Palermo holiday villa to let, Polizzi Generosa with walking, beach/lake nearby, log fire, balcony/terrace, rural retreat, TV, DVD

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La casa dei noccioli (villa)

Home description

“ La Casa dei Noccioli ” is an ancient farmhouse of the IXth century completely restored, maintaining its old structure and atmosphere but, at the same time supplied with all modern comforts .
The house is dipped into a secular hazel-nut woods and has got also a very large outdoor area with a flower garden to have a lunch or a break there. In summer season fruit trees and a kitchen garden are freely at disposal of the guests.
The house offers a wonderful view of the ancient village and of the surrounding mountains. It is only 2 kms away from the village of Polizzi and half an hour from the well known magnificent beaches of Cefalù. The house is dipped into the natural area of the Madonie park and from it you can easily reach all the other ancient villages of Madonie. The house is only 20 minutes from the highway and represents a good starting point to visit many Sicilian locations of tourist interest: Palermo, Catania, Piazza Armerina, Caltagirone and many others.
The total living area is 140 sqm on two stories and the property briefly comprises of a living room, kitchen, two bedrooms ,WC + shower and a mezzanine. The house is provided with restored ancient rural furniture. A fireplace has been realized in the living-room and this offers a very unique and really comfortable staying. The spacious kitchen has been restored maintaining the “old farm” atmosphere. All bedrooms and the bathroom are in the upper storey and have wooden floors. One bedroom has a double bed; the other has a double and a single bed. An additional double bed is in the mezzanine. Two extra beds for children are available.
The guests will enjoy reserve, relax and comfort, plunging into an absolutely bucolic environment.

Frontside of the house	Landscape from the balcony
First bedroom	Kitchen room

To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/29635

The Sicily region

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Its territory is mostly hilly, apart from some higher mountains along the Northern coast (the Peloritani, Nebrodi and Madonie) and the highest and major active volcano in Europe, Mount Etna (3323 m). Sicily is surrounded by many smaller , extremly fascinating islands, such as Ustica, the Eolie (or Lipari) group, comprising two more active volcanoes, Stromboli and Vulcano, then the Egadi group, Pantelleria and Pelagie ISles.
The geographical position of the island in the centre of the Mediterranean made it a crossword of cultures and peoples, as well as a strategic theater of conflict for political powers. Inhabited since Paleolithic times, as shown by archeological findings in caves along the North-western coast, in the 13th century BC, according to Greek historian Tucidides, Sicily was under three different peoples: the Sicani, originary of Spain, in the centre; the Elimi coming from the Middle East in the west and the Siculi who passed to the island through the Messina strais from Italy, in the east.
By the 11th century BC the Phoenicians had established in western Sicily flourishing trade centres, such as Palermo, Mozia and Solunto, which gradually came under the power of the Phoenician colony of Cartage, while in the east the glorious Greek colonization began with the foundation of such cities as Naxos, Catania, Megara Hyblaea, Syracuse - part of the so called Magna Grecia - that soon were equal to the Greek cities in power, wealth, art and culture. After the defeat in the Punic wars, Cartage abandoned its colonies and soon the Romans conquered the also the whole island, making it a Roman Province.
The collapse of the Roman Empire in the 5th century made Sicily a prey to invading tribes, notably the Vandals and Goths, who were however defeated by the Eastern Roman Empire in 553 AD so that Sicily in the following century was under Byzantine rule, which was oppressive and disrupted the originally flourishing trade economies of the coastal cities. With the the Arab occupation, completed by 902, when the capital was moved from Syracuse to Palermo, Sicily underwent a flourishing period since the Arabs ruled with great wisdom, introduced new cultivations and promoted art and culture.
In the early 11th century the Normans led by Roberto d'Altavilla invaded the island. The Norman rule was tolerant of the different cultures and introduced the feudal system, expanding throughout Southern Italy. The Norman king Frederick II was one of the most enlightened rulers in the whole Italian history, who made Sicily into the political centre of Europe and a modern, model state. At his court art and literature flourished so much so that the Sicilian period is acknowledged as the birth of Italian literature.
In the following centuries Sicily was occupied by the Anjou and then after long wars by the Aragonese with Alphonse who in 1442 united under one crown the whole Southern Italy . On the death of this king in 1458, Sicily became a colony of Spain, and a period of great decadence and riots began, which ended only in 1713 with the War of Spanish Succession, when it was given to the Savoy Duke Vittorio Amedeo II, who during his 16 years of power greatly improved the administration, trade and culture. Then in 1734 Sicily came back under the Spaniards with Charles Bourbon. A strong resentment began in the following century against the rulers, and Sicily was very active in the Italian Risorgimento, until in 1860 was finally united to the Kingdom of Italy thanks to Garibaldi's expedition.
Unfortunately the Piemontese rulers tried to impose their fiscal systems in a land which had a great administrative tradition, with a twofold negative consequence: rebellion, which took the form of brigandage, whose ruthless repression only engendered more hostility to the State, and later organized crime. The never resolved problems of Sicily then gave rise in the early 20th century to a massive exodus towards the American and later Australian continents.
The richness of sicilian history throughout the centuries has left many remarkable traces in the whole island , where archeological sites and artistical riches abound. Though Sicily can nowadays be considered a modern region, it still maintans old traditions , especially in the inner part of the island and in smaller villages, where people still have a slow and relaxed style of life

