The tennis court and one of the towers of the villa
Here are some comments from past guests.
“Mrs Manzo, it was one of the greatest pieces of luck ever that I saw your advert in the Speccie (Spectator). We have had the most perfect holiday possible. Accustomed as everybody is to the extremely rose-tinted descriptions of property, it was quite a shock to find that the reality far outshone expectations. We found it quite beautiful inside as well as outside. I thank you for all your trouble and information, very useful. We shall never forget our visit.”
Viscountess Julia Lymington, London
“Caroline, thank you so much. We had a wonderful holiday in your beautiful house. The kitchen was so well-equipped, lots of recipe books, sharp knives, pans etc. We enjoyed your music tapes and CDs and the well-stocked library. I needed at least another month to discover everything!
Your notes were really helpful. Directions worked and your advice good, especially the butcher.
The house is lovely – wonderful proportions and clever bathrooms.
We much appreciated the welcome pack and the supermarket shop. It was good to have time to unwind before having to worry about food shopping. We also enjoyed your olive oil and have bought a bottle to take home.
We had a lovely holiday in your beautiful house and hope to return one day.”
Sophie Stovin, London
“Caroline, We loved staying at Santa Maria and found the house a pleasure, especially the oranges! It was so much nicer than staying in a hotel, and miles more comfortable than most holiday rentals.”
“Caroline, We did have a wonderful time at your house in Sicily. It felt more like being a guest in someone’s home than a holiday rental and we really appreciated the huge library and all the games for the children to play. Your sister-in-law made us feel very welcome and the food she made for us was fantastic. The setting is near perfect with the orange grove, the courtyard and the huge high-ceilinged rooms, which kept out the heat on hot days.”
Cathy Corbett, Caversham.
“Caroline, we found Santa Maria ideal in many ways. Its peace and tranquillity was a huge bonus. It is but a short drive to the enchanting town of Mazara del Vallo and the beaches. It is also very well placed geographically for visiting temples and monuments. We did a good deal of sightseeing, and really, we couldn’t have been better placed.
The house itself is ravishing. First and foremost everything works! It is decorated in a way which lends an air of comfort, of coming home. It is cool and relaxing. The bathrooms are a joy and the kitchen, if you cook, which we do, is out of this world.
We often ate outside on the terrace sitting underneath the orange and lemon trees with lanterns suspended from the trees lighting our supper table. Heaven, after a long day out.”
Tom Aslanian, London
From visitors in
August
A very happy week for a mixed age group from 91 and 90 to two 13 year olds.
Joanna Osborne
We loved your beautiful
Pascoes, Muirs and Godwins
Peter and Jo Maydon
From guests
who came in January
A wonderful beginning to the year in
Such a fabulous house in a beautiful setting, the garden ablaze with oranges and clementines. Fantastic visits to see temples not to mention wine-tastings…
Dinah and John Bentley
From summer guests 2006
The villa is stunning and we have alternated restful days by the beautiful pool with outings to fascinating places: Selinunte and Trapani, Erice etc. and evenings spent wandering around Mazara, where the girls restocked their jewellery boxes at the market.
The Pindell family
Enjoyed a hugely relaxing week here, delighting in the spaciousnes and comforts of this lovely house and the tranquillity of the gardens. We also had a great time in the pool.
The Middleton family
A constellation of stars. All is magnificent.
David Lumely
What a fabulous baglio. I loved all the colours in every room - a true work of art. I am taking home with me lots of ideas of how to redecorate my home. Thank you for a truly memorable holiday
Miranda Carey
From some younger guests
The villa is wonderful, one of the nicest places I've ever stayed at. It feels like the time has flied by and I wish we could stay longer. Particular highlights of my Sicilian holiday were the Greek temples of Selinunte and the fab ceramic shops in Sciacca. Thank you for a wonderful holiday. Loved the pool and tennis!!
Laura Lumley
Thank you very much for the fabulous holiday here! I really enjoyed the stay including the fantastic pool! The week was unforgettable. I admired the house. The marble floors were extremely elegant. The showers were great too, especially the blue tiled one. While I was staying here in Santa Maria, I often thought to myself how similar it was to staying in a palace (not that I've ever stayed in a palace!)
Lalage Lumley
.jpg)
Looking out down the drive on a hot summer afternoon