Guestbook

Our stay at Villa Modica was a memorable one! Thanks to the feeling of being at a home away from home. Giorgio along with his lovely wife were amazing! No words can describe their hospitality towards us and our 2 children. The Villa itself was spectacular, immense, spotless and had everything imaginable that was needed. Even a charger for my son's nintendo dsi, thanks a million for that one Giorgio, you were a lifesaver! ;)
Nevertheless, although it was a short stay, it will not be our last visit. Along with the great memories we hold in our hearts while staying there, we have formed a wonderful friendship with Giorgio that hopefully will last a lifetime. Not to mention the friendship my daughter and his son started as well!
Thank you once again our dear friends, and until the next time!!!!

We stayed in Villa Modica in early June this year. It was an excellent house, probably the best we have ever stayed in. We were 3 adults and 2 children (4 years and the other 20months). The house is huge with 4 large bedrooms, 2 good bathrooms, very good kitchen -it had everything we needed. The pool is fantastic and all entrances are gated which was excellent for us.There is a lovely covered terrace which was great for shelter on hot days. Giorgio, who owns the villa, was extremely helpful. His wife had prepared a lovely meal for us when we arrived and they had stocked the fridge and presses - really great as we arrived on a Sunday when the shops were closed. Giorgio was never intrusive but was on hand whenever we needed to check anything. The area is lovely with nice towns to visit and there is a nice beach about 15-20 mins drive away. We would definately recommend this as a place to stay.

I had to come back to the Villa! It had been two years and we needed a rest. The Villa is a piece of Eden and Georgio cannot be a better host. Between days resting by the pool or cooking fresh Italian vegetables, cheeses and pasta in the large kitchen, we take day trips to wonderful places. Today we went to DonnaFugatta Castle where scenes of the Leopard were filmed, preceded by a trip to the beach. A must see. We highly recommend the Villa Modica.

Stayed here for special holiday as a group of 4 adults. We were very impressed with the care and consideration given by Giorgio, nothing seems to be too much trouble for him. House and pool were exactly as promised and we very much enjoyed both. We spent an evening out at a village restaurant with giorgio, his wife, antonella,and their lovely little son which was a highlight of our trip.Would reccommend this place highly.

June 2010 - we have just returned from a wonderful week at Villa Modica. The villa is really lovely, exactly as described and as pictured on the website - clean, spacious, very well equipped and well presented with lovely gardens and, of course, a fantastic pool with those views over Modica itself. Rest assured, you will not be disappointed!

Giorgio (who speaks fluent English) could not have been more helpful (very friendly, but never intrusive) and he made us feel very welcome. There was a meal and wine waiting for us on our arrival and the provisions which were left for us were very generous. He gave recommendations for local restaurants and we enjoyed several meals out (at very reasonable prices - we had the impression that Sicily would be expensive, but it is not). The rest of the time we made good use of the barbecue and ate alfresco in the gardens, enjoying the views of Modica.

The villa is a very short drive from Modica - while it is not not really walkable on a regular basis, two of our group did make the interesting round trip on foot of about 6 miles going from the villa, across to the old town, then meandering down through the narrow medieval streets to the main town and then back up the road to the villa.

Trips out - there are many lovely towns to see - we visited Noto, Syracuse/Ortygia and of course Modica itself (with its numerous chocolate shops...) during our week. Marina di Modica has a very nice sandy beach and is only a short drive away. We also ventured further afield to the Valley of Temples at Agrigento with its stunning Greek Temples, just over 2 hours away. Caltagirone with its colourful tiled staircase is excellent for ceramic gifts and mementoes to take home.

A number of reviewers have mentioned the driving. It is definitely a different style of driving, but if you keep your wits about you (and don't hire anything too big if you can avoid it!) you will be fine.

