The White Lotus and From Scratch have put Sicily on the map as one of the crucial sought-after journey locations for 2023.
If HBO sequence The White Lotus has peaked your curiosity within the southen Italian island of Sicily, you are not alone. Journey brokers have seen an enormous uptick in enquiries for the reason that sequence began in October, particularly from US clients.
The sequence was filmed on the massive 4 Seasons‘ San Domenico Palace resort in Taormina.
However as a resident of the island, I like to recommend you dig a little bit deeper in your lodging search.
What is the benefit of small lodges?
Sicily is filled with distinctive small and boutique lodges that can help you expertise the native tradition whereas nonetheless having fun with luxurious.
However, as in lots of nations, what is supposed by a boutique resort isn’t all the time clear.
One of many choices on this record is extra of a enterprise resort, regardless of being known as boutique. Whereas one other is a boutique resort by means of and thru – for all the best causes. So be sure you do your analysis and test that what you’re reserving is certainly the kind of resort you’re searching for.
Shifting clockwise across the largest island within the Mediterranean, we deliver you the perfect small lodges in Sicily’s hottest vacationer locations.
The place was ‘From Scratch’ filmed in Sicily?
Netflix sequence ‘From Scratch’ has additionally peaked curiosity in Sicily because it was launched earlier this yr.
Primarily based on a best-selling memoir “an artist finds romance with a chef in Italy and embarks on a life-changing journey of affection, loss, resilience and hope throughout cultures and continents”, in keeping with Netflix.
Within the third episode, Lino takes Amy again to the place he was born and raised- north-west Sicily.
The resort scenes had been filmed at La Calette Backyard and Bay, a resort with superb sea views day and evening.
Le Calette Backyard and Bay is positioned 2km from the city centre, tucked away in a bay with glowing blue water. It’s a small resort with the whole lot you want in your doorstep. A lot in order that I think about numerous company don’t even make it into Cefalu city. For people who do, the seaside resort is just a 20-minute stroll away or accessible with the free resort shuttle.
The primary resort space could be very spacious, with a stunning pool and bar space. One degree down is a terrace the place breakfast is served alongside beautiful views out over the ocean. Nonetheless additional under that’s Calette Reef Membership (open from June to September) the place there’s one other bar, solar loungers and a non-public deck. I like to recommend taking the ladder all the way down to the ocean and swimming out from right here to find the tiny hidden seaside across the nook from the bay.
All the Le Calette lodges are family-run they usually’ve been in enterprise since 1969. It reveals within the easy working and wonderful service. Reception employees had been particularly useful; on-hand all through my keep to reply any questions concerning the resort’s providers, such because the spa and yoga courses.
Le Calette’s 5 stars actually shine by means of in its collection of rooms. They really feel spacious inside and outside due to the non-public out of doors areas. The decor feels high-end and the small touches like recent fruit actually make the expertise.
Double rooms begin at €198 and could be booked right here.
Salina, Aeolian Islands – Principe da Salina
Salina is my favorite Aeolian island and Principe da Salina has now turn into my favorite resort – actually in Italy and possibly even in the entire of Europe. It was an actual discover and, it seems, I used to be fortunate to get a room on the final minute. It solely has 12 accessible and was booked out for many of the summer season.
There are such a lot of small touches that full this tranquil hideout, just like the sulphuric geothermal pool, meant to enhance circulation, and the linen sarongs to be used by company. To not point out the beautiful residence cooking, impeccable inside design and an infinity pool to die for.
My backyard room had a good looking terrace full with a dangling chair looking to sea. It was the right spot to curve up with a e book, particularly as the entire resort was so quiet you may hear a pin drop. This was one in all my favorite issues about Principe – the silence that envelops the entire place. Inside a number of hours of arriving, I’d forgotten about life stresses, secure within the information that my solely obligation right here was to chill out and luxuriate in.
For sure, the quiet ambiance makes it unsuitable for households with young children. Many of the different company had been {couples} or solo travellers. I received the sensation lots of them had been escaping busy lives and high-pressure jobs.
Principe is run by a household and you actually do really feel welcomed into their fold. The matriarch is the mastermind behind the meals, made with native, seasonal substances. It’s actually top quality however very fairly priced, with filling lunch plates from €10.
Anita, daughter and supervisor, will likely be completely happy to e book you wine tasting at one of many close by vineyards. She additionally gave us suggestions for eating places in Santa Marina, the centre of Salina, when you can name it that. Although I need to warn you, don’t count on to see a lot of the island because it’s exhausting to tug your self away from the nice and cozy embrace of Principe.
