THE FACTS ABOUT VILLA SALAPARUTA

Italy Sicily

One sharp turn off a noisy road below Taormina leads to a peaceful, 58-hectare citrus estate owned by a charming Sicilian aristocrat. The villa is moderately sized but richly decorated with French and Italian wallpapers and Sicilian tiles, marble fireplaces and antiques, including an important china collection. There is a floodlit dining area in the pretty, lawned Mediterranean gardens, plus a studio room with its own shower and entrance. The main house has two small, atmospheric and cool drawing rooms, a formal dining room, four bedrooms (two are singles) and a study. There are views of Mount Etna from the pool. SLEEPS Nine BEST FOR A family with well-behaved children WHY Serene gardens; handy for beaches, Mount Etna and Taormina WHY NOT All those precious objets to worry about COST £6,800 per week CONTACT Global Artichoke (05600 463387; www.globalaritchoke.com)