It is hard to find a place that is so more authentic and original than Santa Maria! We loved it from the moment we opened the large wooden doors and entered the courtyard. It is better than on the photos! The place is perfect for families. The kids found new things to discover every single day. There are oranges and lemon trees in the backyard which provides for lovely fresh juice in the morning. The large private pool is clean and pleasant. As Mazara del Vallo has a large seaport there is plenty of fresh fish to be found and we had some amazing barbeques. Caroline and Mercello are fantastic hosts! Their story is truly incredible and nicely documented. The process from selecting the property all the way through receiving back the security deposit was smooth and a pleasant experience. There is so much more positive to say here... I really hope we will be back soon!

We had such a happy week in this amazing place. The apartment was so spacious and cool (a wonderful escape from the August heat). The gardens were beautiful and well kept. Our favourite thing was to sit outside in the orange grove in the evening, light a barbecue and cook fresh prawns and sip a glass of Sicilian wine, listening to the chittering of the cicadas. Our two girls aged 3 and 6 loved the swimming pool, learning to swim and dive for the first time. We enjoyed trips to the local restaurants and sights including Mazara del Vallo, Erice, Selinunte and Porto Palo. This part of Sicily is breath of fresh air, unspoilt and thankfully not geared towards mass tourism. Nanette who lives upstairs looked after us beautifully, recommending places to visit, beaches to swim, and restaurants to visit . Couldn't recommend it more highly for a week of fun, food and a bit of culture on the side.

Our experience at Santa Maria was breathtaking. Upon arrival we were in awe of the impressive stone building, we passed through the beautiful courtyard and into the Santa Maria villa itself - which was absolutely stunning in every way possible. Nanette, our host was on hand to welcome us to the villa, she was most helpful throughout our stay. We spent our days in the Italian sunshine lounging by the superb pool, surrounded by the heavenly gardens. We sampled the local delights; eating scrumptious gelato in the town and visited the neighbours (The Gazzerosse Vineyard). Our time at Santa Maria was absolutely perfect - a dream come true.

We all loved staying in Santa Maria - the accommodation is part of a very special family house - completely private with sole use of a fabulous swimming pool and lovely tennis court (once the sun has gone down!). We saw some of the sites of Western Sicily including Selinunte, Segesta, Sciacca & Marsala, along with the odd very lovely restaurant - but on the whole we so enjoyed the return to Santa Maria and its peaceful surroundings - so beautiful and constantly gave us the feeling of getting away from it all. I hope one day we will return.

The villa was perfect for us , a family of seven - 3 young adults and partners and the older parents.The villa was beautiful , spacious airy rooms which kept cool in the heat of the day. We spent our rest days at home ( after very active ones seeing the amazing sights ).Long breakfasts in the garden with refreshing lemon juice made with lemons from the garden . Keeping cool in the pool and sitting under the trees beside it. In the evening when it was cool enough , there were tennis matches. The gardens, villa, pool were all lovingly looked after and very beautiful. The kitchen was very well equipped which meant we could have some amazing food at home. We were very welcomed by the owner's sister in law who lives on the top floor of the castle. She was always on hand to help. We had a fantastic week and this amazing place is highly recommended by all of us.

We were a family of 6 adults, mum & dad plus 4 in their twenties. The property is large, secluded and with lots of facilities. It allowed outdoors activity of tennis, swimming and running, as well as lots of opportunity to relax. There was plenty of space to get some independence yet large communal areas for games and dinner. The kitchen and utility areas are large and fully stocked. Wi-fi worked well, and there was TV but also board games and books. Location is outside of town, so make sure you have the full address and directions. There are very helpful owners family members on hand if you need anything. The property is well placed for all main west coast of Sicily attractions. A car is a requirement. Some mosquitos. Overall a great place for a family to relax and explore Sicily.

