Villa Punta San Nicola - Self-catering houses in Sicily

Authentic, rugged, surprising: Favignana, one of three tiny outcrops off the west coast of Sicily, is a secret haunt for in-the-know Italians. Owner and former fashion photographer Davide adores his adopted isle, its dramatic rock formations, its charming town, its florescent palette of waters that changes colour from cove to cove. Arrive to a trio of single-storey sandstone houses, reconstructed from a former barn and built exactly to Davide's specifications, brick by square brick. Half built into the rocks, the houses are curiously shaped, unevenly floored, and simply, stylishly furnished. The central house, Uliveto, is the largest, with a pergola, a grill and an extra shower outside, but both have their own outdoor lounging space, immersed in a fennel-perfumed paradise of olive trees, agave, pomegranates and palms. There's a beautiful rocky beach just a few steps away, and Cala Rossa (packed with Italians in July and August) is just a scooter ride away. Davide can book diving trips, arrange cookery lessons, organise yoga, deliver bikes, suggest skippered tours. He is a brilliant, enthusiastic, indefatigable host.