generous welcome hamper. We had a relaxing, quiet, comfortable and sunny stay with breakfast and lunches outside and log fires in the evening. Would we return? Yes.
VF October 2025
Chirchiaro is in an exceptionally beautiful position, high on a hill with commanding views for miles. Its outlook is frankly breathtaking. There are also easy walks in the woods behind the house to the very top of the hill with views in all directions - and those gentle hilltop breezes can be very welcome. The house itself has been designed as a comfortable home not just a holiday house, so has really everything you could possibly need for a relaxing stay, in any weather. We just couldn't fault it! This was the second time we had stayed in the house and it again met all our expectations and more.
VC September 2025
Chirchiaro is an incredibly beautiful house in a stunning location. It's perfect in every way, inside and out. It's well-equipped, has stunning views and a lovely pool, and is very quiet. It can't be faulted! We would return because it's just gorgeous and very relaxing!
VC October 2024
Chirchiaro had been exceptionally and thoughtfully prepared, with gorgeous table arrangements and flowers in every room. The oil, wine, honey, vegetables from the farm and other treats from the owners were very much appreciated by all of us. It is a beautiful house for a relaxing family break. The views are glorious and the pool is lovely. The generosity of the owners and the cook's meals meant that we ate extremely well, and the cooking lesson with Signora Antonella was a real highlight of our stay.
SP October 2024
We particularly appreciated the cleanliness of Chirchiaro, which was really exceptional. As keen cooks, we loved that the kitchen was so well equipped - again exceptional.
ES, United Kingdom September 2022
We had a superb experience from start to finish! Chirchiaro was stunning (which I knew as I had been before) and the Villa Specialists were incredibly responsive and helpful at all times.
Verified guest, August 2024
Excellent
4.7/5
1,174 Reviews
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The Area
Chirchiaro is situated in the rolling hills of western Sicily, a few kilometres as the crow flies from historic Salemi. The owner's organic farm, which surrounds the property, produces extra virgin olive oil, wine, honey, fruit and vegetables, all of which guests can sample during their stay. And if you're there during the grape and olive harvests, you'll be able to take part or watch.
Paths lead out directly from the property to the Baronia Forest, which has over 8km of walking trails. From the top, it is possible to see the ancient Greek theatre of the Segesta in the distance. We warmly recommend you explore the paths, taking with you a picnic of homegrown produce, local cheeses, cured meats and bread.
The nearest small town for shops and amenities is Vita, just a 10-minute drive away, while for cultural day trips, Chirchiaro is ideally placed for exploring the many treasures of western Sicily, thanks to its relative proximity to both legs of the A29 motorway (one running between Mazara del Vallo and Palermo, the other between Trapani and Palermo).
The stunning Greek temple and theatre of Segesta (mentioned above) are just over the hill to the north, while the fascinating archaeological sites of Selinunte and Cave di Cusa (where the columns for the temples were hewn from a quarry) are about 40 minutes' drive away to the south.
Western Sicily's major historic towns, including Trapani, Marsala, Erice and Palermo are all between 50 and 80 minutes' drive away.
For a day on the beach you can choose north - 45-55 minutes to Castellammare del Golfo and Scopello, 80 minutes to idyllic San Vito lo Capo - or south - 45-55 minutes to the long sandy beaches of the Selinunte and Menfi.
The ruins of Old Gibellina - now an enormous open-air work of art (the Cretto di Burri) - and those of Old Poggioreale - now a ghost town - make for a fascinating day out and can be reached in about 45mins. Guests staying at Chirchiaro might be interested in a tour of Gibellina and Poggioreale with an expert English-speaking guide.
Getting to and around
Palermo airport:
78km-48miles-55minsTrapani airport:
47km-30miles-50minsCatania airport:
288km-180miles-3hr40Comiso airport:
230km-145miles-3hr30Nearest shops, amenities:
10mins drive in Vita or 25mins drive in SalemiSegesta:
17km-10miles-30minsSelinunte:
40km-25miles-40minsGibellina Vecchia and Poggioreale Vecchia:
17km-11miles-45minsNearest beaches:
Marinella di Selinunte - 38km-24miles-45mins; Menfi - 48km-30miles-55mins; Castellammare del Golfo - 28km-17.5miles-45mins; Scopello - 34km-21miles-45mins; San Vito lo Capo - 63km-39miles-1hr20Palermo:
80km-65miles-1hr20Trapani:
42km-26miles-50minsMarsala:
45km-28miles-1hr5Erice:
52km-32miles-1hr5Local 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.
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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.
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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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