nterested in cuisine, culture and coastlines? If so, then the conveniently located Villetta Zeus is for you! It is within walking distance of several excellent restaurants, the largest archaeological park in Europe, and the delightful small Mediterranean resort of Marinella di Selinunte. The property offers comfortable interiors featuring beautiful flooring and a terrace looking out onto an enclosed garden that houses a feathered family of chickens and ducks – don’t worry, no roosters! - so if you wish, you can have fresh eggs for breakfast!

The covered terrace

Ancient site of Selinunte

Surrounding area: Marinella di Selinunte is a treasury of antiquity, with its fine examples of Ancient Greek architecture. This past civilisation, along with other cultural conquests, is reflected in its modern buildings too, like the aptly named ‘Athena’, the excellent pizza restaurant nearest to the property, which is built to look like a Greek temple. As a seaside resort Marinella offers an enjoyable Mediterranean holiday experience soaking up the sun on superb sandy beaches and swimming in the clear blue sea. The Belice nature reserve on the east of the town borders a long expanse of beach stretching towards Porto Palo and distant cliffs. The property connects to the main road into Selinunte, and in a few minutes in the other direction you can be on an autostrada and off sightseeing.

One of Marinella's sandy beaches

Colourful boats in the resort centre

Outdoors: There is a parking spot for Villetta Zeus just off the small lane that it is situated on and just before the private garden. You get to the front door of the villetta by walking up the garden path. The poultry are an unique delight of this property and are safely and securely penned in the garden. This pen, which takes up a lot of the garden, has its own separate access from the road, enabling the owner to pop over when necessary to feed and care for the birds and collect their eggs without disturbing guests. The terrace leading off from the main living/ dining area is covered and is a nice area to enjoy al fresco meals and barbecues.

Terrace & barbecue

Garden path to the main entrance

Indoors: Villetta Zeus is all on one level and has glossy marbled floors throughout. The air-conditioned living room has a TV, a sofa, a dining table and a kitchen corner with oven and large fridge-freezer. Sleeping five in total, the large main bedroom has a double bed plus an extra single bed in one corner of the room and the second smaller bedroom has twin beds. The stylish shower room is tiled from floor-to-ceiling.

Kitchen corner & indoor dining area

Main bedroom with single bed too

Sightseeing: Porto Palo. Cusa quarries. Marsala. Sciacca. Caltabellotta. Agrigento. Eraclea Minoa. Mazara del Vallo. Castellammare del Golfo. Zingaro Nature Reserve. Segesta. Erice. Trapani. Egadi Islands. Palermo.

Nearby Sicilian countryside

The Belice reserve & beach

Italian Islands Insight: This comfortable house is ideal for a family who want to benefit from all that Marinella di Selinunte has to offer. You won’t have to use your hire car every day since you can walk to a couple of nearby restaurants and by foot it is just over 5 minutes to the renowned archaeological park and around 10-15 minutes walk to the centre of the resort and the sea. In the main season you can take advantage of the local bus service as there is a stop near Villetta Zeus.

Although completely independent and detached from the neighbouring properties on either side, Villetta Zeus is joined back-to-back with another house, Villetta Hera, and since they share the same owner, larger groups could rent both these properties together subject to availability. The owner is a sweet and friendly lady who lives in the nearby town of Castelvetrano and she does not speak much English. Her niece, Tiziana, speaks excellent English though and is a great source of local information. She is available for tour guide services around the archaeological park and to the other nearby sites of interest.