The villa is perfect in every way for a family or group of friends. It is ideally situated to explore Western Sicily. Being only 2 minutes walk from the beach, it is also excellent for a beach holiday. The outside shower and sink are good bonuses when you return from the beach covered in sand. In fact, everything you could possibly need or want is provided. And far more too.
Natalia provided vast amounts of food and drink for us when we arrived. That was quite unexpected! She also brought us a big bowl of fruit from her garden half way through our 10-day stay. She and her daughter made my mother a birthday cake. It was beautiful & delicious - and made my mother shed tears of joy.
We went as a family (all adults) to celebrate my mother's 90th birthday. With a very elderly person safety is a major consideration. The stairs have good handrails and the showers non-slip mats. There are fewer hazards than in most homes so I would recommend the villa for elderly people, though a car is essential if you're travelling with elderly or disabled people. The views from the terraces are divine. Sea, mountains, trees and gardens. An elderly person - or indeed anybody - could spend an entire holiday just gazing at the view from the first floor terrace. It is calm, peaceful and there is almost no sound of anything except birds.
The small town of Balestrate is about 15 minutes walk along a path above the beach. Balestrate has good supermarkets & shops plus excellent local restaurants, bars and gelaterias. So you can go out for a few drinks without having to drive.
I like to run. You can do a 3-mile run without any traffic. Along the path above the beach, up the ramp into Balestrate, turn right after level crossing, go along until you see bicycles with umbrellas on a roof (can't miss it!), turn right there and go down 123 steps to the port. Then you can run right the way along the sea wall. Then run back the same route. Sea breeze all the way so the heat is no problem, and you can run back along the beach taking a dip in the sea on the way. If you're not a runner, it's a very lovely walk.
Other unexpected extras were beach games, beach towels, cold bags, sun hats, binoculars... if you need it, it's there for you. The bedrooms are extremely comfortable and the air conditioning is remarkably silent! My son and his girlfriend loved the pool table.
I cannot begin to thank Natalia and her family for all they did for us. If you want to visit NW Sicily, this is truly the perfect place to stay.