What is the name of your accommodation?

The name is Villa Belluccelli. We also use the name Villa Uccelli.

Could you introduce yourself and share a bit about your life, such as your interests, hobbies, or background? 

We are Oscar and Dorine, a Dutch couple who have been happily living near Nijmegen for many years. We both work as physician-scientists and share a deep curiosity about the world. Together with our three children, two children-in-law and four grandchildren, we form a close-knit family that loves discovering new things, whether at the dinner table, while travelling or through long conversations.

Our love for nature, the sea, good food, Greco-Roman culture and modern design drew us more and more to Southern Europe. When we discovered Sicily, it felt as if everything fell into place. For Oscar, a childhood dream resurfaced: his fascination with architecture, which finally took shape here in the design of our villa.

How did your property become part of your life? When did it happen, and what inspired or motivated you to take it on? 

Our connection to Sicily began in 2008, when we visited the island for the first time with our children. We were instantly captivated: the scent of citrus blossoms, the raw beauty of the landscape and the history present everywhere.

A year later, a Sicilian physician friend told us he had a plot of land available on a ridge near Noto. We flew there immediately in December 2009. There we stood among ancient olive and carob trees, overlooking two seas, with nothing but the sound of the wind. It felt surprisingly natural, almost as if we already belonged there. At that moment, we knew we wanted to build our home here — a place worthy of its surroundings.

What was the process of creating your property like? Tell us about renovating, furnishing, or styling it.

The first sketches were made by Oscar and our son Roel, who was studying architecture at the time. We envisioned a modern home fully connected to the landscape. In 2015, our architect friends from Studio Nuy Van Noort took over. They gave structure to our ideas and designed a villa that seems to rest on a long lava wall.

The design centred around three lines: the long axis with deep verandas providing shade throughout the day, the open cross-axis that merges indoors and outdoors, and the lookout tower with its panoramic views and rooftop terrace for quiet, star-filled evenings.

Inside, we chose large sliding doors, continuous floor tiles and slim black frames to draw nature inside. With artworks by Giuseppe Leone and Sergio Fiorentino, we brought a touch of Sicilian soul into the interior.

The construction was a true Sicilian adventure: cadastral uncertainties, contractors who preferred working on trust rather than on formal quotations. But once we had the right team, things progressed quickly. We bought the land in 2016, laid the first stone in 2017, and in the summer of 2018 received the keys to a villa that felt exactly as we had imagined.

What makes your property truly special to you? Do you have any favorite spots, cherished memories, or personal touches that make it dear to your heart?

For us, everything begins with the location: the hill with sweeping views of the sea, surrounded by trees that have grown with the landscape for centuries. When we open the doors in the morning, we smell Mediterranean herbs and hear only birds. Even after years, the light and the silence still surprise us daily.

We cherish our morning swims, breakfast and coffee in the sun, the shifting colours of the sunset, outdoor winter lunches and long veranda dinners on warm summer evenings. This is a place where time slows down, where conversations flow naturally and where we build lasting memories with family and friends.

How would you describe the atmosphere and interior of your property?

Villa Belluccelli feels to us like a modern, calm base in a landscape that shapes everything. We kept the interior intentionally understated so that the light and surroundings take centre stage. The natural materials and soft tones create a sense of space and tranquility every day.

With five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a study and several verandas, there is always a place to be together, and just as easily a quiet spot to read alone. Outside, the infinity pool feels like an extension of the horizon, and the terraces on both sides of the house invite long evenings under the stars.

Are there any sustainable or eco-friendly applications associated with your property that you are proud of?

We find it important that the villa lives in harmony with the climate. That is why we chose automatic ventilation, a heat pump, solar-heated water and ten solar panels that supply most of the energy. It feels good to live sustainably without compromising on comfort.

What motivated or inspired you to rent your property to guests? 

We soon realised that this place had a profound effect on us: it brought calm, inspiration and room to breathe. It almost felt wrong to keep it just for ourselves. It gives us genuine joy when guests feel that same sense of wonder, when they say they wish they could stay a little longer. That is when we know we are sharing this place in the right way.

What can guests expect when staying at your accommodation? Share the experience, the highlights, and perhaps the best compliment you’ve received from past guests.

Our guests often describe it better than we can. Two comments we love to share:

“We found ourselves struggling to leave the property. It has a sort of magnetic pull.”

“The house is a masterpiece… sunrise and sunset terraces, an amazing pool, and a perfect balance between privacy and proximity to beautiful towns and beaches.”

That is exactly what we hope to offer: a place that embraces you with peace and beauty, where design and nature enhance one another.

What do you hope guests will take away from their stay, and do you have any special tips or recommendations to make their holiday unforgettable? 

We hope guests discover how restorative silence can be. That they feel how good it is to zoom out for a moment, to reconnect with each other and with the surroundings. And we hope Villa Belluccelli becomes the kind of memory you can summon instantly, a place you long to return to.

The villa sits between culture, nature and the sea, making it easy to experience something different every day. Our favourites:

• Noto (UNESCO) for its stunning baroque architecture and excellent pasticceria.
• Modica, Ragusa Ibla, Scicli and Syracuse for atmosphere, history and fantastic food.
• Vendicari for beaches, flamingos and sea turtles.
• San Lorenzo and Pozzallo for wide beaches and crystal-clear water.
• Cavagrande del Cassibile for breathtaking hikes and swimming in natural pools.
• The Valley of Pantalica for an unforgettable prehistoric landscape.
• Planeta Buonivini for our favourite wine tasting.
  
  This mix makes every stay truly special.