VIRNA Jan-March 2020

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Villa Ridente Club
Developer: Francesco Bo
Location: Gioiosa Marea, Messina, Sicily
Product: Deeded right-to-use, fixed units, fixed weeks
Units: Mixed-use property with 42 vacation ownership studios and one- and two-bedrooms
Price: From €3,000 to €15,000 (US$2,732 to US$13,660)
Website:
FAST FACTS
snorkeling, bicycle rentals, mountain biking, scooter rental, and boat
tours of the Aeolian Islands are just a few of the many activities worth
pursuing.
Buon Appetito
Al dente, al forno, or alla caprese, one would be remiss to visit Sicily
without indulging in some fine regional cuisine.
As Paolo Bo stresses, VRClub caters to visitors with a predilection
for authentic Italian food through its on-site dining establishments: Le
Terrazze, serving Mediterranean fare overlooking the resort’s outdoor
theater; O Fetente pizzeria, situated on the beach; and with magnificent
sea views, La Pergola, open only during the peak seasons of July and
August.
This artful blend of the culinary with the cultural, with some history
as an added ingredient, is by design (and, arguably, the highlight of the
resort experience).
“Meals are served at the central restaurant [Le Terrazze], where
breakfast, lunch, and dinner are a buffet with fresh products from the rich
territory, skillfully transformed following the highest Italian gastronomic
tradition,” Bo explains. “On request, it is possible to have lunch directly
on the beach at the O Fetente restaurant bar, which takes its name from
the ancient district where the resort is located, or, at dinner at La Pergola
restaurant overlooking the sea, where you can taste the most exclusive,
traditional Sicilian cuisine, revisited with flair and creativity.”
Gateway to Opportunity
Villa Ridente remains a part of Messina’s historic fabric and continues
to evolve and advance that history. Early last year, the resort undertook
a small renovation project, with improvements to the property’s exter-
nal facade and new furniture installed in some select units.
But like the progression of the resort’s stewardship, the resort’s real
evolution comes about from the newmembers sought, and welcomed, to
the VRClub family. Currently, according to Paolo Bo, the resort engages
in active sales efforts to attract and refer newmembers to VRClub during
the open summer season between the months of April through October.
Sales, he says, are focused primarily on the appeal of the resort’s loca-
tion, with sales teams emphasizing exchange opportunities through
Interval International and all related advantages as additional value
to buyers.
This, according to Francesco Bo, offers them the opportunity
to explore and enjoy other unique destinations across the world.
“We believe that offering our owners the ability to exchange their
vacation time and stay at hundreds of resorts within Interval’s global net-
work adds value to our product,” he says.
“Villa Ridente Club creates an expert combination of Sicily’s sunny
climate, spectacular scenery, and regional cuisine to make it a prime
destination for vacationers,” says Darren Ettridge, Interval’s senior vice
president of business development for Europe, Middle East, Africa, and
Asia. “It’s an ideal base for our members looking to combine a beach
experience with cultural exploration.”
And with that, as the Gateway to Sicily welcomes visitors to
Messina, Villa Ridente’s porta di accesso al paradiso — the gateway to
paradise — remains open to them for years to come.
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