A wonderful stay in Santa Maria... Fabulous villa, pool, tennis court and gardens. While there are family members living above we had complete privacy. The villa was presented as described and very clean and well maintained. Any problems were resolved quickly by the on site managers of the property living above. It is hard to leave the villa but great sightseeing to be had in Western Sicily ... For historical sightseeing Selinunte is a must with well preserved Greek ruins against a coastal backdrop. The north west coastline for breathtaking scenery and fabulous beaches and the national park...Castellamare was our particular favourite ancient coastal town and the nearby picturesque hamlet of Scopello with stunning views and great swimming. We would thoroughly recommend Santa Maria as the perfect relaxing retreat in an ideal spot for sightseeing.

Our stay in Santa Maria was everything that we had hoped for. It was so hot that we didn't venture out much and loved spending lazy days under the olive tree by the pool, with tennis once the temperature eased a little in the evenings. When we did go out, there were many restaurants to choose from in nearby Mazara and we enjoyed day trips to Selinute and Erice. The property is beautifully maintained and it was very reassuring having Nanette and Silvio on site to welcome us and to help if required. We would happily recommend the property.

I'm trying to think how to write a review without saying: "wonderful", "fantastic", "amazing" or "wow"! It's tricky. This place gives you all of these. - the foundation for an unforgettable holiday. It was like staying in a fabulous (oops!) hotel suite with with incredible (again!) grounds but without having any other guests around! Help is on hand should you require it but if you want to be left to please yourself then that is perfectly possible too. I can't imagine finding anything like this magical place again. Believe the reviews and the photos and stop searching. Dunckleys, London

How trite does the word "magical" seem to describe this place? Yet the Villa transported us and there seems to be no other word to describe it. We lived the dream for a week and discovered a corner of the world untouched by tourism, raw, tranquil and animated, all in one. This is a slice of Sicily where history oozes from the stones, yet quietly. The Villa is elegant, comfortable and aesthetically fabulous, with a library to dazzle (and I would need to book a few years to read even an eighth of the collection), a cook's dream kitchen along with all the best cookbooks, to boot. We relaxed indoors as well as out: the gardens are diverse: a citrus grove, tennis and pool grounds, and olive trees as well. We were fortunate to arrive during the olive pressing season and enjoyed the experience immensely. Finally, a word about our hosts: Nanette and Silvio, Caroline and Marcello: what a difference it made having you to book choice restaurants, provide insight on this or that winery, archeological site, or town to visit. Need I say more? Shelley & Sam, Toronto, Canada

We had a memorable vacation for a week staying at Villa Santa Maria. The accommodations exceeded our expectations. The Manzo family was extremely warm and helpful. They assisted us with local reservations and recommendations of places to visit in Sicily. The facilities were magnificent and we used the pool and tennis courts. If anyone is planning a trip to Sicily, this Villa in this special town is a must!

As you enter the castle courtyard the scent of jasmine transports the senses to a world of calm. The house is beautifully decorated and well appointed.The stunning Mediterranean garden and pool area allow for true relaxation. The nearby town of Mazzara full of charm and great restaurants plus the incredible local historical sites make Santa Maria a perfect holiday haven. .

After two weeks, Santa Maria had cast a spell on us and we didn't want to leave. If you're looking for peace and quiet this is has it. The villa and gardens are set a long way back from the quiet country road; it was an event if we faintly heard a couple of cars pass during the afternoon. Yet it is also convenient; minutes to the motorway from Palermo (also largely deserted) and even nearer to the supermarket. Santa Maria itself lives up to the description and photographs; it feels more like you've walked in to a film set than a holiday home. The accommodation is beautifully decorated and history seeps out of the walls. It so spacious that walking from one end of the ground floor to the other qualifies as your daily work-out! The kitchen was well equipped and the air conditioning was essential during August (blue skies, 30-35C every day and mid 20's C at night). The wireless Internet also kept up with the demands of the four of us (our kids consider it a human right of course); 7MB ADSL with a WIFI router is better than many places back in the UK. Nanette and Silvio live on the floor above and couldn't have been more kind, helpful and unobtrusive. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and well kept. The pool is large enough to hold a small sailing regatta and surrounded by a luxurious green lawn; a remarkable feat which stood out in contrast to the brown olive groves glimpsed through the trees. Add to that the walled citrus grove, the courtyard and the tennis court and it became a struggle to find a reason to venture beyond the gates. Mazara is well off the tourist trail; whilst the outskirts are slightly unpromising the historic centre has many interesting squares and facades. San Salvatore is everything you could want in a baroque cathedral and well worth a visit. The seafront promenade comes alive in summer evenings after about 8:00pm with plenty of places to eat and drink, but it never felt crowded or overrun with tourists. Also, Granitola is a 15 minute drive down the coast and a lovely place to sit drinking coffee and overlooking a small rocky cove and the azure sea beyond. We took trips out to Selinunte, Erice and Mozia - all fascinating places, again not overrun with tourists and giving us a nice slice through the history of Sicily. We're not early risers, but each is near enough that you can easily get there and back before the afternoon heat really kicks in. I hope we are able to visit Santa Maria again soon.

