Flora’s chalet and garden are very beautiful and unique. They were designed with artistic sensibility and attention to detail, and are cared for with love. The many extra touches, like the local wine, fresh fruit, yoghurt and good Italien coffee, are lovely and a further expression of Flora’s thoughtful and generous hosting. We did not meet Flora personally, but Martina was in good contact with us by text, and upon our request, offered numerous local tips for restaurants, shops and places to visit. We appreciated these efforts.
Bagheria, very near where the chalet is located, is quite lively, and seems to represent "regular" daily Sicilian life, contrasting with the atmosphere in towns more often visited by tourists. We appreciated this experience of authentic Sicilian life. Bagheria is also is the home of several historical villas, and the chalet is close to several small and authentic coastal villages. Potential visitors should also be aware that the the chalet is located on a rather busy street. We found the immediate surroundings, outside of the peaceful oasis of the chalet and gardens, aesthetically less attractive and charming than other Sicilian areas we have visited. We were also at times glad to have earplugs with us, as dogs next door were occasionally barking loudly during the night.
The drive from the chalet to the Palermo airport, with very light traffic and following google map’s directions for the quickest route, was about 40 minutes, in contrast to the 25 - 30 minutes which Flora informed us of in our inquiry before booking.
Overall, we were very impressed with the beauty, uniqueness and positive energy of Flora’s chalet and gardens, enjoyed the jacuzzi and appreciated Flora’s loving attention to detail. However, the location of Bagheria / Santa Flavia was less appealing to us as a vacation destination.