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JANUARY – MARCH 2020
RESORTDEVELOPER.COMVACATION INDUSTRY REVIEW
Situated along Sicily’s northeastern corner, Messina is a central
meeting point of the Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian, and Ionian seas — each
flowing into the Messina Strait: the short, 3-mile stretch of water between
the island and mainland Italy. And it is quite often the first stop onto the
island for many travelers.
In the town of Gioiosa Marea (a community within Messina province),
Villa Ridente espouses its own vaunted nickname. Translated to “Smiling
Villa” in English, the longtime resort has had every reason to be happy for
the last three decades: Located some 43 miles (69 kilometers) northwest
from the harbor city of Messina, Villa Ridente affords every opportunity
to welcome visitors, both new and returning, to an ideal base for some
cultural exploration, beach relaxation, and all that Sicily has to offer.
Grand Geography
Gioiosa Marea has the advantage of being in one of the Mediterranean’s
most idyllic, historic, and scenic locations. Emblematic of its rich
European heritage, timeless monuments, classic architecture, and
religious iconography date back centuries: historic churches, like
the Chiesa Santa Maria delle Grazie and Chiesa della Catena;
the Museo di Arte Sacre; and the cavernous Grotto del Tono. Nearby in
the town of Messina, visitors can revel at the sights of the Fountains of
Neptune and the octagonal pillar that is the Madonnina del Porto, which
stands 115 feet tall (35 meters) to bless all ships sailing through her port.
Villa Ridente is immersed within this rich culture, nestled along the
northeastern Sicilian coast and comprising 16 buildings of two or three
floors.
Paolo Bo, one of the resort’s principals, notes that the property’s
location is a key selling point. “Our resort on the northern island coast
is situated in front of the wonderful archipelago of the Aeolian islands,
in an excellent location with stunning views and breathtaking sun-
sets,” he says. Villa Ridente’s elevation is high enough from sea level
for the most pristine of oceanic vistas — those majestic rocky formations
called Vulcano, Lipari, Stromboli, Salina, and Panarea, just a few hundred
meters from the sea.
A Family Affair
According to Bo, Villa Ridente’s target demographic for its vacation
ownership segment — Villa Ridente Club, or VRClub for short — is the
domestic mid-market of Italian families with children.
“We offer a simple atmosphere, ideal for families and for those who
love the sea, Italian food, and the activities of the local resort commu-
nity,” he says.
It’s no surprise to those familiar with the resort that a family-friendly
strategy is a focus, since the property has been its own family affair.
Villa Ridente was built on the Gioiosa Marea hillside more than 30
years ago, owned and operated for years by Francesco Bo, the resort’s
longtime managing director and southern Italy–based developer with
three VRClub–branded resorts to the Bo name: Villa Ridente, Sun Palm
Beach Resort in Watamu, Kenya, and Paje Palms Beach Resort in
Zanzibar, Tanzania. Francesco Bo, who purchased the resort in 1985
from Girasole, its prior developer, has in recent years turned over the
day-to-day managerial operations of Villa Ridente to his sons, Paolo
and Domenico.
Each of the property’s mixed-use guest buildings includes a total
of 150 studios and one- and two-bedroom units. Forty-two of these
units — one 323-square-foot (30 square meters) studio, 38 452-square-
foot (42 square meters) one-bedrooms, and three 624-square-foot (58
square meters) two-bedrooms — are reserved for timeshare use, the
remainder for rentals and hotel use, and a select few in whole ownership.
Interior amenities in each unit include a kitchen, a furnished patio or
balcony, and a flat-screen TV. There’s free Wi-Fi in the resort’s common
areas, which include the reception center, bar, spa, boutique, and
mini-market. An outdoor theater features live shows, a multisport court
offers basketball and tennis, and a small outdoor swimming pool pro-
vides diversions.
Additional on-site amenities are a kids’ club, a private beach, and
kayak and windsurfing rental. For visitors and families looking to ven-
ture off grounds to explore Messina and beyond, sailing, scuba diving,
FRANCE
ITALY
SICILY
TUNISIA
CORSICA
Palermo
Catania
Messina
Gioiosa
Marea
Villa Ridente Club
Roberto La Rosa/Alamy Stock Photo