LOCATION

Villa Claudia is a splendid property dating back to the 5th Century.  It is owned by one of the most ancient and affirmed aristocratic families in all of Italy.The villa, which represents a remarkable and unique blend of Sicilian history, culture and refined tradition, offers a unique look into the lift of Sicilian aristocracy.  It is truly a unique oasis of peace and tranquility, located only a few minutes away from the pulsing heart of Palermo’s city center. The wonders of Palermo, the beach at Mondello and the Cathedral and Cloister at Monreale are just a short drive away.

HIGHLIGHTS & VILLA LAYOUT

Ground floor:

• One double room
• One Suite Queen-size beds
• The library
• The billiard room
• The Bar room
• The main kitchen
• 2 half baths

First floor ”Piano nobile”:

• One suite with frescoes, one double bed
• One suite with frescoes and majolica floor dated 18th century, two queen-size beds
• The main hall ”salone” with great terrace overlooking the garden
• The dining room
• The TV lounge
• A little kitchen

OUTDOOR FEATURES

• Private botanic garden and park
• Shallow swimming pool
• Sun lounges and outdoor furniture

PROPERTY DESCRIPTION

Villa Claudia, situated in the heart of Palermo, is surely one of the Sicily’s most beautiful properties.  The property belongs to an aristocratic Sicilian family, who has not only kept the property intact with all its old features, but has also equipped it to modern convenience.  The character and the atmosphere of this very special villa make it a totally unique holiday experience. King Ferdinando I, Queen Carolina, and Richard Wagner are some of the more famous guests to have stayed at this residence.  Villa Claudia originates from a sixteenth century tower built by the rich merchant of Bologna, Don Aloisio Becadelli Baron of Montefranco, who also created the first lay out of the garden, which can be brought back as far as to the 5th century.  During the 17th Century, the garden developed its present design in accordance with the needs and desires of those who lived on the property.Today, it is a true testimony of cultural influence, filled with plants and flowers from all over the world, which are carefully set and reside throughout this private beauty. As many other of the aristocratic villas in Palermo, a large portion of Villa Claudia was built during the florid period of the 17th century, in the beautiful bay of Palermo leading towards the area of Caltanisetta.  Villa Claudia, with is private chapel, is surrounded by a lush ten hectare park rearranged to a romantic design and provided with winding paths, a charming pond with swans, a neo-classical gazebo, a wide variety of exotic plant species, and a huge, irregularly shaped swimming pool.Privileged guests will be offered the chance to relive, surrounded by 18th century frescoes and breath taking interior decoration, the same atmosphere that once inspired Wagner, as it was here, while a guest of the owners, that he wrote portions of his famous “Parsifal”.

Ground Floor

The main entrance on the ground and garden floor is into a large billiards room with a wonderful, long couch, billiards table, decorative antiques and bookshelves.  The billiards room leads, on one side, into a bar and lounge area with comfortable sofas, chairs, tables, and a bar.  Continuing through the backside of the bar takes you into the industrial kitchen.  On the other side, the billiards room leads into a furnished study and sitting room, which serves as an annex to two bedrooms, both with en-suite bathrooms.Both boast dressers, a closet, and marble bathrooms. 

The patio entrance from the garden into the ground floor has ample outdoor seating, chandeliers, and a table, which can be used for outside dining. 

First Floor – “Piano Nobile”

The first floor is accessed either up a double outside staircase, or through the billiards room, up 22 steps takes you into a world of frescoes, 17th century Palermitan furniture, 18th century majolica-tile floors, and hand painted glass windows.  The first floor consists of many different rooms; the main drawing room, which leads to the central terrace overlooking the garden, the dining room, a music room with pieces signed by Wagner and Verdi, the TV lounge, and a small kitchen for guests use.  The first floor also boasts two beautiful suites, one with a large double bed and one with two queen-size beds.  Roman and Greek statues abound, as well as large candelabra and many different sitting areas.The piano room boasts a grand piano with several couches, a coffee table, frescoed ceilings and walls, and antiques throughout, including original sheet music signed by Wagner from 1882.Most rooms enjoy views out onto the garden and swimming pool. The piano room serves as the entrance room to the third bedroom (with double bed and en-suite bath).  Again, frescoed walls abound, with sofas and chairs, a powder room, and full bathroom with bath & shower and closets and dressers. The main living room, which is roughly 700 sq. feet is an amazing gold and oak-colored site, which connects the two wings of the house.  It leads to the dining room, kitchen, smaller living & game room with poker table, satellite TV and paintings all around.  An antique room leads to an annex sitting room that serves as the entrance room into a large bedroom and en-suite bathroom. The upstairs rooms are amazingly cured – antiques, chandeliers, china, statues, and frescoed walls and ceilings abound.  A large terrace with blue and white majolica overlooks the park. The patio under the arch is paved with an antique mosaic floor. 

BEDROOM & BATHROOM

Suite 1: This suite is a large and comfortable room with a marble floor and private terrace. It is next to a reading room that has a small collection of antique books belonging to the Family. It has a queen-size bed, AC, Wi-Fi, Sat TV, a minibar, a marble en suite bathroom with two sinks, bathtub and king-size shower. 

