The long sandy Mondello beach

The fabulous roof terrace

talian owners offer a modern first floor apartment in a small block of four with comfortable, well-equipped interiors and a large roof terrace with fabulous views and an ideal spot for sun-bathing. Casetta Vulcano is well located on a quiet residential road in the elegant and fashionable seaside resort of Mondello and is just a short walk to the beautiful long sandy beach. Mondello is a great place with a lively atmosphere, loads of places to eat out and lots things to do on the beach.

The front balcony and its view

Outdoors: This consists of two balconies on the same first floor level as the main accommodation, and on the roof, reached by a corridor and a staircase, there is a large panoramic roof terrace (130 m²) with gazebo and barbecue. Relaxing in your sunlounger on this solarium, or dining there shaded by the canopy, you can enjoy views of the striking coastal mountains, and sometimes even feel the gentle sea-breeze wafting by.

Striking mountain views

The front balcony off the main living area overlooks the quiet road on which the apartment is situated, and has views of villas opposite surrounded by flourishing trees, especially palms, and a distant glimpse of part of the coastal headland, though not the sea. A smaller balcony leads off the kitchen and houses a washing machine.

Indoors: The air-conditioned, spacious and airy living room with double sofa-bed is furnished in a modern style designed to make you feel at home. There is a dining table over which there are height-adjustable lights for an intimate meal, and there is a large Satellite TV mounted into a cabinet that also displays ornaments and books. A large front picture-window lightens this room and offers essentially the same view as seen from the front balcony.

The double bedroom

Comfy living/dining room

There is a separate well-equipped kitchen, which includes an oven. The master bedroom has a pine and beige colour scheme with tiled floors and ceiling fan. The second slightly smaller white and beige bedroom has twin beds that could be joined to make a double on request. This room has lovely views of mountain greenery as does one of the two bathrooms (one with shower cubicle and one with bathtub).

Surrounding area: A short 10 minute walk, taking a short-cut pathway at the end of the road, takes you to the centre of Valdesi and to the wonderful white sandy beach attended by palms and views of the rocky headland across the bay. Another further 10 minutes walk from the beach is the charming old town of Mondello, a lively centre full of places to eat out, especially in the huge square which is full of cafes, bars and restaurants. Buses are frequent into Palermo (3.5 km away) so you don’t have to drive. Activities in the local area include mountain biking, horse riding, windsurfing, sailing, water sports, tennis, diving, fishing and swimming.

10 mins walk to the beach

Colourful Mondello boats

Casetta Vulcano is a great base from which to visit the capital city of Palermo, and nearby Monreale, home to the world-famous cathedral of "Santa Maria la Nuova". From Mondello, an hour or so away on autostrada or good roads, you can be transported to remarkable places and parts of Sicily, towns with impressive architecture, ancient Greek temples and archaeological sites, wonderful beaches, rugged mountains and agricultural landscapes.

Sightseeing: Palermo; Monreale; Cefalù; Castellammare del Golfo; Scopello; Zingaro Nature Reserve; San Vito Lo Capo; Segesta; Erice; Trapani; the Egadi Islands; Marsala; Selinunte; Porto Palo; Sciacca; Agrigento.

The dining area

The twin bedroom

Italian Islands Insight: Although Casetta Vulcano’s exterior isn’t much to look at, inside, the well-decorated, spacious and comfortable furnishings ensure relaxation in lovely surroundings. Add to this the magnificent mountain views from the large roof terrace and the advantage of being just a short walk away from the renowned sandy beach of Mondello and you have a winning combination. This is one of the few properties in our collection where you could do without a hire car – especially if you are just want a beach holiday in a chic seaside resort. You could get an initial taxi transfer or bus from the airport and then you can walk wherever you need to go. You won’t even miss out on exploring the nearby capital, as there is a regular bus service. However, since Mondello’s location is ideal for easily exploring further afield by car, we do recommend that you hire one in order to get to know the delights of Sicily.