All in all, we can thoroughly recommend Villa Modica and the area for a relaxing and memorable holiday. Thanks to Giorgio for everything - we had a fantastic time. The Worralls and the Abdel Salams, Plymouth,UK

Date of Stay: July 2009
We enjoyed a wonderful 2 weeks in Villa Modica in July. It was perfect for our family group of 3 grandparents, 2 adult children and 3 young grandchildren. Giorgio (who speaks fluent English) is a great host who provides an outstanding service, ensuring that his guests are very well looked after and everything is perfectly in order.
The description of the property, facilities and location were totally accurate. Giorgio and his helpers clean and maintain the villa and grounds to a very high standard, with Giorgio visiting at least every other day to clean the pool and attend to any necessary maintenance. He takes pride in providing a quality service which far exceeded our expectations, even to the extent of taking our hire car to repair a puncture late on the Saturday evening we arrived!!
The instructions to get to Modica from Catania were very clear and Giorgio meets new arrivals at an easy to find location near the town centre. En route to the villa he pointed out local facilities such as take-away pizzeria, baker, butcher, fishmonger and the nearest (small but adequate) supermarket.
The delicious prepared meal and most welcome bottle of wine on arrival provided the ideal start to our holiday. The cleaning team ensured our holiday villa was spotless and presented perfectly with a good supply of basic provisions.
Throughout our stay Giorgio was attentive, obliging and helpfull but never intrusive.
Security at the villa is excellent with a double gated entrance opened with 2 seperate electronic keys. Giorgio repsonded very promptly on the day there was a problem with the outer gate.
We loved the beautiful pool and garden, safe for young children, with ample shaded areas and a large gazebo, ideal for al fresco lunches.
The villa's location is rural and peacefull but not secluded. The centre of Modica is just over 5 minutes drive away, but too hazardous to walk safely. Sicilan drivers have their own rules, they do not expect to encounter walkers except in town centres!!
Modica is a friendly and busy town by day, a hive of bustling activity from mid evening onwards. There were few foreign (non Italian) tourists but most restaurants, shops and bars understood English. Many traders were disappointed that we tried to practice our rusty Italian!! Best (very good) value can be found in the pizzerias and trattorias, where the locals eat. Ice creams are a must!!
The coast was a 45 minute drive, the better beaches being to the east of Marina di Modica.

Our stay at Villa Modica lived up to the pictures on the website, it was immaculate and user friendly for all of us that visited.All the little extras provided by the owner Giorgio made it extra special such as the meal on our first evening. Giorgio went out of his way to ensure we wee comfortable and relaxed. His attitude was professional but also relaxed in a good way. He let us stay in his villa on the day of departure for as long as needed he even provided a very nice bottle of vino to help us relax. The area was amazing lots to see and do and we found all of the food we ate of a good standard and cheaper than we had anticipated which was a bonus.We would highly reccommend this villa and indeed the area for culture, beaches, food and general relaxation.

Year: 2009

Villa Modica is, in all ways, exceptional. The setting overlooks the surrounding hills. You feel that you are in the country and yet you are only a couple of minutes by car to the lovely city center of Modica. The house is arranged like a real home and the owner makes you feel absolutely at home. He has thought of just about everything you could possibly need and makes it clear that he is there to help you find whatever else you might want. When we asked about local farm products he arranged an outing for us to a farm where we joined in making ricotta cheese and were served a farm fresh breakfast. The grounds of the villa are impeccable - as is the villa itself -- flowers, fruit trees, jasmine, olive and carob trees abound and you can help yourself to fresh herbs. The setting is absolutely private. A large glassed in veranda looks out to the hills. The pool and its gazebo are set among flowering shrubs and rose bushes. Modica is in easy reach of whatever cultural and geographic attractions you choose to see- We loved hiking Cava Grand del Casibile and visitng the beautiful, sandy, gentle beach at Sampieri. We shopped for ceramics in Caltagirone. Some of the guests went to Siracusa, others to Piazza Armerina...and there is much more available -- Noto, Scicli, a ferry to Malta. There are a number of good restaurants in town, from traditional (A Putia Ro Vinu) to very high end fusion (Fattoria alla Torre) and in between (Osteria di San Benedetto). We came away relaxed, enriched and well taken care of.

