Rocco Forte's Verdura Resort, on the southern Sicilian coast near Sciacca, is one of the largest luxury hotel estates in the Mediterranean — 530 acres of olive grove, citrus, and coastline, with two golf courses, a spa, and a private beach. It is also, in its higher packages, one of the more convincing all-inclusive propositions in Italy, where the model is less established than in Greece.
The 'Fortunate' All-Inclusive
Verdura's all-inclusive, offered in the 'Fortunate' and 'Unlimited' packages, includes meals across several restaurants, a generous wine and spirits selection, green fees on the golf courses, and — notably for an Italian resort — a considered programme of activities from tennis coaching to sailing. The food, as you would expect from a Rocco Forte property, is Sicilian in emphasis: panelle, arancine, pasta alla Norma, and the island's fish.
Two Golf Courses, and the Estate
The two 18-hole golf courses, by Kyle Phillips, are among the best in Italy, and their inclusion in the all-inclusive is the key value proposition — green fees at Verdura, purchased separately, would be substantial. The estate also includes a tennis centre, a football pitch, and a children's club, so the all-inclusive here covers a genuinely wide field of activities rather than simply food and drink.
The Mediterranean all-inclusive is a newer idea in Italy than in Greece. Verdura is the resort making the case.
The Spa, the Largest in Southern Italy
The Verdura spa, at 4,000m², is the largest in southern Italy — a thalassotherapy circuit, an indoor-outdoor pool, and treatment rooms that use Sicilian citrus, olive, and salt. The three-day wellness programmes are clinically considered, and the spa alone would justify the stay for a serious wellness guest.
Why It Matters
Verdura Resort is the Italian all-inclusive that most closely approaches the standards set by the Greek leaders — comprehensive, well-priced for what it includes, and set on a genuinely impressive estate. For families and golfers who want the freedom of a single price and the authenticity of Sicilian food and wine, it is a strong and under-recognised option, and a reminder that the all-inclusive model, properly executed, suits the Mediterranean coast as well as it does the Caribbean.
