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The southeastern corner of Sicily is a magical place for those who truly seek to find Italy at its most authentic. Once the capital of the western Greek world, Magna Graecia, it boasts ruins that date back farther than Rome's: an entire day can easily be spent in Siracusa alone. But if you venture farther south, the narrow winding roads will take you through hills that rival Tuscany's for beauty -- as well as for wine and olive oil output (lately it's the Sicilians who've been winning all the awards!). Imagine driving past acres of silent, deserted olive groves whose boundaries are delineated by low walls made not of stone but of marble from the same quarries used by the sculptors of the Empire! Now and then you will catch a glimpse of azure sea, or perhaps a vibrant purple bougainvillea. Then suddenly you round a curve and see, atop a distant hill, a small village crowned with the belltowers of half a dozen elaborate churches -- and as you draw closer and closer you realize you have stumbled into the Baroque heartland of Europe. From your vantage point tiny, insignificant Comiso looks like Oz to Dorothy -- and there are half a dozen more of these towns, each one a bit more prominent than the other. At the top of the ladder is Noto, which was virtually rebuilt from zero after the earthquake of 1685. The result is a pure and unadulterated Baroque showcase that will take the words right out of your mouth. When you have recovered, you can replace them with a cup of the very best gelato in all Italy, served up at Corrado Costanzo's renowned ice cream shop. A hint: the chocolate and vanilla are world-class, but be adventurous and try jasmine, or mulberry, or rose.
About 2 km from the center of town, on the way to the pristine sand beach that is the other local attraction, there is a baglio (ancient fortress farm) which has been here since 1752. For centuries in southern Italy, farms were fortified so that the peasants and their lords could protect themselves against the never-ending invasions of barbarian hordes who anchored nearby and swept through the land, razing everything in their path. Today the stone walls of this self-enclosed universe are surrounded by a flowering citrus farm whose perfume lightens the air many months of the year. Totally restored in 2002, the Antico Baglio di Noto now offers foreigners a warm and very authentic Sicilian welcome, where vibrant cordiality combines with genteel discretion to provide a vacation you will want to repeat over and over again.
This is truly a place to come for a real vacation. Thanks to the absence of satellite TV or Internet points, guests can forget the outside world for a few days, concentrating on the birdsong, the fresh air, the sweet smells of the garden and the starry nighttime sky. All the rooms have the original stone floors and are furnished with lovely antiques, providing the atmosphere you might have found when The Leopard ruled over his Donnafugata estate. Many of the rooms have balconies; all the superior rooms have views through the lemon trees to the deep blue sea beyond. A few of the rooms are big enough for four people. And of course, there are just enough modern amenities to make your stay comfortable: private bathrooms with a big stall shower or bathtub and hair dryer, air conditioning and heating throughout, direct-dial telephones, an elevator, and some non-smoking and accessible rooms. In the morning you'll take your buffet breakfast on the patio, on summer afternoons you'll relax to enjoy the view of Noto by the pool. Afterwards, enjoy an authentic Sicilian dinner in the restaurant, where you'll taste the renowned local specialties before retiring for a good night's rest.
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| Nightly Rates for 2008 (per room) Two-Night Minimum Stay |
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| Includes taxes, services & breakfast | ||||
| Low Season: Jan. 9-March 15 Oct. 16-Dec. 21 |
Mid Season: March 16- June 15 Aug. 31-Oct. 15 |
High Season: June 16-July 24 Dec. 22-Jan. 8, 2009 |
Peak Season: July 25-Aug. 30 |
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| Double Room for Single Use | 70.00 EURO | 78.00 EURO | 85.00 EURO | 110.00 EURO |
| Standard Double Room | 110.00 EURO | 126.00 EURO | 140.00 EURO | 180.00 EURO |
| Standard Triple Room | 159.50 EURO | 183.00 EURO | 203.00 EURO | 261.00 EURO |
| Family Room (2 adults + 2 children under 12 years old) |
159.50 EURO | 183.00 EURO | 203.00 EURO | 261.00 EURO |
Some rooms are reached via a flight of nine stairs, so please let us know if you need to be in a room reached
by elevator.
The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner during the summer months. At other times, advance reservations
are necessary.
Click here for information about private transfers to the property.
Click here for information about getting to Sicily.
Please note that you need a car to stay here.
