Mangia’s Torre del Barone Resort & Spa is a large, modern five-star on the south-west coast of Sicily, set in the Sciaccamare park a few kilometres from Sciacca. It reopened in April 2023 after a renovation reported at €15 million, and it now combines a long sandy beach, a spa with an indoor thermal-style pool, one of the bigger racket sports set-ups on the island and the Verdura golf courses a short drive away. My one-line verdict: a polished, family-friendly beach and sport resort rather than an intimate luxury hideaway, and arguably the most sensible base near Sciacca if Verdura is full or beyond budget.
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Quick facts: Mangia’s Torre del Barone Resort & Spa
- Location: Contrada Sovareto, inside the Sciaccamare park, about 4 km from the historic centre of Sciacca, province of Agrigento.
- Rooms and suites: 231 rooms in a five-storey building, in categories from Classic (28 m²) to Junior Suite (40 to 49 m², depending on the source).
- Price level: upper-middle for a Sicilian five-star, generally below Verdura. Breakfast is included; half board and other board upgrades are sold on top.
- Season: seasonal. It reopened on 7 April 2023 and opened on 1 May in 2025. Exact 2026 and 2027 dates are not published, so ask the hotel.
- Nearest airports: Palermo or Trapani, roughly 80 to 90 minutes by car.
- Best for: families, tennis and padel players, and groups where only one or two people want to play golf.
Check prices and availability
Sea-view Deluxe rooms and Junior Suites go first in July and August, when UK and Italian school holidays overlap. Compare dates and board options before you commit.
Location and getting there
Torre del Barone sits on a low rise above the sea in Sciaccamare, a large green park on the coast east of Sciacca that the Mangia family’s company Aeroviaggi has owned for about a quarter of a century. The park also holds the group’s more casual MClub properties, Cala Regina, Lipari and Alicudi, so expect other holidaymakers around the shared grounds; Torre del Barone is the flagship of the complex. The beach, Spiaggia Sovareto, lies just below the hotel and is reached by a short footpath or a little shuttle train.
The closest airports are Palermo and Trapani. Tour operators quote around 80 to 90 minutes from Palermo by car, and roughly the same from Trapani. Package coach transfers with several drop-offs take longer: one operator lists over two hours. The hotel offers airport transfers for a fee; I would still hire a car if you plan to play golf, visit Agrigento or eat out in Sciacca.
Rooms and suites
All 231 rooms are in one five-storey block facing the sea, which keeps the layout simple: lifts down to the gardens and pool, then the path to the beach. The renovation gave them a bright, contemporary look with terraces or verandas, rather than anything rustic. Air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a minibar or fridge, a safe and coffee facilities are standard, and connecting rooms are available for families.
The official categories:
- Classic Room: 28 m², with or without a sea view. The entry level, best for short stays.
- Superior Room: 30 m², with a garden view terrace or a sea view terrace.
- Deluxe Room: 34 m², with a veranda, or with a sea view terrace. The sweet spot for couples.
- Junior Suite: listed at 40 m² by the hotel and 49 m² by one UK partner, with a larger terrace and a seating area. The pick for families of four.
One point needs flagging. Several sources, including the 2023 reopening coverage and a UK tour operator, say every room faces the sea. The hotel’s own website, however, sells garden view versions of the Classic, Superior and Deluxe rooms. Our research turned up contradictory information here, so if a sea view matters to you, book a category with “sea view” in its name rather than assuming it.
Dining
- Mediterra: the main buffet restaurant for breakfast and half board dinners, with Mediterranean dishes and a grill.
- Donna Floriana Bistrot: an à la carte bistro with sea views, focused on fish and meat with a modern touch. Dinner only, roughly 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm, with opening days depending on season and occupancy. Reservations are required.
- Al Grano: the pizzeria, with a terrace overlooking the sea.
- Bars: the Lime Pool Bar, the Primo Bar in the main building and the Calm Beach bar on the sand.
The hotel does not name its chefs online, so I cannot tell you who runs the kitchens; ask the hotel if that matters to you. I also found no Michelin star or Michelin listing for any of the resort’s restaurants in the 2026 guide.
Board options are where research got messy. Breakfast is always included and half board is widely sold. Some UK operators sell all-inclusive packages, and the group markets an all-inclusive programme for its five-star resorts, yet an older answer from the property on a booking site said all-inclusive was not offered. Our research turned up contradictory information here, so check exactly which board types are available for your dates and channel before you book.
Check rates at Mangia’s Torre del Barone
Spa and pools
Sciacca has been a thermal town since antiquity, and the resort leans into that heritage. The group describes naturally heated thermal pools at Sciaccamare, fed by the area’s sulphurous waters, and UK partner Neilson lists a thermal pool among the spa facilities. The 2023 reopening coverage simply called it a heated indoor pool. In practice, expect a warm indoor pool as the centrepiece of the spa; if mineral thermal water is the reason you are booking, ask the hotel what currently feeds the pool.
Around it you will find:
- A sauna, a Turkish bath (hammam) and an outdoor jacuzzi.
- A solarium and relaxation areas, plus a quiet floating zone in one of the indoor pool areas.
- Treatment rooms and a gym.
Guests under 18 need to be accompanied by an adult in the spa. Outside, the large main pool sits on a terrace with views over the coast, and the pool areas were redesigned for the 2025 season. The spa size is not published, and it is a hotel spa rather than a destination spa, so serious wellness seekers will find more at Verdura’s much larger Irene Forte Spa.
Sport and activities
Sport is where Torre del Barone stands out from most Sicilian beach resorts, and it is why the hotel also deserves a look if you are reading our guide to tennis hotels in Sicily.