Palermo / Polizzi Generosa area

Polizzi Generosa is a town at 917 meters (3,008 feet), on the Madonie Mountains .The area around Polizzi is well-known for growing hazelnuts and for other agricultural specialities, such as French beans, mushrooms, asparagus and tiny strawberries. On the Madonie Mountains around Polizzi, you can admire a real botanical rarity, the white fir (abies nebrodensis) which disappeared from all other parts of Italy during the ice age. The area is a botanical paradise which has survived from ages past. On the slopes and plains of these mountains, you will find many plants that do not grow elsewhere, and , in spring, you can admire the finest orchids in all the Mediterannean
Like other towns in the Madonie slopes, Polizzi Generosa enjoys a beautifully panoramic position, overlooking the southern and northern sides of the Imera valley.
The town was probably founded in late Middle Ages, growing around the castle built by the Norman Count of Sicily Roger I in 1076. Frederick II, so impressed by the town’s warm welcoming him on a visit, bestowed upon it the title of Generosa. The piazza “Castello” is marked by ruins of the castle on its highest point (910m). There also stands Palazzo Notarbartolo (16th century) housing the Museo Ambientalistico Madonita, that reconstructs the range of Madonie’s natural habitats, acquatic flora and fauna, forests, and mountainous fauna including the vultures (notably the griffon vulture which disappeared in the 1920s) and the Golden Eagle.
Down Via Roma are Palazzo Gagliardo, dating from between the 16th and 17th century, and, opposite, the Chiesa Madre, its present look dating from the 19th century, but retaining earlier features from the 1300s-1400s such as the portico and the pointed arch. Inside are numerous works of art including a Flemish Trypthich (presbitery) and a lovely Madonna del Rosario by Giuseppe Salerno – one of the two Zoppi di Gangi .
Further along Via Roma is Piazza Umberto I. From here, begins Via Garibaldi, leading to the Chiesa di San Girolamo, with a fine Baroque doorway. At the end of the street is Piazza XXVII Maggio ( usually called “Il piano”) providing a splendid view over the highest peaks of the Madonie, the northern valley of the Himera river, the Rocca di Caltavuturo, the Calogero Mount and the Cammarata Mount to the left; the Quaccella, Mufara and Pizzo Carbonara to the far right; opposite stands the Massiccio dei Cervi with a lower section known as the Padella where, according to hearsay, a secret entrance leads into a cave full of treasure, the whereabouts of which may only be revealed during Easter Mass. Below lies the Noccioleti Valley.
You can enjoy pleasant trips and excursions in the natural surroundings, along the numerous paths in the hills and mountains, with the help of the maps available at the local tourist office

Folklore and tradition
Feast of the patron San Gandolfo
3rd Sunday of September, solemn procession during which the devotees carry the relics of the saint preserved in a precious 16th century silver case.

