Eremo della Giubiliana Ragusa

Enclosed within massive walls, amidst the carob forests of the Hyblean Plateau, in the heart of Val di Noto, Ragusa's Eremo della Giubiliana is a fascinating Sicilian retreat. Since its construction in the 12th century, the Eremo has been a feudal holding, an Arab farmhouse, a fortified country house, a fortress of the Knights of Malta and a convent, before becoming, in the 18th century, the residence of the noble Nifosi family, the last generation of which have transformed the edifice into one of the island's most prestigious hotels.

A vacation at the Eremo della Giubiliana is a truly unique experience, much of which will be spent exploring the beautifully restored edifice's rooms and grounds, and discovering the traces of the property's ancient past. Guest bedrooms have been created inside the monks' cells of the old convent, characterized by thick limestone walls, pitch stone floors, and exposed wooden ceiling beams. Luxurious textiles and family antiques are standard features in all rooms. The careful integration of ultra modern services and the latest in technology, offer the comfort of a contemporary hotel.

The sumptuous halls are adorned with a rare collection of ancient geographical maps and period paintings by the 17th century Sicilian School. The old refectory of the Knights of the Order of San Giovanni provides the elegant venue for the hotel's "Don Eusebio" restaurant, famous for its delicious regional cuisine prepared using the organic fruits and vegetables grown on the Eremo della Giubiliana estate. The same enchanting atmosphere of times past can be found in the piano bar, tea room, breakfast room and in the Crypt - the cellar in which an excellent selection of Sicilian wines and typical gastronomic specialties can be tasted.

The Eremo della Giubiliana is a succession of impressive halls, picturesque internal courts, hidden walkways and shady porticoes. From the tower, which dominates the whole of the Hyblean Plateau, a magnificent view of the Mediterranean Sea can be admired. The grounds of the hotel are equally beautiful, home to medieval pathways, green lawns bordered by typical dry stone walls, a splendid Arab court and an exquisite herb garden sheltered by ancient walls.

In the "Asphodelus" wellness center, facing onto the olive groves, guests choose from an enticing selection of treatments performed using natural products made with the olive oil and wines produced on the Eremo's farm. For those wishing to arrive in true style, there is the hotel's private Ragusa-Giubiliana airfield. The surprises don't finish here, - within the Eremo delle Giubiliana estate there is an authentic archeological park, an area of great historic and cultural importance comprised of a 3rd century B.C necropolis, a late imperial structure, a Sicilian-Greek farm and a fortified edifice dating back to the Byzantine period.

Three good reasons

1. Sleeping in a finely restored fortress once inhabited by the Knights of Malta.
2. The luxurious treatments performed in the "Asphodelus" wellness area.
3. The on-site archeological park.