Costs for a double room begin at €170 and could be booked right here.
Modica – Modica Boutique Lodge
The very first thing that struck me about Modica Boutique Lodge was the situation. It’s within the purchasing space of Modica, fairly than within the historic centre, and is connected to a petroleum station. Regardless of this barely odd selection of location, there’s rather a lot to advocate about this enterprise resort.
It has a spacious and well-designed foyer space, designed by CaberlonCaroppi, that leads on to the restaurant. Meals is served right here all day and there’s a wide variety of Italian and worldwide dishes.
The rooms are all off lengthy corridors and every flooring has water and ice stations. There are rooms to go well with a wide range of budgets, however all are spacious and thoughtfully designed.
With easy accessibility to the principle highway out and in of Modica, that is the right place for enterprise travellers. The WiFi was flawless and the rooms are very quiet. This ambiance made it a terrific place to work – and get a very good evening’s sleep. There’s additionally a gathering room on the bottom flooring for rent.
Should you do need to discover the previous city or go to the resort’s non-public seaside, there are shuttle providers to each. That is the right strategy to attain the previous city, particularly, as slim streets and lack of parking imply it’s an excessive amount of trouble to take your individual automobile.
Double rooms begin at €90 and could be booked right here.
Mount Etna – Monaci delle Terre Nere
If you need hikes and journey in the course of the day and peace and solitude by evening, that is the place for you. Wine lovers additionally take be aware.
Monaci delle Terre Nere is a 25-hectare property on the foot of Mount Etna, Europe’s largest and most energetic volcano. They develop the grapes for six forms of wine (all scrumptious) alongside extra fruit and greens than you may think about.
The produce grown on the property is woven into each a part of the expertise, from the fruit basket awaiting you in your room to the lunch and dinner menu which modifications each day. I did really feel the meals was overpriced, particularly for Sicily the place you may often eat for €30 a head together with wine. However the helipad gave me the sense that cash’s not a difficulty for many company right here.
The rooms are in chalets dotted across the Monaci delle Terre Nere. There’s a lot land between them that you just really feel such as you’ve received your individual non-public property. Till, that’s, a golf buggy sails previous the window – the mode of transport used to ferry company round.
I used to be in a Deluxe Property Suite and it was breathtaking. It had a bed room, a front room, two bogs and even a walk-in closet. The couch in the lounge additionally doubles up as a mattress so you may comfortably match a bunch of mates right here.
I used to be at Monaci in late September and it was a cloudy and gray weekend. This isn’t uncommon for Mt Etna, the place the climate is as unpredictable because the volcano itself. I’d usually have been disillusioned, however our suite was so particular that I used to be completely happy to not really feel compelled to enterprise out. I lit the fireplace, related up the in-room Bose speaker and whiled the afternoon away, ending with a dip within the non-public pool.
All in all, Monaci is a good selection in order for you luxurious whereas experiencing the majestic Mt Etna.
Costs for a double room begin at €395 and could be booked right here.
Noto – Masseria degli Ulivi
Numerous the filming for The White Lotus was completed in Noto, so it ought to positively be in your itinerary.
Masseria degli Ulivi is a 10-minute drive from Noto, one of many island’s greatest baroque cities, and Sicily’s homosexual capital. However staying right here, you wouldn’t know you’re so near a busy metropolitan centre. Masseria degli Ulivi looks like an actual countryside retreat.
The olives that the resort is known as after produce oil late into the yr, however it’s that can be purchased year-round. I sampled it at dinner and it was golden in color and wealthy in flavour.
Home made produce is a signature right here, with freshly baked bread at dinner and selfmade jams at breakfast. All of those treats had been exceptionally good, making the meals my favorite a part of the keep.
On the centre of Masseria is a big out of doors pool which seems out over the countryside. Like the entire resort, this space is just designed. You received’t discover any manicured lawns or velvet sofas right here. As an alternative, the décor is conventional Sicilian model. Consistent with this, our room was adorned in calming whites and impartial colors.
Not like most lodges, there’s no USB shops or fancy tech. However I loved this because it meant switching off my units for an impromptu digital detox. The service is equally unfussy. The employees are round when you want them, however they’re not intrusive or overbearing.
General, I had a extremely enjoyable keep at this laidback nation resort. I’ll positively be again.
Double rooms begin at €101 and could be booked right here.
Ruth Wright was a visitor of Modica Boutique Lodge, Monaci delle Terre Nere and Masseria degli Ulivi.