We loved this fantastic historic house with its very tasteful furnishings and equipment. Delightful and spacious grounds including the best ever swimming pool and a perfectly situated tennis court with shade throughout much of the day. Although clearly old, the house was spotlessly clean and very comfortable. The outside eating area was charming under the orange trees and freshly picked lemons were an exotic treat! Some direct help/ advice in combatting the relentless mosquitoes might have been a useful addition. The owners were immensely helpful and accommodating, especially when the water supply was lost for the best part of half a day (hence only 4*)! The area is fascinating. Selinunte and Cava de Cusa are must see's and Favignana in the Egadie Islands, where we hired scooters and snorkelled, a really fun day out. Mazara is a great place to find terrific and good value food. Cycling the local lanes is a good option and some suggestions on places to go on bikes would have been useful (avoiding the mad Italian driving! Would definitely go there again and recommend it to anyone.

Santa Maria is full of character in a beautiful setting. It is well equipped, clean, spacious and very private. Clean, good sized pool and tennis a bonus for us. Lots of great restaurants in Mazara del Vallo and plenty of places of interest to visit in relatively close proximity. Would recommend and will return.

Our family of four spent a week at Villa Santa Maria and came away refreshed and rested. It is a large spacious 17th Century villa with high ceilings and beautifully decorated and furnished rooms. We didn’t use the tennis court as we are not sporty, but the pool was wonderful. We alternated between days out to see ancient Greek and Roman ruins and fascinating Sicilian towns to lazy days in, relaxing, reading and swimming. The villa was so well equipped and my husband prefers to cook so we ate in each evening. It was fun to explore the local supermarkets and although English was not widely spoken everyone was very friendly and willing to help. The information provided by the owners is extremely comprehensive and covers everything you might need to know about the villa itself and the surrounding area, including restaurants and places of interest. The air conditioning in each of the bedrooms was very welcome at night and during the day it was nice to sit in the shady orange grove. You only have to read the guest book to realise that everyone who visits Santa Maria is charmed by it.

I recently contacted Caroline via Owners Direct when I was looking for somewhere to go on holiday with my husband, my 10 year old niece, my little 14 month old boy and my parents. I wanted something special to really say a big thank you for eveyrthing my parents have done for me and Santa Maria fitted the bill to a T. Caroline has decorated the villa beautifully and really maximises the use of light and colour - it is very spacious and a great treat to walk through the library each day from the bedrooms into the main seating area. This is a beautiful old family house and it has been restored with that in mind. It's 10 minutes from a fabulous safe sandy beach with warm shallow waters great for kids. The pool is all yours that you reach from the villa through a walkway of pine trees providing some afternoon shade: it nestles amongst olive trees, fuscia bouganvillia and white and purple agapanthus flowers. Local food and fish markets are very close by and I had some catering done, both low and high brow, and it was delicous in both cases using all the local ingredients at a very reasonable cost. For me what was the most outstandiing about this place, aside from the remarkable aristocratic, old world feel that it had about it, was the charm of its owners: the two brothers and their wives who I was lucky enough to meet when there. Despite their noble beginnings, they were humble, generous and really embraced my family like one of their own - it is this that makes me want to return. The area to me is far more like Sicily a step back in time than the more touristy towns on the east coast and the local baroque square is stunning. The rooms are huge, (a smaller third more suitable for children although there is a large wardrobe in the tv room that could be used for storage) and the entertaining areas are fabulous. At night the smell of jasmine drifts in from the walled inner court yard where a one armed Bacchus watches over the Arab style fountain. I will miss seeing my little boy strutting his stuff up and down those long black and white tiled floors in the hall every day - it was very safe for him and child friendly. I will defintely return but I'm learning a little Italian next time I go - if only out of respect for the locals!