Tennis, padel and pickleball
The racket sports hub is about five minutes’ walk from the hotel entrance. Sources disagree on numbers: the hotel lists seven tennis courts, two padel courts and four pickleball courts, while Neilson lists six tennis courts, two padel courts and six (or, in one caption, eight) pickleball courts. Our research turned up contradictory information on court counts, so do not book on a precise number, but either way this is a substantial set-up. Sunball Tennis & Padel Academy is the official tennis partner for lessons and tournaments, and Neilson runs its own coaching, social tennis and padel games for guests who book through Neilson, which has around a fifth of the rooms. The court surface is not stated, so ask the hotel if you need clay.
Golf
There is no golf course at the resort and no published golf package. The obvious target is Verdura Resort, roughly 20 minutes east along the coast, with its East and West 18-hole courses and a nine-hole short course. That is why Torre del Barone appears in our guide to golf hotels in Sicily as the alternative when Verdura is full. Ask reception to request tee times and arrange transfers, and confirm green fees with Verdura directly, since non-resident access and prices are set by the club. See our guide to golf in Sicily.
Beach and everything else
The beach is long and sandy, with spaced loungers and umbrellas. Front-row sunbeds cost extra and can be reserved, while those further back are free on a first-come basis; again, confirm the current policy. Since 2025 the Calm Beach club area is adults-only. Canoes and stand-up paddleboards are available, and there are two five-a-side football pitches, a multi-sport court for volleyball and basketball, and a petanque area.
For children, the resort runs a Kids’ Club for ages 4 to 17 in collaboration with Neilson, and Neilson guests get additional clubs and a pre-bookable crèche.
What’s nearby
- Sciacca: the old town, ceramics workshops and the fishing port for a seafood dinner.
- Verdura Resort: golf, a bigger spa and lunch with a view. See our Verdura Resort review if you are deciding between the two.
- Selinunte: one of the largest Greek archaeological parks in Sicily, an easy drive west along the coast.
- Agrigento: roughly an hour east for the Valley of the Temples. Read our Valley of the Temples guide for tickets and timing.
- Ferdinandea: the site of a volcanic island that rose from the sea in 1831 and soon vanished, reachable on boat excursions from Sciacca.
Torre del Barone vs other Sicilian resorts
| Hotel | Location | Standout | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mangia’s Torre del Barone | Sciaccamare, near Sciacca | Sandy beach, indoor thermal-style pool, large tennis, padel and pickleball hub | Families, racket sports, mixed golf groups |
| Verdura Resort | Sciacca, south-west coast | 45 holes on site, clay tennis, large Irene Forte Spa | Dedicated golf weeks |
| Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa | Castiglione di Sicilia, Etna | 18-hole course on the slopes of Etna | Golf plus wine country |
| Villa Igiea | Palermo, on the bay | Art Nouveau palace, sea-view tennis court | City culture with a resort feel |
In short: Verdura is the luxury golf choice on this coast, Il Picciolo pairs golf with Etna wineries, Villa Igiea is for Palermo, and Torre del Barone is the relaxed beach and racket sports option with Verdura’s courses close enough for a round or two. For the group’s other Sicilian resorts, see our Mangia’s Brucoli review.
Who it suits, and who it does not
It suits:
- Families who want kids’ clubs, a sandy beach and a pool, with an adults-only beach club for some peace.
- Tennis, padel and pickleball players who want coaching and partners on site.
- Groups where one or two people golf at Verdura while the others stay on the beach.
It does not suit:
- Couples looking for a small, intimate or historic hotel: this is a 231-room resort in a shared park.
- Food lovers who want a Michelin-starred restaurant in-house.
- Golfers who want to walk to the first tee every morning.
- Anyone who dislikes buffets, organised activities or busy school holiday weeks.
Charlotte’s tip: go in June or September, and pay for the view
Book a Deluxe Room with sea view or a Junior Suite and travel just outside the school holidays. The sea is warm, the courts are pleasant in the morning and evening, Verdura tee times are easier to get, and the beach club is far calmer than in August.
Practical tips
- Booking: compare the hotel’s own rates with UK operators, since packages through Neilson, Jet2 or Kuoni may include flights, transfers and different board options.
- Best rooms to request: any category labelled “sea view”, ideally on an upper floor; Junior Suites for families of four.
- Season: it is a seasonal resort, so do not count on winter stays. Opening dates have varied from early April to 1 May in recent years, so confirm your dates with the hotel.
- Kids: very family-friendly, but under-18s must be accompanied in the spa and the Calm Beach club is adults-only.
- Pets: small pets up to 10 kg have been accepted for a daily fee in the past; check the current policy with the hotel.
Check prices and availability
Compare room categories, check which ones really face the sea and see whether half board or an all-inclusive upgrade is offered on your dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mangia’s Torre del Barone a five-star hotel?
Yes. The former Torre del Barone hotel in the Sciaccamare complex was renovated and reopened as a five-star resort in April 2023, under the Mangia’s brand of the Palermo-based Aeroviaggi group.
Does Torre del Barone have a golf course?
No. The nearest courses are at Verdura Resort, roughly 20 minutes away by car. Ask the hotel to help with tee times and transfers.
Is the resort open all year?
No, it is a seasonal resort, typically opening in spring and running into autumn. Exact 2026 and 2027 dates are not published, so ask the hotel.
How far is the hotel from Palermo airport?
Roughly 80 to 90 minutes by car. Shared package transfers can take over two hours, and Trapani airport is a similar drive.
