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 some autumn visitors...

We loved your beautiful Santa Maria and all its charming features of lemon groves and golden courtyards and delightful interiors. We have used it as a base for exploring the "Five Star" sites of Segesta, Selinunte, Agrigento and particularly Monreale (if you can find it!!) We loved the Marinella beach. We shall be back.
Pascoes, Muirs and Godwins

Santa Maria was both a marvellous and comfortable oasis and an excellent base from which to explore the local sites. We were extremely fortunate with the weather and high points were the splendidly evocative ruins of Selinunte looking out to sea and the nearby beach of Marinella.
Peter and Jo Maydon

A wonderful beginning to the year in Sicily. 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 January 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 2006

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 2006

A constellation of stars. All is magnificent.
David Lumley 2006

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 2006

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 2006

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 2006

We have had a fabulous week in your beautiful house. After many visits to Sicily, which we love, I think we can safely say this is the most relaxing and charming place we have stayed at.
The Calcara family June 2006

We have spent a peaceful week in this splendid villa. Alternately dozing in the bee-haunted and scented garden or visiting nearby historical sites. Many thanks for a memorable holiday.
P.S. Don't bring books. The library is an eclectic joy.
Spencer family October 2006

We have had a lovely week. There is a strong sense here of a history of family and feasting, which is very much what we have been involved with.. fish and tomatoes, also the wondrous bumpy lemon in your garden that is not like other lemons. The marble tile floors are a pleasure to look at and walk on. Also the temples at Selinunte, the fish market in Mazara, table football, basil bread and the Bettola restaurant. (Our clothes are smaller).

Everything about the house is a pleasure - floors, walls, windows - all beautiful wherever the eye is drawn. And what a wonderful library... What a respite and thanks to Nanette, a smooth transition. With envious thanks for your Santa Maria, and of course, your wonderful book about it.
The Miller family June 2007

Our baby is due in November and we're sure his or her relaxed nature will have something to do with a wonderful 5 days relaxing by the pool at Santa Maria. The building and gardens are so beautiful.
Alison and Niclolas Wood June 2007

Is our week in Sicily already at an end? We feel so at home at Santa Maria, it hardly seems possible. Our family of five could not have been more comfortable in your lovely place. And how rare it is to have such an introduction to a home's place both through Caroline's fascinating book (watch out Frances Mayes!) and the able guidance of Silvio and Nanette. We spent many happy afternoons playing in the pool and cooking/barbecueing home meals including fennel sausage, sautéed eggplant and tuna pasta.
The Barbieris, Seattle USA May 2007

We have had a very relaxing 2 weeks holiday in this charming villa. The villa is spectacular and with the private pool and tennis court, it makes an ideal holiday venue. We have both read and enjoyed Daphne Phelps' book “A House In Sicily” but being able to read your book on site and meet some of the people mentioned has been an absolute joy. Congratulations on writing such a lovely book.
Dan and Doreen Halliday June 2008

We first came to Santa Maria 2 years ago and were delighted by the peace and tranquility we found. It is indeed an excellent base from which to explore Western Sicily, assuming of course one could be prized away from the pool area or just sitting and listening to the “local wildlife” or indeed just eating, as Sicily's cuisine is “par excellence”, whether you are a fish lover or an ardent carnivore. Caroline Manzo's book “Casa Nostra” is a delightful read and helps you to dip your little toe into the culture and ethos of Sicily and its Sicilians.
Vincenza Calcara June 2008

“Casa Nostra” is a fascinating glimpse into another world and what a unique experience to read it whilst staying at its subject! I take my hat off to whoever made it so beautiful inside. I especially love the main living area - the tiled floor is perfect. As for the rest - well we have not managed to get past the beautiful pool much - it captivated our boys and we never even got near the tennis court...
The McGuiness family July 2008

We loved the house, particularly the pool, library and citrus garden.
Allibone family August 2008

Lovely, lovely, lovely place. Well done Marcello and Caroline for making this such a comfortable place to spend a holiday.
Buckley family August 2008

This holiday was one of the best we ever had. We felt like people from the middle ages! The castle is amazing and the rooms have some beautiful furniture. We enjoyed everything, playing tennis, swimming in the pool and in the sea and eating in the restaurants in Mazara. The sun did shine all the time, which we from Germany enjoyed particularly
Marius Bihoi and family October 2008

