A real find in Southern Sicily, close to Ragusa, Eremo Della Giubiliana is well worth a visit. Carob trees, rustic stone walls and olive groves dominate the landscape with the Mediterranean sea forever glistening invitingly in the background. It’s in an excellent location for exploring more of Sicily’s Baroque south and makes an ideal stopover between Agrigento and Syracuse.
Situated in the heart of the Val of Noto of the Iblean highlands, with a panorama of the Mediterranean, the Eremo della Giubiliana boasts an ancient tradition of Hospitality. Located in a strategic position at the centre of eastern Sicily, it’s the ideal base for those who want to discover the region, visiting Taormina, Siracusa, Agrigento and the UNESCO Val di Noto Baroque sites.
It’s not all farm houses and olive groves in Italy. Near the south coast of Sicily, housed in a medieval-era convent once occupied by the Knights of Malta, lies the Eremo della Giubiliana, a remarkably posh boutique hotel hidden away within an imposing fortified exterior. These stone walls still look up to the task of repelling an invading force, but inside it’s elegant and sophisticated in a way that one doesn’t often expect from rustic, rugged Sicily.
Of course defeating expectations is half the game in the better sort of hotel. The feeling is reminiscent of Morocco in the oasis-like atmosphere of the compound’s interior. It’s quite normal to see minimalist modern furniture against the background of this kind of stark stone architecture, less common to see the Eremo’s refined, almost baroque pieces.
Enjoy prestigious halls, rooms furnished with valuable antique furniture, and an atmosphere elegance and refinement. Using original materials and maintaining ancient pitch stone and limestone floorings and furnishings, the central part of the fortified Eremo was lovingly restored keeping strictly to historical integrity. The warm welcome gets you involved by immediately making you feel at home, as expected for an old Sicilian countryside residence. The owners are directly involved and supported by a caring and professional staff, which guarantees the guests a discreet familiarity.
THE ROOMS
Eremo della Giubiliana’s unique history means that no one room or suite is the same. Each one has incredible idiosyncrasies, for example the Torre del Canonico Suite, named after the owner’s uncle, the “Canonico” Ignazio Nifosi, boasts a three-storey tower dating from the 14th century. Or the Frate Nero Suite which takes its name from the black cross etched into the white stone walls of the room.
The property has 12 rooms, 4 Suites and Cottages, obtained from the ancient monk’s cells, furnished with old furniture and embellished with original Sicilian family ornaments, soft sofas and valuable carpets. The rooms, which reveal the refined typical Sicilian hospitality style, are equipped with every comfort: satellite TV Lcd, air conditioning and private bathrooms.
The double rooms Classic and Superior overlook the “Orto degli aromi”, a fragrant garden with aromatic and Mediterranean herbs, age-old olive trees as well as an ancient Arab fountain; some of them are located on the ground floor and have disabled access. All rooms are unique and different from each other, with wrought-iron beds, private bathroom and original pitchstone floors. In some Superior rooms it is possible, on request, to add a third bed.
The Deluxe are located respectively in the east and the north wings of the upper floor, the 2 Deluxe rooms dispose of a private terrace and a large bathroom with a tub with massage function.
The nice and different Suite have in in common the typical elegance and charm that can be breathed in the whole structure; each of them has specific characteristics in terms of location, the structure of the room and its furnishings, which make them unique and different from the others.
The Cottages are located at 400 m distance from the main building with private garden and veranda and offer the same services as the rooms, except the room service.
FOODIE DESTINATION
Pamper yourself with onsite massages or enjoy Dining at the hotel’s restaurant, Don Eusebio, is a real treat. Housed in a large hall in the ancient refectory used by the Knights of the Order of Saint John, you can simple dishes that take their inspiration from an amalgam of récipes from ancient Hyblean aristocracy to modern day cuisine. Above you is the magnificent vaulted ceiling of the hall refectory used by the Knights of the Order of Saint John or on a perfect summer evening, venture out to enjoy the Hortus Conclusus garden to enjoy the heady scent of jasmine while sampling stellar Italian cuisine.
The best Sicilian wines can be tasted directly in the cellar of the crypt, as the culmination of this wine and food tour in this flavour-rich land. The tea room is even more fascinating thanks to the antique and rare maps collection, representing Sicily from to the fifteenth to the eighteenth century; the bright windows overlooks the ancient olive trees of the park as well as Malta islands.
WELLNESS
The massage zone Asphodelus is located just opposite the archaeological site; here guests can take care of themselves with several treatments, sipping herbal tea and relaxing amongst the ancient olive trees in the park.
Eremo della Giubiliana is the perfect Italian retreat, a departure from the norm for sure but one that will appeal to those seeking something a little bit different but while also wishing to explore the truly wonderful island that is Sicily.
