A.D. 1768 Boutique Hotel

In Ragusa’s historic quarter of Ragusa Ibla, there’s a seemingly limitless supply of 18th-century Baroque architecture, and a.d. 1768 Boutique Hotel, named for the year of its construction, is a prime example. Even in such rich surroundings, it stands out, with a privileged position alongside the cathedral and the Piazza Duomo. But for all of this aristocratic residence’s evident history, in typical Italian boutique-hotel style its proprietors are not shy about incorporating modern and contemporary influences — here the Baroque and the 21st century exist comfortably side by side.

The hotel’s public spaces lean heavily on their historical architecture, with its stone vaults and arches. Here the décor is a touch whimsical, though still understated. It’s in the rooms that the owners’ eclectic design sense really comes to the fore, with original flooring and antique furnishings contrast wildly with modernist pieces, colorful contemporary artworks, and bold, graphic design elements, such as ceilings painted in abstract styles. La Carretteria, the old carriage house and stables, now provides the hotel with its common spaces for guests, including its breakfast room and a number of casual lounge spaces — for dinner your hosts are happy to recommend a number of fine local restaurants.