Stella sul mare

We spent a week at the Stella sul Mare property in Maddalusa, a quiet, comfortable stately home with roomy porches and lots of amenities. The large grounds are fenced and very secure, and full of plants. If you love flowers and plants, it's a paradise. Agrippina and Angelo live in a separate apartment in the same building during summer, and their full availability is one of the property's real strengths. They're special, cultured people, warm, friendly, kind, and well prepared, and they offered a generous welcome: a fridge with assorted drinks, delicious local pastries, and coffee capsules for a quick meal. The hosts made us feel right at home, and the peaceful, family-friendly holiday was unforgettable. Maddalusa beach is very close, though you'll need a car. By car, it's easy to reach other clean, well-maintained sandy beaches, including Scala dei Turchi, Capo Rossello Beach, Eraclea Minoa, Siculiana Marina, and Lido Sabbia d'Oro. The location also works well for seaside and cultural visits. We went to Empedocle, birthplace of Andrea Camilleri, Agrigento, birthplace of Luigi Pirandello, and of course the Valley of the Temples. We recommend the restaurants and pizzerias in San Leone, including Al Porticciolo and Trattoria Caico, and La Grotta di Vigata in Empedocle. Many thanks to Agrippina and Angelo for such a warm welcome. It's worth coming back, especially to see them again. A truly recommended place for a relaxing getaway.

The house was spacious, welcoming, and had every comfort. The owners were very kind, and the location was excellent, close enough to the sea.

Awful and squalid.