Description Geraniums & Gold: Palermo

Mature gardens surround this Sicilian villa, with geraniums and old stone creating the kind of setting that slows you down on arrival. A colonnaded terrace makes long, unhurried afternoons easy, while the art-filled living room – flooded with natural light – gives the interior real warmth. Each bedroom has its own bathroom, and private parking means arriving and leaving is straightforward. Mondello Beach, with its turquoise waters and sandy bay, is a nine-minute walk away, and Palermo Cathedral's extraordinary Arab-Norman architecture is a thirty-one-minute drive for days when the city calls.

Home truths:
* Free parking is available on the premises – handy given that a car makes exploring the wider Palermo region much easier.
* The swimming pool isn't fenced.
* This home is arranged over multiple levels – it may not suit guests with reduced mobility.