I’m riding a bike on a boardwalk by the sea, and Africa is almost within view. A whiff of orange blossoms dances in the air, children play on a broad lawn and waves jangle like cymbals rhythmically clapping in nature’s auditorium.

At Verdura Resort — Rocco Forte’s gated wellness hotel on Sicily’s southwest coast — I’m not the only guest filled with glee. Other adults celebrate their inner child, biking from activity to activity in family groups, clad in bathrobes or clutching golf clubs as they pedal. Everybody’s grinning. Life is good among vineyards, olive groves and citrus orchards.

Built near the ancient port town of Sciacca, less than an hour from the breathtaking Greek temples of Agrigento, this rambling, eco-conscious resort encompasses so much it’s hard to leave the grounds to explore Sicily’s largesse. Mystical Sicily — a mélange of cultures, still so deeply Italian in a refreshing old-school way — should not be missed, but nor should Verdura.

Composed architecturally to meld into the herb- and plant-studded terrain, a coterie of eco-modern buildings hold suites facing the sea. Behind the resort, ever-present volcanoes tower. At the hotel’s heart, an award-winning golf course, clay tennis courts and a state-of-the-art spa invite vacationers to relax. While the hotel has a monumental kids’ club, pools, four restaurants, five bars and a ton to do, the Sebastian Kneipp-inspired spa stands out as a highlight. Seriously wellness oriented, it’s also relaxing and draws its true gravitas from thalassotherapy pools with views, a huge gym and soulful spa treatments that utilize regional herbs and products, such as olive oil, lavender and rosemary.

Verdura Resort

S.S. 115 KM 131
Sicily, 92019
Italy
tel 39 0925 998180