Where romans built the pool
8 Guests
4 Bedrooms
4 Bathrooms
Perched above its own labyrinthine Roman stone quarry, into which a beautiful pool and a Mediterranean garden have been inserted, Zu Nillu is theatrical, wow-inspiring and a truly unique proposition. You simply won’t find any house quite like this, and certainly not one with a private garden dominating (and accessing) Favignana's mythical Cala Rossa, one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful sea spots.
Looking to know more about Zu Nillu?
Our team has visited each of our villas, so they can share the finer details and help explore flexible date options
Keyholder highlights
- Unique setting above Cala Rossa
- Garden gate sea access and pool
- Extraordinary gardens and sea views
Gallery
The shady terrace outside the main part of the house.
The villa sits in a truly privileged position.
Your private access to the magnificent waters of Cala Rossa.
The private garden overlooking Cala Rossa has a dining area and barbeque.
An aperitif with a view!
Includes
- Sole use of the villa and the grounds
- The support of our Villa Specialists to help you select your perfect villa
- The expertise of a dedicated local team to help you fine-tune the logistics of your trip and to plan a range of experiences, many of which are exclusive to The Thinking Traveller
- A Local Specialist, based near your villa, to assist you during your stay (between 9am and 7pm daily, with 24/7 emergency support)
- A comprehensive guide to your villa and its surrounding area, including our restaurant recommendations, cultural highlights and other activities
- An easy-to-use online holiday planner to keep all your booked experiences and services in one place, ensuring that nothing gets missed during your stay
- The ability to coordinate and share the details of your trip with your group via Your Account
- All sales taxes, electricity, gas, Wi-Fi, linen, bath towels, pool and/or beach towels
- A mid-week clean and linen change
Excludes
- Flights
- Car hire
- Transfers
- Meals (unless otherwise specified)
Favignana, Sicily
Zu Nillu
Available exclusively through The Thinking Traveller
Dates
Guests
Bedrooms
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The Area
Favignana, or La Farfalla as it is often referred to thanks to its butterfly shape, is the largest and most important of the Egadi Islands. It lies some 10 miles of the Trapani coast and is a popular holiday destination in the summer months largely thanks to its crystalline azure waters in bays such as Cala Rossa (right below Zu Nillu!).
The main town, just 10 minutes' drive away, is also known as Favignana. It has a small port and is dominated by the Fort of Santa Caterina, originally built by the Arabs, a beautiful sandy beach and two main piazzas, flanked by restaurants, gelaterie and cafés. It is also home to two buildings testifying to the influence of the Florio family: Palazzo Florio, built in 1876 near the harbour, and the large, abandoned skeleton of the Florio tuna fishery.
But what most people come here for are the crystalline waters offering excellent swimming and good scuba-diving possibilities, especially in the sea caves such as Grotta Azzurra, Grotta dei Sospiri (sospiri means “sighs”), and Grotta degli Innamorati (the Lovers’ Grotto).
While staying on Favignana, we recommend a little island-hopping to the other two islands, Levanzo and Marettimo.
Favignana is just a 20-minute hop on the hydrofoil (regular services year round) or 45 minutes on the car ferry from Trapani (whose airport is 15 minutes outside town). Trapani is less than one hour’s drive from Palermo airport.
Trapani airport to Trapani port:
25minsPalermo airport to Trapani port:
90km-55miles-1hrCatania airport to Trapani port:
315km-195miles-3hr35Comiso airport to Trapani port:
340km-211miles-4hrHydrofoil from Trapani to Favignana:
30-40minsNearest sea access:
Cala Rossa, at the bottom of the gardenNearest restaurants:
25-30 mins walkThe harbour, town and beach of Favignana Town:
15 mins driveThe other Egadi Islands, Levanzo and Marettimo:
10mins and 30mins respectively.Local Experiences
Private boat charters in West Sicily
Transparent waters lap dramatic, time-scarred sea stacks and weather-beaten cliffs, home to tumbling prickly pear trees and 16th and 17th-century watch towers. The old tonnara (a tuna fishing hub) is set evocatively between the cliffs, and a little time spent snorkelling here will be time well spent indeed. Then it’s off again, sweeping through the limpid waters of Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve, whose towering mountains rise majestically from the sea. Idyllic pebbly coves break up the sheer rocky masses, and before you know it you’ll be rounding the headland and sailing west to Sicily’s most northwesterly town, the fishing village and seaside resort of San Vito Lo Capo, renowned for its golden sands, electric blue waters, and delicious fish couscous.
