It is hard to talk about a luxury resort in Sicily without resorting to White Lotus cliches.
And when your fellow guests lounging by the pool include a certain actor who has provided arm candy for so many A-list women the phrase BDE was coined for him, well, it’s even harder.
Add in a groaning breakfast buffet with white-hatted chefs preparing eggs to order; a large pool with sunbaked terraces set in surprisingly lush lawns; an imposing lobby with polished marble floors just waiting for designer kitten heels to click clack across…. So far, so HBO.
But, located on Sicily’s quiet south-west coast, where the closest major attraction is the spectacular Valley of the Gods at Agrigento, Verdura feels more quietly ‘in the know’ than the over-touristed, over-manicured world of Taormina and White Lotus country.
The car-free scheme – the only resort in the Rocco Forte empire – prides itself on providing a quiet, low-key experience with privacy a huge draw for such rumoured A-list guests as Harry Styles and Katy Perry.
Yes, we’re talking leisure over culture here, of the flopping by the pool, playing a round of golf, frolicking in the thalassotherapy pools in the Irene Forte spa variety.
But staffed by locals and emphasising local (estate-grown in the case of things like almonds, olive oil, and oranges) produce in each of its three restaurants, Verdura feels far removed from mass tourism.
Throw in a private beach, an excellent kids club – which our 18-month-old loved so much he cried, not when being dropped off, but when we arrived to pick him up – and a granita cart doling out mini cones by the pool, and you may find you never want to leave.
And hey presto! The next phase for the 230-hectare estate is to deliver what Rocco Forte Hotels claim are Sicily’s first branded residences.
There are 20 completed three- and four-bedroom villas, some already under occupation, and 47 larger four-seven bedroom properties available to buy off-plan, with prices starting from €5.21 million.
Sweeping sea views come as standard across the portfolio, but while the first tranche of completed residences (starting price €3.1 million) are inspired by Sicilian architecture and finished in Mediterranean terracotta and ochre tones, the off-plan villas will allow more scope for customisation by buyers.
They have been designed by ASA Studio Albanese and Olga Polizzi with landscaped terraces, infinity pools and annexes for guests, staff or home gyms.
Villa owners get two years of golf membership for the three courses and access to the new Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen-designed club house included in their purchase.
There is also an optional rental management programme and there are hopes that the addition of a residents’ club in a restored farm building will foster community in this secluded outpost.
Buyers can access hotel services, from the attentive, whispering service to Sicilian fine dining at Zagara restaurant during open season February to November, with a minimal service available year round.
There’s an added perk for the high net worth individuals who are the prime market for these homes – Italy’s flat tax rate of €300,000 on overseas income on new residents, says sales director, Cameron Avery.
He also highlights that buying through the branded residences scheme will help foreign buyers to navigate Italy’s legal system and language for a frictionless experience.
La Dolce Vita indeed.