Suite 2: A large bright room with antique majolica floors and a private terrace. It has a queen-size bed, AC, Sat TV and a minibar. It is adjoined with a private lounge and an extra single bed can be added. It has a marble en suite bathroom with a bathtub and standard shower. 

Suite 3: This suite is entirely frescoed, there is a ‘secret’ door to the boudoir. This suite is large and bright and paved with antique Sicilian majolica. It has a queen-size bed (and a single bed can be added), Wi-Fi, AC, Sat TV, and a mini-bar. It is adjoined with the Music Hall and overlooks the gardens. The bathroom is en suite with a boudoir, bathtub/shower combo and separate toilet. 

Suite 4: Entirely paved with exquisite 18th century majolica. This Suite is adjoined with a small frescoed private lounge and has Sat TV and a mini-bar. It is the largest and brightest room in the entire Villa and has two French-size beds, AC and Wi-Fi, a marble en suite bathroom with double sinks, a large bathtub/shower and separate toilet. 

Garden

At the end of the 17th century, the garden appeared surrounded by trees interrupted only by fields with grass, depicting its English influence and style; however, it was transformed into a garden following the romantic style and movement, as this took place during the 18th century.Wooden areas, olive trees, vineyards, fruit trees, and vegetable gardens originally surrounded the garden.Originally, where the garden now stands, numerous activities took place, such as hunting, parades, horseback riding – all in honour of the French Bourbon Royal family, who had escaped from Naples to Palermo in 1801.  During this same period, the bay of Monreale where Villa Claudia is located, was a florid area of agriculture – “a perfumed forest” – as said with the words of the writer Guy de Maupassant.  The area was beautifully planted with citrus fruits of every kind – lemons, cedars, oranges, etc.  It was during this period and in this ambience, that the property became the residence of its present owners, the first in Sicily to realize a tropical garden according to a romantic taste.  Today the garden is filled with small alleyways, lakes, canals, cascades, and grottoes – respecting the typical “English style” of the past.  Plenty of exotic and tropical plants were brought to Sicily and set in the garden. Villa Claudia has become one of the most important gardens in Sicily, if not in all Southern Italy.   Today the historical garden of Villa Claudia can be divided into two areas – the irregular garden, which is the part close to the main villa, and the romantic garden, divided into many flower beds and enriched with fountains, small hills, temples, and artificial lakes and wooded areas.  Yucche, bambus, palm trees, and perfumed herbs grow everywhere; ficus-plants, cycas, washingtonie, auracarie, as well as typical Mediterranean trees such as pine and cypress trees abound.  Many of these species are of a great ornamental and decorative effect. Agaves, Bougainvilleas, Hibiscuses, Jacarande and all kinds of flowers make the garden are pleasure for the eye.  The garden also boasts decorative elements, such as the famous temple of Cerere with it’s Doric and Corinthian columns and the monument dedicated to the present owner’s family.  The garden is connected to the villa with an elegant staircase with terraces and with a portico facing the garden. The garden also boasts a large, shallow swimming pool and plenty of outdoor seating on garden and lounge chairs, as well as park benches. 

Swimming Pool

There is a 6 meters long x 5 meters wide private pool.

Access & Parking

Private car parking available for cars or minivans

FEATURES & AMENITIES

• Satellite TV
• Washing machine
• Wi-fi throughout the villa
• Minibar in the Suites
• Air conditioning in the Suites
• Piano

   

SERVICES INCLUDED IN THE RENTAL RATE (STAFF SERVICE)

• Exclusive use of the historic gardens and swimming pool;
• Reception and concierge service;
• Chef and Butler for lunch, aperitif and dinner service;
• Breakfast service;
• Cleaning service;
• Change of linen every three days.

Note: The staff works 6 days a week.

NOT INCLUDED IN THE RENTAL RATE AND ANY ADDITIONAL CHARGES (TO BE PAID IN EUROS DIRECT ON THE PREMISES)

• City tax to be paid in cash at check-in
• Food & Beverage is not included

EXTRA SERVICES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST (ADVANCE NOTICE MAY BE REQUIRED)

Note: The following services can also be arranged, on request, if not already included in the cost of the rental. Additional services such as airport transfers, excursions, cooking classes, guided tours, and the like can be arranged. Please enquire about the vast tour options we can suggest for your villa stay. Costs for additional services can be quoted based on the service requested.

• Massage and beautify treatments
• Personal Chef
• Airport transfer
• Activities and excursions
• Chef / Cooking class

VILLA POLICIES

• Check in time: 04.00 pm
• Check out time: 10.00 am
• Ideal for events or weddings

LOCATION AND DISTANCE

• Palermo airport: 20 minutes
• Selinunte: 1 hour
• Segesta: 30 minutes
• Taormina: 2 hours
• Agrigento and the valley of Temples: 40 minutes
• Cefalù: 1 hour
• Monreale 10 minutes
• Syracuse: 3 hours