Some of the most memorable places to stay in Sicily are not the big grand hotels but the small ones: a restored masseria among almond trees outside Noto, a handful of rooms above an old palmento on Etna, a stone house in the Jewish quarter of Modica or a clifftop inn surrounded by Malvasia vines on Salina. This guide to the best boutique hotels and masserie in Sicily brings them together by region, with what makes each one special and who it suits best.
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Quick picks
- Best masseria: Dimora delle Balze, near Noto
- Best in a baroque town: Seven Rooms Villadorata, Noto
- Best for food lovers: Locanda Don Serafino, Ragusa Ibla
- Best wine estate: Monaci delle Terre Nere, Mount Etna
- Best island hideaway: Capofaro Locanda & Malvasia, Salina
- Best for history: Eremo della Giubiliana, near Ragusa
What Is a Masseria?
A masseria is a fortified farm estate, the centre of a large agricultural property where the owners, workers and animals once lived behind thick stone walls. Many in the south east of Sicily, around Noto, Ragusa and Modica, have been restored as small hotels. Expect stone courtyards, a pool among olive or citrus trees, a restaurant using produce from the estate and a quiet you rarely find in town. The trade off is that you will need a car.
On Etna, the equivalent is the wine estate, often built around an old palmento, the stone building where grapes were once pressed. Elsewhere, boutique hotels tend to be restored palazzi in the historic centres of towns like Noto, Palermo and Ortigia.
Noto and the Val di Noto
The baroque south east has the highest concentration of masserie and small country hotels in Sicily. Our guide on where to stay in Noto covers the area in more detail.
Dimora delle Balze
A restored masseria in the countryside close to Noto, with around 11 rooms spread across the main house, an outbuilding and the estate’s tower, each dedicated to a different artist or work of art. Stone courtyards, gardens and a pool make it feel like a private country house.
Best for: couples and design lovers who want a true masseria stay.
Check rates at Dimora delle Balze
Masseria della Volpe
A converted farm estate in the Noto countryside with around 22 rooms set among olive, citrus and carob trees, an outdoor pool with a bar, a spa and Codarossa, a restaurant serving regional cooking.
Best for: a relaxed masseria with more facilities.
Check rates at Masseria della Volpe
Seven Rooms Villadorata
Set inside the palace of the Nicolaci family, the Princes of Villadorata, in the historic heart of Noto. Despite the name there are around 10 rooms and suites, mixing original features with contemporary design.
Best for: staying inside the baroque town itself.
Check rates at Seven Rooms Villadorata
Relais Torre Marabino
A wine relais in the countryside near Ispica with only around seven rooms, a garden pool and La Moresca restaurant, which cooks with produce from the Marabino farm and pours the estate’s own wines.
Best for: wine lovers who want a very small, quiet place.
Check rates at Relais Torre Marabino
Il San Corrado di Noto
The most luxurious resort in the area, on a former noble estate among olive, orange and almond groves, built in local Modica stone with several pools, a spa and a tennis court. Larger than the others on this list, but with the same countryside feel.
Best for: travellers who want masseria style with full resort service.
Check rates at Il San Corrado di Noto
Ragusa and Modica
Locanda Don Serafino
In the heart of Ragusa Ibla, Locanda Don Serafino joins a group of historic buildings into a boutique hotel of around 11 rooms, some carved into the rock with bare stone walls. Its restaurant of the same name is a Michelin starred table in a vaulted cellar.
Best for: food lovers who plan dinner around the trip.
Check rates at Locanda Don Serafino
Eremo della Giubiliana
A fortified estate around 10 kilometres south of Ragusa, with a history going back to around 1500. It later became a monastery, and many of its around 32 rooms occupy the former monks’ cells. Dinner is served under the vaulted ceilings of the old refectory.
Best for: history lovers and a very peaceful stay.
Check rates at Eremo della Giubiliana
Casa Talia
A collection of restored stone houses in the old Jewish quarter of Modica, with around 10 rooms, a Mediterranean garden and terraces or balconies looking over the historic centre.
Best for: couples who want to stay inside a baroque town with character.
Charlotte’s tip: two bases are better than one
The towns of the Val di Noto are close together, but driving to dinner in the countryside every night gets tiring. Many travellers split their stay: a few nights in a masseria for slow days by the pool, then one or two nights in Noto, Modica or Ragusa Ibla to walk to dinner and enjoy the towns at night.
Mount Etna: Wine Estates and Small Hotels
The northern and eastern slopes of Etna have become one of the most exciting wine regions in Italy, and some of the estates now have rooms. For more choices, see our guide to wine hotels on Mount Etna.
