Rural bliss in the countryside of south east Sicily, close to sandy beaches and the Baroque towns of the Val di Noto.

A lovely working farmhouse with its own wine barrels and an excellent restaurant.

Most rooms are generously sized; Suites have sofabeds and a kitchenette.

Situated in the heart of the Sicilian countryside, this seven room boutique hotel is as close to the soft sandy beaches of Sicily’s south east coastline as the treasure-filled Baroque towns for which the area is so famous.

This is country house living, Sicilian style, on an organic working farm. Cleverly converted from a 16th century fortified grain store, the hotel is charmingly rustic, with white washed walls and wooden beams.

Outside, there are manicured lawns dotted with palm and olive trees, a children’s play area and a lovely pool and Jacuzzi and beyond that, olive groves and vineyards and the polytunnels of the farm.

Accommodation is in seven rooms/mini-apartments, almost all with a kitchen corner. These comprise four Superior rooms, all on the first floor and with a shower room and kitchen corner in three of them. Three Suite rooms, again with a kitchen corner and shower room, are on the ground floor, with direct access to the garden. These are ideal for families of either four or five.

Furnishings are simple in typical country style but each room features a flat LCD screen, a safe and individual heating/air conditioning.

This is serious foodie heaven. Breakfast – home-made jam and cakes, fresh ricotta, ham and salami - is served on the patio overlooking the gardens and dinner in the intimate Moresca dining-room where innovative twists on traditional Sicilian dishes result in a gastronomic feast. For a special treat, ask for a romantic candlelit dinner on the tower’s rooftop or by the pool.

The hotel’s wine list features many of the wines produced on the estate together with other Sicilian labels.

Half-board includes antipasti, two courses and dessert.

The location is strategic and suggestive, in the middle of the south-eastern countryside overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, more precisely in Ispica in the province of Ragusa.

The area boasts an incredible historical and cultural heritage, the Val di Noto has been declared a World Heritage Site for its baroque buildings, its archaeological areas and beautiful nature reserves.

The perfect place to combine for combining a culture-rich trip with a relaxing few days of sun, sand and sea.

The beaches are all beautiful, the seabed is low and sandy and the sea is really clean.