With its pristine, beaches, stunning coastline and rocky mountain ranges, Sicily is an enchanting place to enjoy a family holiday. Whether you want to relax, get active or explore, there’s plenty to entertain all age groups. Making it even easier for families to enjoy a seamless, unforgettable journey, Verdura Resort introduces a new kids’ club, Verdùland. Launching in May 2016, the complimentary club will feature exciting programmes and facilities tailored to younger guests. If you’re planning a holiday, follow our guide to Sicily for families to get the most out of your Italian escape with Rocco Forte Hotels.
RBabies
Verdura Resort is set in a beautiful coastal location amid olive, orange and lemon groves, so exploring it at leisure is a must. The RBabies programme enables parents to take a break from minding their babies by leaving them in the capable hands of a specialised care team. Available for babies and toddlers aged up to three years old, RBabies has a dedicated area at Verdùland featuring a sleep room and outdoor and indoor play areas, providing entertainment in all weathers. Babysitting services are available upon request.
RKids
The main part of Verdùland is dedicated to RKids, a space for young guests aged four to 12. There are a number of interactive zones including an outdoor pool, a TV room, an arts and crafts area, a science lab and a kitchen, where activities are held throughout the day. The concept, led by mascot Verdù the hedgehog, is for children to have fun while learning. It follows four themes: arts and crafts, food, sports and education. Whether participants are budding athletes, chefs, artists, dancers, scientists or astrologists, there are activities to suit, from art classes and theatre sessions, to cooking schools, science experiments, sports activities, and more.
RTeens
Rocco Forte Hotels knows that once children hit 13 they want to be treated like adults, so Verdura Resort has created a special area dedicated to teenagers that’s far removed from the kids’ club. At The Fort, young adults can socialise with their peers, practice their favourite sports, listen to music, play table tennis and pool, challenge one another to a video game, or even plan a night out together. The RTeens programme also features bespoke wellness activities to entertain all personalities. Those who want to get active can take part in boot camp sessions, assault courses or yoga classes. Youths seeking relaxation can enjoy specially created treatments at Verdura Spa, and budding chefs can sign up to healthy cooking master classes.
Beyond the resort
Spend time bonding with the whole family by exploring the fascinating island of Sicily. Outside of Verdura Resort, there’s plenty to captivate little, and large, imaginations, from historical tours of the temples of Agrigento and Selinunte, to helicopter rides to the summit of Mount Etna, adventure trips through the countryside, water sports, culinary explorations, and much more.
While younger guests are entertained at Verdùland, parents can take full advantage of Verdura Resort’s adult facilities, from the championship golf courses and the tennis courts, to the spa and the bars.
As summer brings longer days, warmer weather and time away from routine, Europe’s family festival scene promises a vibrant and eclectic escape. Whether you’re exploring Brussels, Edinburgh or London, each city offers the perfect starting point for a shared adventure through music, theatre, food and storytelling.
In an always-on world, the greatest luxury may well be presence. At Verdura Resort in Sicily, days unfold not around screens but shared meals, salty swims and the kind of conversations that happen when no one is scrolling. For families, it’s a chance to reset – and a powerful reminder of the value of time spent together, offline.
High in Sicily’s Sicani Mountains, where olive trees twist with age and the clear air affords panoramas over Monte Pellegrino, is the little-known town of Caltabellotta. Perched on the hillside like a sentinel, its stone houses and church façades overlook valleys of almond trees and wild fennel. Here, long life is not planned or pursued - it’s simply a natural outcome of living in tune with the land and seasons.