Discover
Private guided tours in West Sicily
From first glance, it would seem that the Saracen and Norman rulers of Sicily could have had very little in common. The former had arrived from North Africa and were part of the Golden Age of Arab civilisation that had made such huge strides in the fields of mathematics, economics, agriculture, science, poetry, and architecture. The latter were an offshoot of the Vikings from the frozen north of Europe, adventurers and hardened warriors.When the Normans ousted the Saracen forces in 1090, however, there was no obliteration of all things Arabic. Indeed, the men from the north were hugely impressed by what they found, and rather than destroying Arabic culture, they embraced it. Many institutions were retained, Islam was tolerated, and Saracen landowners were allowed to keep their estates. North African habits were adopted by many Normans as they acclimatised to life in the middle of the Mediterranean. Souks prospered, cool Arabic courtyards were de rigueur, and many Normans, including some of the sovereigns themselves, lived more like Emirs than knights. Where the fusion of cultures really stood out, however, was in the architecture.
Discover
Private Guided Tours in Southwest Sicily
Our private guides are tried and tested experts in their field, with many holding PhDs in their particular specialism. Book a tour or two with them and you'll come away with fascinating insights into your destination's towns, archaeological sites, food, wine, landscapes and geology.
Discover
Culinary experiences in West Sicily
The west of Sicily is a great destination for food lovers. Inland, the scenery is dominated by vast expanses of vineyards and olive groves, and some of Sicily's best wines – for example those of the Alcamo, Trapani, Erice and Marsala areas - and olive oils are produced in this corner of the island. Restaurant menus offer a fabulous array of fresh fish and seafood dishes. Fish cous cous is one of the signature dishes, a tradition that is celebrated every September at San Vito’s international Cous Cous Fest. Other stand-out specialities include busiate al pesto trapanese - a homemade pasta served with a pesto of tomatoes, garlic, almonds and basil - and spaghetti alla bottarga - salt-cured tuna fish roe grated on steaming pasta.
DiscoverFrom the Guest Book
Read the thoughtful reviews that travellers have left after their time with us.
Es das schönste Urlaubsziel und Urlaubserlebnis war, das wir seit Anbeginn unserer Reisen mit The Thinking Traveller erlebt haben. Einzigartig. Wir nannten es
Ute Giesecke September 2023
Zu Nillu is spectacular. It is a quirky villa and not for everyone. Those who get it, though, will be amazed by it. The caretaker is an incredible wealth of Favignanan and Sicilian knowledge and is so kind.
MS, United States of America August 2022
An exceptional experience we will never forget. Zu Nillu lives up to your descriptions.
Anonymous, United States of America May 2022
Zu Nillu is a completely unique experience, not to be missed. The quarry gardens are amazing, complete with your own theatre for family evening entertainment. Evenings on the rooftop terrace with a glass of Etna champagne, beautiful sea views and stunning sunsets will be a lifelong memory.
JH, United Kingdom September 2020
Overall, I would give the whole experience at Zu Nillu 5 stars. The charm of the property and its situation is fabulous... We loved Favignana, especially the laid-back atmosphere and the fact that you could cycle everywhere (almost).
LB, United Kingdom August 2020
Zu Nillu is spectacular and extraordinary - the villa and grounds and the setting on Favignana! All four couples of us who stayed in May, 2018 agreed that the site was unlike any other that any of us had visited and not easy to describe in words. Although we stayed a week, as the end of the week neared we wished we had planned to stay two weeks.
Mr David Dowell, United States of America May 2018
