The Art of Switching Off, Sicilian Style

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.

According to Dr Jon Goldin, a leading child and adolescent psychiatrist, the benefits are more than emotional. “Face-to-face interactions with family and peers are protective for mental health,” he explains. “Spending too much time online means missing out on sleep, exercise and connection — all crucial for a young person’s wellbeing.”

Dr Goldin often encourages families to prioritise “green time rather than screen time”, or time spent outdoors in nature, and Verdura makes that refreshingly easy. Spread across 230 hectares of Sicilian countryside, the resort provides plenty of space for families to slow down and reconnect, both with each other and the natural world.

Here, holidays become a return to shared experience. Families can explore the ancient Valley of the Temples or enjoy a horseback ride along the Mediterranean coastline, where Wi-Fi disappears and a deeper connection can take its place. “Teenagers in particular spend a lot of time on social media,” Dr Goldin says. “But holidays are a great time to unplug. You might even suggest leaving phones behind for outings, or using a camera instead — something many young people are rediscovering. That way, they’re capturing the moment without being wired to the internet.”

Creative pursuits offer another window for bonding. Just a short drive from Verdura, in the ceramics capital of Sciacca, families can work with local artisans to learn traditional pottery-making techniques. “Activities like pottery are fantastic for connection,” says Dr Goldin. “They provide a shared focus, and often, conversation flows more naturally when you’re doing something side by side.”

Shared movement is equally important, and at Verdura, families can dive into a world of water sports or sign up for one of the renowned Academies with the Stars, which include everything from fencing to Juventus football coaching. It’s fun, energetic and entirely unplugged.

The same applies to food. “Shared mealtimes are a chance to check in, talk and reconnect,” says Dr Goldin. “It helps if phones are put away — or even charged together in a different room.” At one of the resort’s new restaurants L’Osteria, families gather over generous plates of Italian favourites in a relaxed, sunlit setting. Seated on the terrace whilst overlooking the sparkling Mediterranean, long conversations come easily — no filters or distractions required.

Dr Goldin also encourages one-on-one time between parents and children, where possible,  whether it’s a walk, an outing, or simply sitting together in the shade of an olive tree. “These moments are the building blocks of relationships,” he says. “Holidays offer families the opportunity to do things they wouldn’t normally have time for, and in doing so, they can discover new interests and new ways of relating to each other.”

Make the most of summer together with Verdura Resort’s special Family Experience offer — the perfect excuse to switch off and reconnect.