House with views of the countryside and the sea in Menfi, Sicily - Casa del Melograno -

La Casa del Melograno is a place where the path leading to it is dotted with the scents and colors of Sicily and the influences this region inherited in the past from the Arab presence. This period of Arab rule began in 867 A.D. and lasted for about two centuries. In fact, you find yourself immersed in a courtyard featuring a Musciarabia—from the Arabic Mušrabīya. It is a space enclosed on three sides and open at the top; a fourth side, that of the Musciarabia itself, encloses the courtyard. The latticework, with its classic regular geometric patterns—typical of Islamic art and culture—provides shade on one side and allows the breeze to flow in on the other; it creates a particularly favorable climate for the growth and protection of Mediterranean houseplants, whether ornamental or fruit-bearing. In keeping with this function, a palm tree and, in particular, a pomegranate tree—which inspired the name of this house—thrive in the Musciarabia courtyard. Around the base of the palm tree, a wonderful carpet of delightful calla lilies grows and blooms; with their green leaves and white flowers, in harmony with the palm tree and the pomegranate tree, allow Musciarabia to convey and let those who pass through it experience an intense sense of Mediterranean charm.
Upon exiting Musciarabia, the east-facing veranda of the house—with its thatched roof—opens up; from there, through a four-panel wicker door, one enters the interior, where guests are welcomed into the spacious and bright living room, which overlooks the fruit garden. A highly distinctive feature of the house—and of this area in particular—is the spacious and functional cooking corner, where the central element—and a link to the region’s rural tradition—is a cooking and work surface crafted from ceramic tiles produced by a master ceramist from Sciacca; These tiles feature the colors, designs, lines, and inlays characteristic of 18th-century Sciacca ceramic production. The living room is equipped with every comfort; the furnishings blend tradition, local character, and rustic charm with simplicity, understated elegance, and minimalism.
In the center of the room, unique and comfortable designer armchairs allow you to enjoy wonderful moments of complete relaxation.
Adjacent to the living room is the reed-covered veranda; overlooking the fruit garden, it offers our guests the chance to embark on a sensory journey naturally created by the scents of the fruits and Mediterranean essences that ripen in that garden. In this cozy space, guests can freely enjoy their meals and also savor the cool evenings that Sicily’s mild climate provides.
The house is laid out on a single floor; in addition to the living room, it includes two double bedrooms that open onto the reed-covered veranda overlooking the fruit garden; both feature private en-suite bathrooms. The furnishings include a double bed, a walk-in closet, and a dresser. The French doors can be covered with blackout curtains to ensure maximum comfort for guests who prefer to sleep in complete darkness.