Donna Coraly Country Boutique Hotel

Not far from Syracuse, along the southeastern coast of Sicily, on the 14th-century San Michele family estate, a few low-profile buildings — formerly farm workers’ accommodations — have been transformed into the small and luxurious Donna Coraly Country Boutique Hotel. And while it’s not an original part of the estate, it was designed in a style that complements its surroundings, incorporating centuries-old architectural influences as well as modern and contemporary artworks and design.

The location is just close enough to town to feel convenient, yet just far enough to feel pleasantly sequestered — with a heated pool and an expansive estate to wander, it’s well suited to a self-contained stay. The suites, meanwhile, are large and lavish, if tastefully so; there’s also a double room that can be expanded via the adjoining single room into a two-bedroom suite with a surplus of privacy.

A heated salt-water “bio pool” is the centerpiece of an impressive botanical garden, and the restaurant is reserved for guests’ use only; meals can be served in the dining room, by the poolside, or, if you’re in need of an extra measure of privacy, in your suite’s own little garden.