This is the 2nd time we enjoyed Santa Maria in the last week of October. The spacious beautiful house is a hit with the children. As is the tennis court and the swimming pool. Pleasant temperatures, sunshine , while Britain becomes wet and cold. Nearly every day we drove down to the sandy beach next to Marinella, enjoying the sun and the sea. We also had a lovely time in the old town of Mazarro and frequented the local family run & very family friendly pizzeria for its lovely starters, pizzas and pasta dishes. I am sure we will be back again. My best memory this year is picking a lemon for the morning pancakes from a tree a few meters from our table amidst the orange grove. Erik Meyer & family, London

Santa Maria is a wonderful place to stay in especially if you really need a good relaxing holiday. The house is very well equipped and very attractively done. We loved eating our breakfast out on the orangery every morining and listening to and looking at the birds, especally the bee eater ( as we were told ). The pictures of the pool do not give it justice: the surrounding garden has grown and is quite beautiful with the backdrop of the amazing Italian fortified home. Our children loved having all of the space and gardens to be roaming around in. We found the people in Sicily to be wonderful and so welcoming especially with children. We did a lot of snorkling with the children on Marinella beach and Zingaro Reserve, visiting the archeological sites is an absolute must. The food is delicious and I would highly recommed trying the orangina ( make sure you ask where to go for the best), the sea food is exceptional, dont miss the Mazarra fish market. Must visit Mazarra Del Vallo in the evening, they eat late but well worth the visit. Santa Maria is a special place, we really enjoyed it so much. When we left, after 2 weeks, we all wished we had a little longer!

We enjoyed a memorable week in Sicily and would thoroughly recommend Santa Maria. We felt like privileged guests at a grand country home. Our only regret is not having more time to spend in the house itself as the weather was very good and so we spent most of the week exploring the many places of interest in North West Sicily. Our children loved Santa Maria especially the massive baths and squeezing their own orange juice for breakfast - from oranges they picked from the orange grove outside! We thought it a great base for exploring as well as being a luxurious haven for relaxing after one or two strenuous outings. A great introduction to a fascinating island.

This is a truly beautiful place to stay. My sister and her family resided in Casa Nuova and so we shared the grounds with the tennis court and swimming pool. We really enjoyed the grounds, and the patios on each site were lovely for relaxing evening dining, surrounded by the fruit trees. The pool area was very pleasant and a good place to sit with a book. Santa Maria was beautifully decorated and maintained, with great attention to detail and well equipped. We were met by Nanette who showed us round attentively. Caroline has written a book about the restoration of Santa Maria and it was fascinating to read this while we were there. The ancient sites of Selinunte and Segesta were very worthwhile visits, as was the hilltop town of Erice and seaside resort of Scopello. Mazara del Vallo was an interesting town with baroque architecture and several good restaurants. My husband found some good windsurfing nearby (details in the house). The only drawback for us in this less touristy area of Sicily, was that some of the beaches nearby were not kept very clean, although the sea itself was fine. Car hire is essential for a holiday here, and in August the rental companies sell out quickly, so it's worth organising this as early as possible. We drove over to here from the east side of Sicily, and then flew home from Trapani.

Our first stay at Santa Maria was in 2007 with our two teenage daughters and we all had such a wonderful time we vowed we would return. We have just returned from our second stay in June 2010, this time with our younger daughter, now 21, and a posse of her friends. I must admit I was a little worried that my memory might have become rose tinted in the intervening years since our first visit. I shouldn't have had any doubts because everything was just as wonderful as it was on our first visit. The house and it's gardens have a lovely relaxing atmosphere, and there is so much space that you can escape if you want to. Nanette is there when you need her which is very reassuring. We enjoyed having the opportunity to read extensively, there are enough books in the house to keep you going for the longest of holidays, swim, play a little tennis and explore the area again, especially Seliunte, Segesta, Eraclea Minor where we discovered a lovely little restaurant down on the beach and for the first time Mozia. It is just a shame we had to come home and return to work. Our daughter's friends were all thrilled that they had been invited, our elder daughter was rather miffed she couldn't come as well, but it was just too far for her to travel as she now lives in Australia.

