Rocco Forte Verdura Resort sits on a long, quiet stretch of the southwest Sicilian coast near Sciacca, and it does something no other hotel on the island attempts: it puts 45 holes of championship golf, a proper clay court tennis club, a 4,000 square metre spa and around two kilometres of private shoreline on a single estate of olive and citrus groves. Every room looks at the sea. The honest verdict in one line: for sporty couples and families it is the most complete resort in Sicily, but if you want a town on your doorstep and Baroque churches at dinner, stay elsewhere.
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Quick answer: Verdura Resort at a glance
- Location: On the coast between Sciacca and Ribera, province of Agrigento, southwest Sicily.
- Rooms and suites: 203 rooms and suites, all with sea views and terraces, plus a collection of three and four bedroom private villas.
- Price level: Top-tier five-star; summer and the golf shoulder seasons are among the most expensive weeks in Sicily.
- Season: Seasonal, roughly mid-March to mid-November; closed in winter apart from limited weekend golf. Ask the hotel for exact 2026 and 2027 dates.
- Nearest airports: Palermo or Trapani, each about 80 minutes by car.
- Best for: Golfers, tennis players, active families and couples who want everything on one estate.
Check prices and availability
Spring and autumn are prime golf and tennis weeks at Verdura, and family suites go early for the summer school holidays. Compare dates before you commit.
Location and getting there
Verdura lies on the Mediterranean side of Sicily, facing Africa rather than mainland Italy. The estate runs along the shore for close to two kilometres, with the golf courses laid out between the sea and the groves behind them. Sciacca, an old spa and ceramics town with a busy fishing harbour, is a short drive west along the coast road. Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples are to the east.
The two practical gateways are Palermo and Trapani airports, each roughly 80 minutes by car. Palermo has the wider choice of flights; Trapani can be quicker for some European routes. The resort arranges private transfers, and car hire is worth it if you plan more than one excursion; our Italy travel planner covers both options.
Rooms, suites and villas
All 203 rooms and suites face the sea and have their own terrace. They sit in low buildings spread along the coast, so distances to the spa and restaurants can be long.
- Deluxe and Superior Deluxe Rooms: about 40 square metres, sea views, with the Superior versions also looking over the golf courses.
- Superior Deluxe Sea Front Rooms: the same size, on the ground floor, with a terrace and loungers opening onto the garden and beach. These are the rooms to request for an easy swim before breakfast.
- Junior Suites and Classic Suites: around 60 square metres, more living space and a sofa bed for a child.
- Grand Suites: slightly larger, with a sliding door separating bedroom and living area.
- Family Rooms and Family Suites: from 80 to 112 square metres with two king beds, plus interconnecting rooms on request.
- Pool Suites and Forte Suites: two and three bedroom suites and three larger named suites (Mimosa, Peonia, Acacia) with private pools, up to about 250 square metres.
- Private villas: three and four bedroom villas on the hill above the resort, such as Villa Agata and Villa Topazio with sea views and, in some, large private pools.
The room style, overseen by Olga Polizzi, uses warm Sicilian yellows, oranges and reds with stone, wood and local ceramics. A room-by-room refurbishment has been under way, with the first phase complete by spring 2026 and the rest due over the following year, so ask the hotel to place you in an updated room when you book. The resort is also marketing a new phase of villas near the golf courses, so villa guests should ask about any nearby works.
Dining: from trattoria to a Saracen tower
Food is overseen by Fulvio Pierangelini, Rocco Forte’s creative director of food, and the 2025 season brought the biggest change in years: a rebuilt central building and a new piazza beside the estate’s 16th-century Saracen tower.
- Zagara: the most formal room, a garden setting with private niches, serving refined Italian cooking with a Sicilian accent.
- Nagori: Japanese technique with Sicilian produce, in and around the Saracen tower.
- L’Osteria: all-day pasta, simple meat dishes, carafe wine and a seafront terrace, with vegetables from the resort’s own garden.
- Liolà: a Sicilian trattoria and wood-fired pizzeria in the new piazza beside the Saracen tower; seasonal, so check it is open for your dates.
- Amare: seafood on the beach, summer only.
- Ondina: relaxed poolside lunches.
- Buongiorno: the breakfast room.
- Bars: Scirocco for Sicilian cocktails made with herbs from the Verdura farm, Sunset Bar for aperitivo, Ondina Bar by the infinity pool and the Beach Bar for granita.
None of the resort’s restaurants holds a Michelin star in the 2026 guide; the hotel itself is listed in Michelin’s hotel selection. If you want a starred-style evening out, Michelin lists Hostaria del Vicolo in Sciacca and Locanda Perbellini al Mare in nearby Montallegro. In March and November expect fewer outlets open, so ask the hotel. To match the island’s wines with what you eat, our Sicilian wine guide is a good primer.
Spa and pools
The Irene Forte Spa covers about 4,000 square metres and is the reason many non-golfers book. Its heart is a sequence of four outdoor thalassotherapy pools, heated and mineral-rich, at different temperatures. Inside there is a 25-metre heated pool, a hammam, sauna, gym and treatment rooms using products from Irene Forte’s own botanical line, much of it grown on the estate. The spa and fitness areas are for guests aged 16 and over, which keeps them calm in August.
Back at the main building, the 60-metre outdoor infinity pool is lifeguarded in summer and looks straight out to sea.
