Villa holidays in Cefalu, Sicily, Italy

The benefit of your stay in Sant’Ambrogio and the surrounding area is through the rental of existing accommodation that is not been lived in due to emigration of people to more prosperous areas.

By staying in the accommodation you sustain the environment by creating employment to enable people to remain in the village and continue with their traditional way of life, which is far more environmental and sustainable than modern life which is beginning to encroach on the village. During your stay you will experience traditional village life and in some of the accommodation the owners will be on hand to host you in the true Sicilian style.

Environment
My aim is to help the environment as much as I am able to, taking into account the very few ecological resources that are available in the region. In the accommodation there are re-cycling bins, low-voltage light bulbs, eco products for cleaning, washing, hand liquid and toilet paper. The restored or newer homes have half flush toilets, to help save water. A copy of the certificate verifying that the tap water is drinkable is available in the accommodation to discourage buying bottled water. Linen and towels changes limited to once weekly, to encourage conservation of water.

Guests are encouraged to use the local buses that come into the village 4 times a day and trains for trips to main cities or airports, timetables are provided. I provide information on fauna/flora that is found the Park of the Madonie Mountains where the properties are located.

I organise frequent meetings with the locals to clean the streets of the village and surrounding area. In the office we print on recycling paper, using re-cycling printing cartridges, where possible we send information to guests via email and direct them to the website, to obtain further information.

Community
Guests are provided with samples of local products such as oil, wine, jams etc., made by different people in the village, which also can be purchased in the village. The women in the village will be able to cook for you or if you wish provide a cooking course (with local translator) at your rental accommodation. So provides valuable employment, passing on and maintaining traditional cooking knowledge and the women will feel pride in their skills. Visits to the local shepherd, guided walks, horse riding, culture tours etc., are available with local guides and local transport.

In the accommodation there’s an extensive information file with local history, culture, things to do and visits in the area plus a list of restaurants, bars and mini-market that are in the village, where one can have a coffee, dine and do their shopping. My local staff that speak English will be on hand to assist guests with any information that they may require. This helps the staff to practise their English and hospitality skills.

My company has recently set up projects in the village to conserve the local traditions and to encourage young people to participate and interact with the visitors. One of these projects is to restore the old olive press creating a museum “Museo dei Contadini” with traditional farming equipment. Funds are raised by charging a small fee for independent walking itineraries ; direct donations from visitors; from celebrations that are frequently organised in the village. A percentage of the money raised by these charges also goes towards helping children in India and other under privileged countries.