Villa Augusta occupies a 110-acre estate on the edge of the Iblean plateau in eastern Sicily, overlooking the valley of the San Calogero river towards Mount Etna and the distant Ionian Sea. Founded between 1301 and 1309 by a Norman nobleman of the Order of St. James of the Sword, the estate has roots stretching back to the Byzantine period and was substantially restored following the earthquake of 1693. It remains a Grade I listed building and member of the Association of Italian Historic Houses. This incredible 12-bedroom property accommodates up to 24 guests across the main manor house and a separate garden annexe. Catania Fontanarossa Airport is approximately 30 minutes by car, with both Syracuse and Catania city centres similarly close.
The estate lies at the heart of Sicily's southeastern corner, where baroque architecture, ancient ruins, and protected coastline converge within easy reach. Syracuse—with its Greek theatre hosting classical performances each May and June, the archaeological park, and the island of Ortigia—is 30 minutes to the south. To the north, Catania offers a different character: palaces, monasteries, and Roman remains set against the backdrop of Etna's slopes. The Val di Noto's UNESCO-listed baroque towns of Noto, Modica, and Ragusa are a little further, their honey-coloured stone façades among the most celebrated in Sicily. Closer still, the Vendicari nature reserve draws visitors to its golden beaches and birdwatching lagoons, while the Plemmirio marine area and the wild gorges of the Pantalica reserve offer quieter escapes. Wine tours, boat excursions, guided archaeological walks, and Sicilian cooking classes can be arranged.
A wide door beside the 17th-century chapel leads into the entrance hall, from which a sequence of rooms unfolds through original arched doorways. The first is a spacious drawing room anchored by an imposing antique limestone fireplace, beyond which lies the library—its shelves holding books on the villa's history and photographs of the original property. A further sitting area opens into the dining room, with a professionally equipped kitchen and shaded portico to one side, and glass doors to the Italian garden on the other. The former stables have been converted into a breakfast room and winter garden. Throughout the interiors, antique furniture acquired from local markets combines with traditional Sicilian country pieces and contemporary comforts including satellite television, mini-fridges, safes, and air conditioning in every bedroom.
The grounds unfold across a series of gardens, groves, and open landscapes bordered by traditional dry-stone walls. The Italian garden—a formal parterre combining English flower meadows with Mediterranean plantings and ancient roses—gives way to more informal areas where citrus and olive trees shade secluded benches and peaceful lookout points. A water feature terminates in a pretty fountain, while an ornamental temple and Indian pavilion provide quiet retreats. The saltwater swimming pool (20 x 9 metres) lies within the English garden, surrounded by sun decks and served by a snack bar where light lunches are prepared on request. Nearby, a spa features a marble-lined hammam inspired by Istanbul and a sauna, with space for massage treatments. A summer kitchen with barbecue and outdoor dining area completes the poolside facilities. Beyond the cultivated gardens, wheat fields and olive groves stretch towards the estate's historic stud farm, where horses have been bred and trained for show jumping for over a century. The estate produces its own orange blossom honey, cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, chutneys, and citrus marmalades following old family recipes.
BEDROOMS CONFIGURATION
Main Villa
Ground Floor
King / Twin bedroom with ensuite bathroom with bathtub and shower over tub
King / Twin bedroom with ensuite bathroom with walk-in shower
King / Twin bedroom with ensuite bathroom with bathtub and shower over tub
King / Twin bedroom with ensuite bathroom with walk-in shower
King / Twin bedroom with ensuite bathroom with bathtub and shower over tub
King / Twin bedroom with ensuite bathroom with walk-in shower
King / Twin bedroom with ensuite bathroom with bathtub and shower over tub
Queen / Twin bedroom with ensuite bathroom with walk-in shower
King / Twin bedroom with ensuite bathroom with bathtub and shower over tub
King / Twin bedroom with ensuite bathroom with bathtub and shower over tub
Annex
Ground Floor
King / Twin bedroom with ensuite bathroom with walk-in shower
King / Twin bedroom with ensuite bathroom with bathtub and hand-held shower
CIN IT089001B9NRGEHA8O - CIR 19089001B500924
