Nicolo's villa is private, fully fenced and unoverlooked, above the lovely fishing village of Porto Palo, which becomes a favourite holiday spot during the summer, with some very good restaurants and beaches. We were out of season in October 2020 and the restaurant Menfi Porto Palo was still open for lunch and dinner with good service and great food.
The Vento Di Mare garden is manicured with citrus and olive trees, and hedges providing shade around the fresh water pool, naturally heated by the sun. There is a large covered outdoor loggia with a large dining table and ample sitting areas, with ambient lighting and candlelight for the evenings. Automatic sprinklers keep the grass, plants and trees watered throughout the summer, and an automated lawnmower keeps the lawn trimmed.
We were two couples and enjoyed a week at the villa, making good use of the alfresco cooking and dining areas, and swimming every day. There are two large fridge freezers, so we had one for food and one for drinks. The outdoor covered grill is great for BBQ's. The kitchen/dining room and bedrooms are heated and air-conditioned by the same ventilation units.
Local feral cats visit many of the houses in the area, but are quite tame and happy to be fed. They keep the area vermin free. However, use mosquito repellent and burn mosquito coils when dining in the loggia/terrace and sitting out.
The property is 1.5 km drive from the village and blue flag beach, and walkable if you don't mind the up-hill climb coming back. You can also walk across the fields (with good footwear), cross the river/stream and reach the coves and beaches that are inaccessible by car. Several sandy beaches with rocky coves at each end stretch westwards from Porto Palo marina to Selinunte, backed by parks, nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries.
It is a great location for exploring the Agrigento region, including the ancient Greek temples of Selinunte and the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. The Trapani and Palermo regions are also easily accessible, with Marsala and Monreale great places to visit. Marsala and Trapani are also the gateways to the Egadi islands off the West coast of Sicily.
The local town of Menfi has good shopping for groceries, butchers, fishmongers, bakers and a good gelateria (ice cream parlour) next to the main square. The Belice valley and Menfi was the centre of a series of 5.1+ earthquakes in 1968, which levelled many buildings and demolished most of the town church, palaces and towers. The town is worth a wander.
All the local restaurants serve fish and seafood which is fresh and abundant in Sicily.
Vento Di Mare is recommended for couples and families in an off-the-beaten-track location but close to amenities and good beaches.