Dimora delle Balze

Sometimes it seems there’s hardly a square kilometer of Italy that doesn’t contain some unmissable sight or some unforgettable hotel. On the eastern side of Sicily, a half-hour inland from Syracuse, and even closer to the beautiful baroque town of Noto, is one of both: a masseria — an old farming estate — whose stone buildings and courtyards have been transformed into a contemporary boutique hotel called Dimora delle Balze.

Behind those stone walls, it’s decorated in that inimitably Italian fashion, with the ancient and the modern existing happily side by side. Modernist furnishings and rustic, well-worn architecture create plenty of visual interest, and the tension is resolved by the sheer comfort of the guest rooms. They’re all different, whether in the main house, an outlying building, or the estate’s tower — but they’re uniformly impressive, each one dedicated to a different artist or artwork.

There are also a wealth of semi-public spaces, from the three courtyards to the gardens, the pool deck, and the lemon orchard. A small spa and a dining room see to your body’s needs, and you’ll have the chance to improve your mind by taking classes as well — from cooking and pastry to art and photography.

Please note:
Dimore delle Balze is a seasonal hotel, open from Easter through the end of October.