Relais Chiaramonte

There are plenty of Italian farmhouse hotels that call on centuries of history to complete their rustic-luxe fantasy, but Relais Chiaramonte is proof that antique architecture is not essential to the experience. It’s clear at a distance that this 25-room agriturismo is an unapologetically modern one, and while its interiors contain references to classic farmhouse style — timbered ceilings, for example, and an earthy color palette — there’s no attempt made to pass it off as a genuine relic of an earlier age.

Instead it’s intended as a modern tribute to the charm of Sicilian agriculture. The site is home to a working olive farm, as well as a mill where four varieties of olive oil are produced. The rooms and suites benefit from a far-ranging view that was probably too impressive to be reserved for the olive trees alone. And inside the accommodations you’ll find a stylish and somewhat minimalist take on classic Italian rural living.

Which includes, of course, a decided emphasis on food and wine. Relais Chiaramonte’s restaurant depends, to the greatest extent possible, on the products farmed on site; most everything else is sourced from within Sicily, and within Ragusa in particular.