Villas in Sicily >>
January: in the deep midwinter the average temperatures on the coast should still be hovering around the 13°C mark, though on sunny days it can be warm enough in the sun to walk around in a tee-shirt. It is cooler at night and much cooler in the higher mountains. Skiers will be hoping for some serious snowfalls on the slopes at Piano Battaglia and on Mount Etna. The citrus harvests are continuing apace.
Average daytime temperature: 13°C
Average number of sunshine hours per day: 4
Recommended villa: why not try Baia dei Turchi, complete with Jacuzzi, sauna, Hammam, heated pool, open fire, central heating?
February: the days are starting to get warmer, although conditions in the mountains are still very wintery. Skiing, snowshoeing and horse trekking on the snow are unforgettable experiences. The almond trees are in blossom and are at their finest in Agrigento at the Valley of the Temples.
Average daytime temperature: 13°C
Average number of sunshine hours per day: 5
Recommended villas: go skiing on Mount Etna, at 3,323m, Europe's highest active volcano! Here are our villas on and near Mount Etna.
March: on the coast the winter is truly over, with wild flowers starting in abundance, the days lengthening and the average temperatures making warm clothes decidedly uncomfortable. Inland the farmers start preparing the land, tending the vines and planting the grain.
Average daytime temperature: 15°C
Average number of sunshine hours per day: 6
Recommended villa: this being a great month to visit Sicily's many historic towns and sites, head for the Val di Noto and stay for one of our villas in the south-east.
April: the wild flowers begin to truly explode all over Sicily and on the coast the first bathers start taking to the beaches (though the water is still bracing). The interior is now warming up fast and the array of colours is spectacular. It’s well worth making a trip just to experience the Easter processions, bringing together folklore and tradition in an incredibly mystic way.
Average daytime temperature: 18°C
Average number of sunshine hours per day: 7
Recommended villas: Easter is great all over the island, but the processions in Trapani are incredible! So why not stay at one of our villas in the west?
May: the interior is spectacular, with the mountain slopes exploding in colour and the temperatures ideal for walking. The temperatures on the coast and in the islands will now be extremely comfortable. If you’re lucky, you might get to witness the “mattanza” or tuna harvest in the fishing towns all over the western part Sicily.
Average daytime temperature: 22°C
Average number of sunshine hours per day: 9
Recommended villa: head for the hills and stay in one of our villas in the Madonie Mountains.
June: the first smells of summer waft through the island as the strong colours on the coast and the lower plains succumb to the bleaching rays of the sun. This is probably the perfect time for walking in the higher Madonie and Nebrodi mountains. The temperatures everywhere are generally agreeable, though the Scirocco wind can send them soaring for a few days. The sea is warm but the beaches are still deserted, except at weekends when the first Sicilians start to brave the waters. The fruit trees are laden with cherries, plums and the local speciality "gelsi".
Average daytime temperature: 25°C
Average number of sunshine hours per day: 10
Recommended villas: the beaches on the Ionian Riviera, the eye-wateringly beautiful stretch of coastline between Taormina and Catania, are still relatively quiet so one of our villas near Taormina could be the perfect choice!
July: the sea becomes the focus for most Sicilians (and visitors) and the major resorts testify to the glorious temperatures and sea conditions. Do not shy from the interior though, where the walking is wonderful and the upper slopes cool and still luxuriantly green. Peaches and water melon are in season.
Average daytime temperature: 29°C
Average number of sunshine hours per day: 11
Recommended villas: beach life is everything in July so one of our villas on the sea!
August: the sometimes stifling heat of the cities and the general holiday feel pushes almost everyone to the coast, which are almost invariably crowded. The beautiful areas of the interior (and a few “undiscovered” parts of the coast) are however relatively unfrequented. Towards the end of the month begins the spectacle of the salt harvest in the salt pans around Trapani and the grape harvest or “vendemmia” all over the islands. The fig trees are laden with their welcoming fruit.
Average daytime temperature: 29°C
Average number of sunshine hours per day: 10
Recommended villas: most families with children take their holidays in August, so here is our list of fabulous family-friendly villas!
September: the vendemmia continues in earnest and all hands move to the fields. The summer is often interrupted by coastal storms, which can be accompanied by high winds. Temperatures remain very comfortable everywhere, and the coast and islands retain that summer feeling, but without the crowds. The olive harvest is also well under way. Hazelnuts are plentiful and many small villages celebrate their arrival with traditional "feste".
Average daytime temperature: 26°C
Average number of sunshine hours per day: 8
Recommended villas: September is possibly the very best time to visit the beautiful archipelago of the Aeolian Islands with their transparent waters, relaxing way of life and charm. So take a look at our villas on the Aeolian Islands for the perfect place to stay!
October: whiles the wine is being made, the abandoned vines turn to reds and oranges giving the vast areas of vineyards a spectacular range of hues and making this one of the most beautiful periods for country walking. Seasonal rainfalls help develop an astonishing variety of mushrooms. The prickly pears are at their best.
Average daytime temperature: 22°C
Average number of sunshine hours per day: 7
Recommended villas: good temperatures continue and the sea is still warm, so why not have a beach pretty much to yourself near one of our villas in south-west Sicily?
November: autumn is well and truly here, though the temperatures can stay in the mid to high twenties during the day to produce a surprisingly balmy Sicilian “Indian Summer”. This is generally the month with the highest rainfall, though the big storms that often sweep the Italian peninsula generally pass safely to the north of Sicily. The orange and mandarin season is starting.
Average daytime temperature: 18°C
Average number of sunshine hours per day: 5
Recommended villas: how about treating yourself and your guests to one of our two Think Exquisite villas with heated pools, full service (including cook, waiters, maids, etc.): Don Arcangelo all'Olmo or Palazzo Hedoné anyone?
December: one can still have extremely agreeable temperatures during the days, though the sunlight hours are clearly at their lowest of the year. Still, Christmas is an important festival here and many small towns light up the night with their traditional processions.
Average daytime temperature: 14°C
Average number of sunshine hours per day: 4
Recommended villas: a cosy villa for Christmas or the New Year, of course!
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