Monaci delle Terre Nere
An estate on the eastern slopes of Etna with suites and pool villas among its vineyards and gardens, two restaurants and its own Etna wines. Read our Monaci delle Terre Nere review.
Best for: a stylish wine estate stay close to Taormina.
Check rates at Monaci delle Terre Nere
Tenuta di Fessina
Just six rooms above an old palmento on Etna’s north slope, with an infinity pool, a private chef and the estate’s own wines. Read our Tenuta di Fessina review.
Best for: total privacy among the vineyards.
Check rates at Tenuta di Fessina
Dimora Cottanera
Lava stone rooms in the Cottanera vineyards on Etna’s north slope, with tastings, a pool and a small spa. Read our Dimora Cottanera review.
Best for: wine lovers who want to stay at a working estate.
Check rates at Dimora Cottanera
Zash Country Boutique Hotel
A former Etna winery near Riposto, with pool villas in a citrus grove and the sea a few minutes away. Read our Zash review.
Best for: design lovers who want Etna and the sea in one base.
Check rates at Zash Country Boutique Hotel
Shalai
A small palazzo hotel in Linguaglossa, on the north side of Etna, with a restaurant at its heart and a private spa circuit, close to the north slope wineries. Read our Shalai review.
Best for: food and wine lovers on the quieter side of the volcano.
The Aeolian Islands
Small hotels suit the Aeolian Islands perfectly, where most buildings are low white Aeolian houses with terraces facing the sea. See our guide on where to stay in the Aeolian Islands.
Capofaro Locanda & Malvasia
Created by the Tasca d’Almerita wine family, Capofaro sits on a clifftop on Salina’s east coast, surrounded by its own Malvasia vineyards and facing Panarea and Stromboli.
Best for: a romantic island escape with wine on the doorstep.
Check rates at Capofaro Locanda & Malvasia
Hotel Signum
A family run hotel in the village of Malfa on Salina, built around a cluster of Aeolian houses, lemon trees and bougainvillea. It is best known for its restaurant, led by chef Martina Caruso.
Best for: food lovers and a slow pace.
Palermo, Ortigia and Taormina
In the cities, boutique hotels are usually restored palazzi in the historic centre.
Palazzo Natoli Boutique Hotel
A small hotel in an eighteenth century palazzo just off Corso Vittorio Emanuele in Palermo, a few minutes from the Cathedral, with only around a dozen rooms, most of them in the palazzo itself. See where to stay in Palermo.
Best for: walking everywhere in old Palermo.
Check rates at Palazzo Natoli Boutique Hotel
Caportigia Boutique Hotel
In Borgo Santa Lucia, just across the water from Ortigia, with around 18 rooms and suites, a rooftop terrace with a hot tub and its own restaurant. See where to stay in Ortigia and Syracuse.
Best for: a calmer base a short walk from the old town.
Check rates at Caportigia Boutique Hotel
Villa Carlotta
A restored villa a short walk from the Corso in Taormina, with a courtyard pool and suites with private patios. See where to stay in Taormina.
Best for: a personal stay in Taormina.
Inland Sicily
Masseria Susafa
A Small Luxury Hotels of the World member near Polizzi Generosa, in the hills of the Madonie, Susafa is a restored farmhouse with around 18 rooms surrounded by its own fields. It is a long drive inland, so it works best as a stay of its own rather than a base for sightseeing.
Best for: a few days of real countryside calm.
Check rates at Masseria Susafa
Compare small hotels for your dates
Boutique hotels and masserie have few rooms and fill early in May, June and September. Check availability for your trip:
How to Choose
For a road trip: combine a masseria near Noto, a wine estate on Etna and a palazzo hotel in Ortigia or Palermo, as in our 10 to 14 day Sicily itinerary.
For a short trip: choose one region. The Val di Noto has the widest choice of masserie, while Etna is best for wine.
For larger luxury hotels: see our guide to the best luxury hotels in Sicily by region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best masserie in Sicily?
Most are in the south east, in the countryside around Noto, Ragusa, Modica and Ispica. Dimora delle Balze and Masseria della Volpe near Noto are two of the best known.
Do I need a car to stay in a masseria?
In almost every case, yes. Masserie are in the countryside, and taxis are limited. Some hotels can arrange transfers or a driver.
Are boutique hotels in Sicily open all year?
Many countryside and island hotels close from around November to March or April. Hotels in the cities usually stay open all year. Always check the dates before planning.
What is the difference between a masseria and an agriturismo?
An agriturismo is a working farm that offers rooms and meals as a side activity. A masseria hotel is a restored historic farm estate run as a hotel, often in the upper price range.