Sport and activities
Golf: 45 holes by Kyle Phillips
Golf is Verdura’s headline. Kyle Phillips designed all three courses: the East Links (par 73), the West Shore (par 70) and a nine-hole par-3 course that is ideal for beginners, children and a quick evening round. Hotel guests have guaranteed tee times, and there is a golf academy for lessons. Verdura regularly appears in European golf resort rankings, including Golf World’s Top 100 Resorts. For how the courses play hole by hole, see our guide to golf in Sicily at Verdura and Il Picciolo, and for alternatives across the island, our round-up of golf hotels in Sicily. If you are weighing Verdura against the mainland, start with the best golf resorts in Italy.
Tennis, padel and pickleball
The racket club has six floodlit red clay courts, two padel courts and a pickleball court. Coaching runs through LUX Tennis, with private lessons, group clinics and hitting partners, and the resort’s Academies with the Stars weeks bring former professionals for guest sessions, so check the calendar before you choose dates. Verdura tops our list of tennis hotels in Sicily and features in our national guide to luxury hotels with tennis courts in Italy.
Beach, boats and the estate
The shoreline is a mix of pebbles and sand rather than a soft, wide beach, with loungers, a beach bar and water sports such as paddleboarding, canoeing and diving. The concierge arranges boat excursions and sunset aperitivo on the water. On land there are cycling and running paths through the olive and citrus groves, horse riding, yoga, archery and an organic farm that produces the resort’s olive oil and orange juice. The cooking school runs interactive classes, including arancine making, and there are beekeeping workshops, wine tastings and stargazing evenings.
Kids club
Verdùland is a well-equipped kids club, with a playground, indoor play area and shallow pool. It is divided into sections for 4 to 12 year olds and a teen club for 13 to 16 year olds, with a nursery for babies up to three from April to October. It runs during high season and school holidays; ask the hotel about hours and any charges for your dates. Babysitting is available on request for a fee.
What’s nearby
- Sciacca: a short drive for the harbour, ceramics shops and an evening passeggiata.
- Valley of the Temples: some of the best-preserved Greek temples anywhere, in Agrigento, east along the coast. Book timed tickets and go early or late; our Valley of the Temples guide explains how.
- Selinunte: a huge coastal archaeological park to the west, quieter than Agrigento.
- Palermo: worth two or three nights at the start or end of the trip. Our guide on where to stay in Palermo compares the best addresses, and Palermo tours and cooking classes covers what to do.
For a full island plan that pairs Verdura with Taormina, Ortigia or Noto, see our guide to the best luxury hotels in Sicily by region.
Verdura compared with similar Sicilian hotels
| Hotel | Location | Standout | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verdura Resort | Sciacca, southwest coast | 45 holes, 6 clay courts, 4,000 sqm spa, private coast | Golf, tennis and active families |
| Mangia’s Torre del Barone | Sciaccamare, about 4 km from Sciacca | 231 rooms in a sea-facing block, heated indoor pool, renovated in 2023 | Beach and spa stays, with tee times at Verdura on request |
| Villa Igiea | Palermo, on the bay | Liberty-style palace, 100 rooms and suites, one sea-view tennis court, Irene Forte Spa | City culture with a resort feel; winter golf offer at Verdura |
| Picciolo Etna Golf Resort | Castiglione di Sicilia, Etna | 18-hole par 72 course on the slopes of Etna, renovated in 2025 | Golf plus Etna wine country |
Who it suits, and who it does not
It suits:
- Golfers who want two serious links-style courses and guaranteed tee times without driving.
- Tennis players looking for clay, floodlights and structured coaching.
- Families with children from toddlers to teens, thanks to Verdùland and the large family suites.
It does not suit:
- Travellers who want to walk to bars, shops and historic streets in the evening.
- Anyone set on a soft sandy beach.
- Guests who prefer an intimate hotel of 30 rooms; Verdura is a large, busy resort in high summer.
- Winter travellers, as the hotel closes for several months.
Charlotte’s tip: aim for late September and a ground-floor room
Book Verdura for the last week of September or early October. The sea is still warm, the golf and tennis are at their best, the school holidays are over and every restaurant is still open. Ask for a Superior Deluxe Sea Front Room so you can step from the terrace straight to the shore, and reserve Nagori for your first night rather than your last, because you will want to go back.
Practical tips
- Booking: book tee times and tennis coaching with the room, especially in April, May, September and October.
- Best rooms: Superior Deluxe Sea Front for beach access; Junior Family Suite or Family Suite for families; a Pool Suite for a group or multigenerational stay.
- Dress: resort casual by day; smart casual for Zagara and Nagori in the evening; standard golf attire on the courses.
- Kids: check Verdùland dates for your stay, as the club runs in high season and school holidays.
Ready to book Verdura?
Compare room types and dates, and check whether a golf or family package beats the room-only rate for your stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Verdura Resort open all year?
No. The hotel is seasonal, usually open from about mid-March to mid-November. The golf courses have opened for weekend play in winter, but rooms and restaurants close, so ask the hotel for exact dates.
How far is Verdura from Palermo airport?
About 80 minutes by car. Trapani airport is a similar drive, and the resort can arrange private transfers from both.
Can non-golfers enjoy Verdura?
Yes. The Irene Forte Spa, six clay tennis courts, padel, the beach, boat trips, cooking classes and horse riding keep non-golfers busy, and the Valley of the Temples is within day-trip range.
Does Verdura have a Michelin-starred restaurant?
Not in the 2026 guide. The resort has a varied line-up, with Zagara for fine dining and Nagori for Japanese-Sicilian cooking, plus Michelin-listed restaurants a short drive away.
