Mazar, masseria with private heated pool*

*The Mazar farmhouse (CIR19088009C207837, CIN IT088009C2OI3OUXDS) has a private infinity pool (6 x 4 m) heated by a heat pump during the months of April, May, and October. The prices shown include heating for these months. The farmhouse and the pool are always made available exclusively to a single family or a group of families or individuals who book together independently.<br>Mazar is located in the Gilestra district on the Iblean Plateau at an elevation of 528 m, in an ideal setting for a pleasant and relaxing vacation, as the Sicilian heat here is never stifling and tranquility and peace reign supreme. <br>The night skies above Mazar are clear, especially—though not exclusively—in the summer, offering an enchanting view of the stars and planets.<br>At Mazar, respect for tradition in the restoration (just completed) of the buildings has been combined with an effort to ensure maximum comfort for guests in line with the demands of modern life. <br>Great attention has also been paid to the environment and the reduction of pollutants. A 4. 3 kW photovoltaic system has thus been installed to serve the house, which uses high-efficiency heat pumps to heat and cool all its rooms (via thermostats and fan heaters in each room) and induction cooktops in the two kitchens. Domestic hot water is provided by a solar water heating system. <br>Mazar can be considered representative of the historical and cultural evolution of southeastern Sicily: in fact, this rural house, dating back to the 19th century, served the land granted at the time under a long-term lease to a tenant farmer. A portion of the land had been planted with a vineyard (u “vignale” in the local dialect, and even today you can see the remains of the high walls that protected the vines from the wind); the rest was cultivated with durum wheat or left as pasture.<br>The farmhouse had been built on the “puntara,” that is, on exposed bedrock (either to save on excavation or, above all, to avoid wasting good soil…), and life there revolved around the courtyard (or “baglio” in the local dialect). At one end stood the cistern, into which all the water collected from the baglio flowed through the “miato” (or “meato” in Italian, a channel dug into the surface). <br>Mazar consists of two apartments, Vespero and Alba. <br>At this time, the two apartments are rented together, accommodating a maximum of 8 guests. <br>The decision to rent the two apartments together stems from the need to ensure maximum health and safety for the occupants by avoiding contact between two unrelated groups of people or families.<br>Vespero, approximately 70 square meters, features a bedroom with a double bed and a bathroom on the first floor, a loft with a sofa that converts into a double bed, and, on the first floor, a spacious kitchen-living room with another sofa that extends into a double bed (thus 2 beds in the bedroom + 2 on the loft sofa + 2—if needed—on the living room sofa).<br> The other apartment is Alba (approximately 40 square meters) with an entrance from the “baglio.” It consists of a spacious double bedroom in a “dammuso” (a typical, cool Sicilian room with a barrel vault located on the first floor), a hallway, a kitchenette equipped with the essentials for self-catering, and a bathroom. Thus, there are two sleeping accommodations in total. However, upon request, a crib can be provided in Alba (at no extra charge).<br>Vespero and Alba can be connected via an insulated, airtight door that, when opened, transforms the two spaces into a single large residence—Mazar—accommodating a total of 8 guests. <br>In front of the house is the saltwater pool (6x4) with night lighting and a 4-seat whirlpool. The pool is open from April 1 to October 31. It is heated in April, May, and October to ensure guests’ comfort during these non-summer months.<br> During the rest of the year, guests staying for extended periods (at least 28 nights) are offered a wide range of activities (including a short cooking class and a tour of the night sky above Mazar to discover stars and planets—the selection depends on the season, so not all activities are always available).<br>The pool is for the exclusive use of Mazar guests, ensuring privacy and tranquility.<br>Mazar has been furnished with a