What a fantastic house and a lovely holiday in Sicily. The weather was kind to us and we were sorry the pool had been closed for winter. However we found plenty of good beaches. The best nearby was at Selinunte, which we thoroughly recommend… Thank you for a lovely place to stay and thanks to Silvio and Nanette for their helpfulness and kindness
Tony and Sue Cotton UK October 2008

We came for a winter holiday and we had perfect weather. This is a beautiful old palace in an interesting part of Sicily which we hadn't visited before. The seafood is the best… We had a wonderful time
David Hoare, Virginia USA March 2009

We had a wonderful week exploring Sicily and Santa Maria was a highlight. The beauty of the house and grounds, the palpable sense of history and the hospitality of the Manzo family enriched our experience tremendously. We look forward to visiting again!
The Kirklin family USA April 2009

We had a wonderful week staying at Santa Maria (or the Palace as our 7 year old insisted on calling it.) And 30°C for most of the week which was very unexpected coming from rainy Belgium. Thanks for a great week
The Devlin family, Brussels May 2009 (This family returned 2010)

There are not so many holiday homes that are so beautiful, peaceful and easy to run as Santa Maria and we have enjoyed our week immensely here For a mixed age group from 3 to 70 it was just right, what with the garden, the tennis court, the lovely pool and the games in the library - everyone was happy! Congratulations on the transformation of the ground floor, and on your book Caroline, which I really enjoyed. Thank you. I would really love to come again.
Ann Devlin May 2009

Santa Maria is a fabulous property, extremely comfortable and it had everything we needed. The pool and the tennis courts were a great hit with the children and we really had great fun with them. The meal that we had prepared for us was fantastic and the furnishing and décor throughout the house was amazing. We spent evenings in the orange grove relaxing and drinking Sicilian vino. It was splendid
Colette Brady, Ireland June 2009

Had a lovely time, appreciated the welcome from Nanette. James particularly loved the homemade marmalade made with oranges from the garden. Enjoyed the wonderful “oasis” that is Santa Maria. Mazara grows on you, particularly the old town. Favignana definitely worth the visit, as was Erice.
The Doyle family Wicklow Ireland June 2009

Here just for a week and wish it was six. So much unexplored, so many good experiences to contemplate or imagine for some other day. But the best thing was the fuel strike which confined us to base for two full days, so we could enjoy without guilt the wonderful things that Santa Maria offers by itself. The pool, tennis court, grounds, orange trees, cards, kitchen facilities and cornucopious library. All were enjoyed for preciously memorable family holiday, as guests in a beautiful home.
P.S. Santa Maria marmalade... scrummy!
The Willis family, Yorkshire July 2009

We didn't need a fuel strike to persuade us to have relaxing days around the pool, playing tennis, barbecue etc. Delighted by the swallow and other birds, scented and colourful flowers and ambience of tranquility which surrounds this house.
The Carrington family July 2009

We had the most perfect holiday in years in this most beautiful place. Bathing in the wonderful pool, eating far too much, picking lemons from the trees. In all an ideal way to spend a week on this glorious island.
Claire & Mark Bicknell London July 2009

We got what we had hoped from a two week holiday let: well equipped and comfortable house, pool, tennis, gardens, bbq and peaceful setting. We barely saw a soul while we were here. We had fab weather and spent most of the time by the pool and eating and drinking delicious local produce in the garden.
Doigs and Scanlons September 2009

There has hardly been a cloud in the sky for the whole of our visit. It has been magical - hot days, swims (though not the men!) balmy evenings and wonderful trips to Selinunte, Marsala, Segesta and Erice. The shopping and restaurant trips have been invaluable… Many, many thanks Caroline- we've loved every moment.
Roberts and Boams October 2009

We've all had a fantastic and relaxing holiday enjoying the amazing house, pool and tennis court. The local scenery is beautiful and we all enjoyed going to Selinunte and the local beaches. The weather has been good and we have all relaxed and taken in the culture of Sicily. Thank you Nanette for looking after us- we've had a great time.
Caroline Wagstaff Scotland and England October 2009

We had a fantastic summer week in the middle of autumn. The kids very much enjoyed the swimming pool, the garden and the tennis court…
Meyer family London and Germany October 2009