Vendicari
Vendicari Nature Reserve, VAL DI NOTO
Calcicera Alta sits just 6 kilometres from the Vendicari Nature Reserve — one of Sicily's most extraordinary stretches of unspoilt coastline. If you're looking for a luxury villa with direct access to Vendicari's lagoons, flamingos and ancient watchtowers, this is as close as it gets without pitching a tent.
What is Vendicari Nature Reserve?
Vendicari is a protected coastal wetland on the southeast tip of Sicily, covering around 1,500 hectares of dunes, saltwater lagoons, Mediterranean scrub and some of the finest beaches on the island. In spring and autumn it's a major stopping point for migratory birds — flamingos, herons, spoonbills and glossy ibis are regular visitors. In summer, the beaches at Calamosche and Torre Vendicari attract those in the know: clear turquoise water, no beach bars, no sunbeds. Just sea, sand and space.
It's a genuinely special place. The kind that makes you understand why people keep coming back to southeast Sicily.
Your Base for Vendicari
The two villas at Calcicera Alta were designed to make the most of this landscape. From the terraces and pool of the main house , you look out directly over the Vendicari coastline — 180 degrees of sea, nature reserve and open sky. On a clear day you can see to Malta.
The reserve is a 15-minute drive. Most guests go in the morning, before the heat builds, and spend the afternoon back at the villa around the pool.
What's included:
Two independent villas sleeping up to 12 guests in total
Private pools -One with panoramic sea views over Vendicari and one with inland countryside views
10 acres of grounds in a secluded rural setting
6km to the nearest Vendicari beach entrance
Featured in The Times Travel "30 Best Places to Stay in Sicily"
The Beaches Near Vendicari and Beyond the Reserve
Southeast Sicily is extraordinarily rich for a relatively small area. Within an hour of Calcicera Alta:
Noto — UNESCO-listed baroque town, 20 minutes. Don't miss Caffè Sicilia.
Ortigia / Syracuse — one of the great cities of antiquity, 40 minutes
Modica and Ragusa Ibla — more baroque hilltop towns, famous for chocolate, about an hour
Scicli — quieter, less visited, architecturally stunning
A car is essential — and with a base this well-located, you're ideally placed to explore the whole Val di Noto.each slightly different in character:
Calamosche — regularly voted one of Italy's most beautiful beaches. Sheltered bay, shallow water, minimal facilities. Arrive early.
Torre Vendicari — flanked by a 15th-century Aragonese watchtower, this long sandy beach has a small bar nearby and tends to be slightly less crowded than Calamosche.
Marianello — quieter still, popular with locals, good for snorkelling.
All are within easy reach of Calcicera Alta by car.
Ready to Book?
Calcicera Alta is available for weekly stays, typically Saturday to Saturday. The villas can be booked individually or together for larger groups.
For questions, contact Tom directly: info@calcicera.com | +44 (0)7974 837 240