Feast of the Holy Cross
May 1-4, it takes place in the Church of the Carmine and it starts with an octave of prayers. On May 1 the “scinnuta du Signuri” (the descent of our Lord) takes place. The statue by Francesco Gallusca is moved from where it usually stands on the altar of the Chapel to the square in front of the Church for the blessing of the fields and then placed on the main altar. In the afternoon breads, displayed in the shape of a cross, are blessed and then offered to the people. On the evening of May 2 the “small” Cross is carried in procession. At dawn of May 3 the typical “arricugghiuta da cira” (the collecting of the candles) takes place. Some devotees and brothers, divided in groups and accompanied by music bands, go along the town to collect the candles decorated with ribbons and flowers that believers, who made a vow, offer to the Cross. And mixing the sacred and the profane, they are welcome by relative and friends and they are given sweets and wine. In the afternoon the solemn procession of the “big” Cross by Gallusca takes place. The Cross is carried by the “nudi”, devotees dressed in white, and accompanied also by the local congregations, the authorities and by the entire population. The evenings during the feast are cheered by fire works and the music bands.

Festival of hazelnuts
Last Sunday of August, a traditional event dedicated to hazelnuts, a typical product of Polizzi. There are cart parades and folk groups, both local and international, that will perform in Piazza Trinità, the real centre of the festival. On this square are reconstructed scenes of country life, like the “weighing”, the “haystack”, the “farm”, and of town activities, like the old barber shop, the shoemaker, the blacksmith. The festival includes also cultural meetings, such as picture exhibitions, lectures, guided excursions and gastronomic events, with tasting of local dishes and free offering of hazelnuts.

Festival of the snow
3rd Sunday of July. It is a guided excursion to the natural snowfield of the Fossa della Principessa where, also in full summer, a considerable amount of snow remains. Here participants may taste the “granite”, made in different flavours, according to the old tradition (when refrigerators didn’t exist) with the snow collected in that moment. It is a very instructive and enjoyable experience.

How to get there

From Palermo “Falcone Borsellino” airport take High-Way A-19 (Palermo-Catania), in the direction of Catania- From Catania “Fontanarossa” airport take the same highway in the direction of Palermo. Get off at Scillato to take the scenic State Road, SS 643 (17 km), or continue on A-19, and get off at Tre Monzelli. Then, take SS 120 and 643 (14 km) to reach Polizzi Generosa. A bus service from both Palermo and Catania railway station connects with Polizzi

Activities near Palermo

Facilities

Further details

A host will be there on your arrival to show you around the house and answer any questions.
On request it is possible to arrange typical local food dinners or lunches at the price of €20 per person.

Conditions

For the use of the heating in wintertime (from 1st October to 30th April) there’s an extra charge of € 200 per week.

Rental rates

Prices for group size 7
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
1 November - 20 December	1 Nov 08	20 Dec 08	800£ 727	0-	0-	1 Week
20 December - 3 January	20 Dec 08	4 Jan 09	900£ 818	0-	0-	1 Week
4 January - 31 May	4 Jan 09	1 Jun 09	800£ 727	0-	0-	1 Week
1 May - 31 October	1 Jun 09	1 Nov 09	1050£ 955	0-	0-	1 Week

Prices for group size 4
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
1 November - 19 December	1 Nov 08	20 Dec 08	750£ 682	0-	0-	1 Week
20 December - 3 January	20 Dec 08	4 Jan 09	850£ 773	0-	0-	1 Week
4 January - 13 May	4 Jan 09	1 Jun 09	750£ 682	0-	0-	1 Week
1 May - 31 October	1 Jun 09	1 Nov 09	1000£ 909	0-	0-	1 Week

Prices for group size 2
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
1 November - 19 December	1 Nov 08	20 Dec 08	700£ 636	0-	0-	1 Week
20 December - 3 January	20 Dec 08	4 Jan 09	800£ 727	0-	0-	1 Week
4 January - 31 May	4 Jan 09	1 Jun 09	650£ 591	0-	0-	1 Week
1 May - 31 October	1 Jun 09	1 Nov 09	900£ 818	0-	0-	1 Week

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.

Discount (10%) available if you book more than two months in advance.

Discounts (50%) available if you decide to stay a second week.

There is an extra charge of € 200 per week for heating, which is usually necessary from October 26 to April 15.

Availability

See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here

Send Enquiry

To contact this advertiser please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/29635

Contact details for the advertiser of home 29635
Name:	Giancarlo Cusumano
Mobile:	+39 339 7528380
Be aware of time-zones Please mention Holiday Lettings when contacting this advertiser
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Contact Notes: E-mail, telephone in the evening.
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Advertiser joined: Jun 2007