I know I just came back from Paris and I shouldn’t be thinking about traveling right now, but no one says you can’t dream. I’ve been wanting to rent a villa together with friends somewhere in Europe, in either France or Italy, for a while and when I come across a photo of this gorgeous villa in Sicily yesterday I couldn’t help but dream. Villa Valguarnera is according to Conde Nast traveler, the most romantic hideaway in Sicily. I totally agree and you probably will too once you see the images of this stunning villa.
Villa Valguarnera appears to have stopped in time with dilapidated walls that make the villa feel like a remnant of a very glamorous era. And in fact, it is, albeit part of it dark. In the 17th century, Sicily was the preferred summer retreat of Palermo nobility then after World War II, the area became a Mafia base. Today the villa belongs to Princess Vittoria Alliata di Villafranca, her many-times-over-great grandmother built the villa in the 18th century.
The villa has a lot of interesting stories such as the one involving Maria Amalia, daughter of the exiled King of Naples and niece of the recently beheaded Marie Antoinette, who met Louis Philippe of France in the villa back in 1806. They fell in love and married despite the disapproval of her family. Princes Vittoria still lives in the villa but the second floor which has three bedrooms that sleep six is for rent. The rental is decorated with period furniture and family heirlooms with frescos on walls and ceilings.
If you can afford the £9,800 per week to stay in Villa Valguarnera, you’ll be able to meet Princess Vittoria since she lives in the other part of the villa and maybe even hear her recount one of her stories. Read a few of them at Conde Nast Traveler. For now, I’ll be content with looking at these beautiful photos.
All photos by Serena Eller for Conde Nast Traveler.