Year: 2009

We first heard about Villa Modica from the website. We had wanted to return to Sicily for many years and the location of Modica was a good one for access to the magnificent Argrigento; famous for its Greco Roman remains. We were able to book a direct flight to Catania, where we were met by the charming Giorgio, owner of Villa Modica. He led us through the winding roads to the Villa, which is beautifully set on a hill with a view of the town of Modica. The garden is spectacular; pomegranates, lemons and pears are in abundance. (We were there in October.) The swimming pool is located in this lush setting. Inside the house, there are enough beds to accommodate eight people and all the details of comfortable living are well addressed. The kitchen is well supplied with everything needed for those who wish to eat in. Giorgio had provided us with a delicious hot meal on the first night, and we soon discovered a local grocery store which sold cheeses, cold meats and vegetables. There are a number of good restaurants in Modica itself, as well as specialty shops ... During our stay, Giorgio was incredibly kind and willing to help with any needs we had. We feel we have found a friend in him. We recommend Villa Modica to anyone interested in Sicilian history while staying at a beautiful place. Susan and Derek Hayes

Year: 2008

hellojust to say we had a lovely holiday on Villa Modica. I have stayed in many villas around Europe and Villa Modica is one of the best. It has everything you would require for a house - well equipped kitchen, a full range of electrical appliances, lots of towels and extra bedding, a full range of garden equipment etc. Everything worked well and I had the sense that even if something went wrong it would be dealt with efficiently. The other good touch is that there were lots of basic food stuffs in the kitchen, like salt and herbs and oil. We restocked what we used so the next visitors would have the same benefit of not having to go and buy completely new supplies. The gardens were lovely and well maintained and the view from the house fabulous. It was also lovely and peaceful. What made it a good rental was it felt like it was a proper home rather than a house which was furnished for rental. It even had a table football game in the garden which went down well! On the evening of our arrival we were given a lovely meal by Angelo and Rosa, who looked after the house for Rosa's brother. They were a lovely couple, very helpful in terms of giving advice on shops, places to visit and restaurants to eat in. Their warm welcome and their friendliness added to the overall enjoyment of the holiday. The town of Modica was lovely but the traffic a bit maddening. We shall visit the house again. It was a wonderful place to relax. Thank you for your help in booking the car and flights as well. We may go to Italy later in the year and I'll check your site for villas. Noelle Noelle Britton

Year: 2008

In one word: perfect !We (5 adults and 2 childeren of 5 and 2 from The Netherlands) stayed in Villa Modica from 17 - 24 November 2007. The villa is really wonderfull if you look at price / quality.We really like the Sicilian way of living. We thank Georgio for everything he has done during this week to make our stay comfortable.Normally we do not go to the same place but this might be worth considering......Thanks !Family Dekker - The Netherlands

Year: 2007

Overall:We recommend it in warm weather. Harder to enjoy all the home has to offer in the winter months, but still quite relaxing and enjoyable.Enjoyed Most:The property was very well equipped and livable. It was a bit too chilly to enjoy the patio and enclosed porch, but in warm weather the outdoor areas would be a huge asset. The owner's sister and her husband made the stay most enjoyable as they really went the extra mile to help us out including helping us get bikes to use and taking us to the local olive oil fattoria.Unpleasant Surprises:Nothing really, except we wish it were a bit closer to the nearest town.Surrounding Area:Lots to do around the area. Modica is lovely and Ragusa and other small towns are worth visiting. We biked around the countryside and found it very appealing. The beach area is a short drive or a longer bike ride.Nearby Events or Locales:Modica is the nearest town but it really is not within walking distance. This is unfortunate if, like us, you have older kids who would like some independence. Also, parking in Modica is quite difficult.Tips or Restaurants:Fattoria delle Torri is a wonderful restaurant, more upscale. We also found several charming local restaurants through the tourism office. Explore the back roads on bike, if possible.Directions:We took the wrong exit, our fault, and the owner's sister met us and directed us into the property. Very nice.Check In Out:A nice surprise that there was some basic food purchased for us, including a bottle of wine and a cake for the New Year.January, 2006

