Battimandorlo.
Contrada Portelle sn, Noto, Sicily.
Dating from the 1800s, this organic farm was once a modest farmhouse and country chapel. Now, Battimandorlo provides 5 guest bedrooms, each uniquely beautiful, making it a perfect refuge for visitors seeking a get-away-from-it-all holiday in the Sicilian countryside. Homemade breakfasts and lunches are made with loving care using the fruits of the farm’s orchards and vegetable gardens. There are restful patios, niches and nooks, nature walks, and an impressive infinity pool which seems to pour its water into the rolling hills below.
Breakfast is a celebration at Battimandorlo. Guests are treated each morning to a sweet and savoury homemade breakfast using as much as possible the produce of the 20 acres of organic farmland and kitchen garden that surround the hotel. Throughout the day Chef Salvatore thinks up snacks to please your whim and appease your hunger, whether that’s a glass of chilled Sicilian wine in your room, a zesty fruit salad by the pool or some crispy fried seafood under the shade of an olive tree. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner. Sitting on the terrace looking over a valley of olive and almond trees, makes for an intimate and peaceful meal.
Each of the guest bedrooms is individual and unique, where the central aim is comfort. Modern design pieces sit alongside antiques picked up in the local markets, and well-loved family heirlooms share their space with bespoke furnishings handcrafted by local artisans. There’s original artwork on the walls, a choice of pillows, fine bed linen, air-conditioning and underfloor heating. Room 5 is the top-of-the-line with generous space, a romantic double bath with a view, and a private shady terrace.
There are some stunning inland locations in Sicily, but doesn’t everyone love a beach? The coast is just a few kilometres away. Choose from the lively, sandy beaches at Lido di Noto or the virgin beaches and lagoons of the Vendicari nature reserve.