We chose Sicily as a holiday destination as my children, now 21, 19 and 14, wanted pasta, pizza and Italian ice cream. In addition, we all wanted to go somewhere none of the 5 of us had been before. We are fond of islands, love the beach, and the kids wanted their own swimming pool and tennis court...hey presto... the Villa Santa Maria! I should point out that my husband and I have very stressful jobs, and we wanted somewhere quiet where we could relax and unwind. In general we are not keen on hotels or holiday villages/parks where we have little privacy and -in the nicest possible way-have to put up with the rest of the world! So, we were impressed with the look, feel and sight of Santa Maria from the first time we saw the picture in the brochure. The owner replied to my emails very promptly, and we generally felt confident we were on to a winner. We were not to be disappointed. The first sight of Santa Maria is quite awesome. The pretty driveway lined with tall trees and bouganvillea makes an impressive entrance. The building itself ressembles an old castle, and is set within a beautiful tropical garden. Once inside, the internal courtyard is stunning, with an old well in the centre and hung with brightly coloured geraniums. The large apartment we stayed in, has been charmingly restored with much attention to detail, beautiful marble and floor tiles, very tasteful decor and antiques. The kitchen is well equipped and we produced sumptuous pasta dishes on a daily basis, which along with local tomato, mozzerella and basil salad, was food fit for a king! The kids were in heaven! Outside the tennis court is superb. My two boys played for hours every day, with their father when he could stand the heat! The swimming pool is superb. Quite long enough to swim good lengths, and deep enough for jumping and diving in the deep end. The big olive tree provided perfect shade from the midday sun and several long, seriously competitive games of scrabble! We didn't venture out very far. The supermarkets were fine for our needs, and not as expensive as France! We ate out twice in the local town, and had excellent food and wine, with friendly waiters, keen to discuss the UK's disastrous performance in the World Cup in pigeon english! It was incredibly hot, and we greatly appreciated the fans, and the use of the air conditioning, something often not available in other houses we have rented. I highly recommend Santa Maria to all wanting a peaceful, happy holiday!

Our family and I stayed here from June 14th - 21st 2009. Casa Notre is absolutely fabulous all you could ask for, extremely homely, pool and tennis courts where a great hit with the children, interior/exterior is amazing - you could walk around it for days. The library was full of books that would keep you amused forever, the kitchen was equipped with everything you needed. Nanette who meets you on arrival was so helpful, a truly lovely person. The location of the castle was brillant too, great for sight seeing etc. We hope to return next year it was that good.

Spent a week there at the end of May 2009, 4 adults two children (6 & 7). We all loved the villa. Its easy to find and an easy drive from Palermo, if your flight lands too early then stop off at Sugesta on the way. You have nearly half of the downstairs which provided plenty of space. In fact we had so much space roller blades should be provided for when you have forgotten something in the kitchen. We all enjoyed eating a meal in the garden or relaxing around the pool. There is something very satisfying sitting having a meal in an orange grove and I was very please about picking my own lemon for a gin and tonic in the evening. The local town seemed like a usual small Italian town with all the usual fun of driving in Italy. The local beaches didn't seem to great but that didn't matter at all as we just relaxed around the pool and as a result the kids now want a pool in the back garden at home. Etna can be done in a day but its a long day and the site an Selinunte is an easy drive but I recommend the buggies that ferry you around when you get there. I would certainly recommend Villa Santa Maria

We spent a week in this property mid May with a mixed age group of 3 young children, two parents and an grandmother. The facilities were excellent and we found nothing wanting. We had private access to a wonderful walled garden where the children could safely run around, chase lizards and pick oranges to make juice for breakfast. The tennis court and swimming pool located in a separate part of the grounds were also excellent. The English speaking sister in law of the owners lives in a separate part of this large property and was extremely helpful We would highly recommend this property to all comers.