Year: 2006

Overall:Had a great time..comfortable home...little pricey on the utilities for a week - no clothes dryer, but I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. Enjoyed Most:Location just outside Modica, beautiful, quiet, safe, and yet just a few minutes to Modica. The rooms were spacious, comfortable for 7 adults and a baby. Beautiful views from all of the windows. Beautiful landscaping.Unpleasant Surprises:Steep slanted driveway made it difficult to drive the cars down to the entrance of the house, especially if it was raining, it was slippery.Surrounding Area:Modica was within a few minutes by car. Lots of great shops and friendly people. Easy access to grocery stores. Went to Siracusa....EXCELLENT choice for the day..very much worth seeing. Saw the Greek amphitheater ruins, the harbor and the city itself is very beautiful. Nearby Events or Locales:Modica. I would not recommend walking to the town as streets are narrow and winding and the drivers are very aggressive and NUTS. But surprisingly, we never saw an accident or anyone run over by drivers who obviously come out of their shell when they're behind the wheel of their car. Tips or Restaurants:Reserve the cook, Marcella, for EVERY night. She is fantastic and reasonable. I wish I could have brought her home with me.December, 2005

Year: 2005

Enjoyed Most:The garden was very attractive and beautifully maintained - owner's family who look after the villa were extremely helpful and friendly - kitchen well stocked and house unusually well equipped - spacious and clean - plenty of French doors and balconies - quiet and scenic location not far from town. N.B. Your description refers to access road 50 m. from property, but with virtually no traffic noise. We were expecting a nearby motorway, but there is nothing of the kind - just the local road which the villa is situated on. Your description raises needless concerns.Unpleasant Surprises:Living room a bit dim, lights weak and no windows - no land line and intermittent cell service - have to drive to town for everything, nothing in walking distance.Surrounding Area:Modica has interesting architecture, typically Sicilian, not a tourist trap - good restaurants available ranging from pizza to one really outstanding restaurant, Fattoria delle Torri - don't be put off by the entrance - other interesting sites - Ragusa, Noto, Siracusa, etc. within driving distance.Nearby Events or Locales:Modica. Not walking distance, not far to drive but the roads are skinny and the driving dreadful, as elsewhere in Sicily. Plenty of parking space at the villa but elsewhere parking not easy - rent a SMALL car.Tips or Restaurants:Bring a wash cloth. Restaurant, Fattoria delle Torri in Modica is exceptional.October, 2005

Year: 2005

Overall: Go! It's really wonderful. The caretakers made us fantastically welcome. Enjoyed Most: The villa setting is stunning and location perfect -- about five minutes from a charming un-touristy town yet with the feeling that no one is around you. It's equipped with every modern convenience -- including dishwasher and microwave which make housework particularly easy. Unpleasant Surprises: Pretty much nothing, but if forced, I would offer up a few small things - 1. Didn't like the 10:00 a.m. departure time. 2. The second master bedroom didn't have an air-conditioner, although the other three bedrooms did. 3. We really could have used some instructions on how to work the TV and VCR. 4. An umbrella by the pool for shade would have been nice, though there was a cupola that you could bring the lounge chairs to. Surrounding Area: Loved the town of Modica itself. The chocolate is unusual - made without milk and a must try, as are the morning granitas with creme and brioche... The Marina di Ragusa, has excellent seafood restaurants and great people watching along the boardwalk. There's really nothing the house needs. Prepare to get lost when driving -- it's not a big deal -- but pretty much happens on every excursion! August, 2005

Year: 2005

We had a wonderful time, enjoyed the villa, Modica and all the people who were so friendly. We especially want to thank Rosa, Angelo, for all the help and kindness they showed us. Rosa is a gem; so helpful and treated us like family. It was great for me to be among the Sicilian people and I know my friends were overwelmed by the friendliness.

Year: 2005

hellojust to say we had a lovely holiday on Villa Modica. I have stayed in many villas around Europe and Villa Modica is one of the best. It has everything you would require for a house - well equipped kitchen, a full range of electrical appliances, lots of towels and extra bedding, a full range of garden equipment etc. Everything worked well and I had the sense that even if something went wrong it would be dealt with efficiently. The other good touch is that there were lots of basic food stuffs in the kitchen, like salt and herbs and oil. We restocked what we used so the next visitors would have the same benefit of not having to go and buy completely new supplies. The gardens were lovely and well maintained and the view from the house fabulous. It was also lovely and peaceful. What made it a good rental was it felt like it was a proper home rather than a house which was furnished for rental. It even had a table football game in the garden which went down well! On the evening of our arrival we were given a lovely meal by Angelo and Rosa, who looked after the house for Rosa

Year: 2005