Verdura Golf and Spa Resort

On a stretch of Sicilian coast, in a somewhat remote location,  this property by the Rocco Forte group has three golf courses, a spa, huge pools, and plenty of luxe amenities.

• The huge pool, a rarity in the hotels of southern Sicily
• The kids’ club, which is excellent
• The sprawling spa
• Two Kyle Phillips–designed golf courses (one 9 hole, one 18-hole)

Sitting on the Southwestern coast of the island, about an hour from Agrigento’s famed Valley of the Temples, 500 acres of previously abandoned beachfront have been reimagined as a plush Mediterranean hideaway.

Inside the wood and glass structures created by famed Northern Italian architect Matteo Thun, Rocco Forte’s sister Olga Polizzi (a hotelier herself) designed the chic all southern-facing rooms, with custom rattan furniture and printed fabrics in burnt saffron shades, as well as large marble bathrooms kitted out with Ortygia products.

A highlight of the property is the excellent spa with 11 treatment rooms, a yoga studio, a gorgeous indoor glass-covered 60-foot lap pool, and four thalassotherapy pools, all set at varying temperatures and mineral content density. Two Kyle Phillips–designed golf courses (one 9 hole, one 18-hole), a private beach (rare in Italy), a sizeable children’s club and four restaurants round out Verdura’s considerable offerings.

Our one quibble is that the resort feels divorced from local culture and island life, since even the nearest town of interest (Sciacca) is a good 30-minute drive away.

Verdura is a good option for families who want to relax by the pool and for honeymooners who want to stay put (perhaps at the end of a sightseeing-heavy trip). The hotel is also popular with lovers of Greek archeology who want to explore the sites of Agrigento, Selinunte and Segesta, which can be reached within a 1-1.5-hour drive.