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.
Agrigento’s roots run as deep as the gnarled olive trees that dot its landscape, stretching back over 2,500 years to its founding as Akragas, one of the greatest cities of the ancient Greek world. Set against a breathtaking coastline, this once thriving cultural and political hub was praised by the Greek poet Pindar as “the most beautiful city of mortals”. Today, this splendour is immortalised in the Valley of the Temples.
Verdura Resort is home to two of Europe’s finest championship links courses, where rolling fairways and manicured greens stretch to the rugged shores of southern Sicily. Designed by acclaimed golf architect Kyle Phillips, these courses embrace the island’s dramatic beauty, offering sweeping Mediterranean views and an exhilarating golfing experience. Now, with an ambitious investment programme enhancing every element of play, the resort welcomes a new season of golf.
In 1925, a world still shell-shocked from the ravages of World War I found renewal in a burgeoning artistic movement: Art Deco. It reflected motion, progress, the future. Immediately embraced by famed Belgian architect Victor Horta, he laid the foundations for Art Deco in Brussels with his plans for the Centre of Fine Arts (Bozar). This marked the inception of a radically modern approach to architecture and art in the city. Now, as Brussels marks a century of Art Deco style, it’s the perfect time to explore this distinctly walkable city with your own budding artists.
