Torre Don Virgilio Country Hotel

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the hotel's historic interior has a lot of charm. We spent four nights here and loved how peaceful it was. It's a great place to get away from the city, with a large pool for relaxing, though the sea is quite far away. Breakfast was tasty and typically Italian, although a few more fresh vegetables would've been nice. There's also an on-site restaurant serving authentic Italian food. I'd recommend it to anyone after a rural, quiet stay.

Modica, Ragusa and Scicli were lovely to visit, and we liked the pool and garden. The room was basic but acceptable. We were disappointed with the service, which often seemed absent, with nobody around on several occasions, and we also ran into rudeness and unhelpfulness. Our room was in an annex that looked more modern and charmless than the website photos. It was dark, and when we asked to move, the staff weren't helpful. Every night the dining area was booked for a large party, so it was consistently noisy, and parking was difficult when we returned from dinner.

We enjoyed the stay mainly because of the grounds and the area. The olive trees, plants and lawn were beautiful and well cared for, and the hotel has a lovely Italian feel. It's in the south Sicilian countryside, about 15 minutes from Modica and roughly 30 minutes from Noto or the beach. The staff were friendly, especially Marta, who gave us great tips for gelato nearby. Our room was a letdown: it had no windows, so there was little natural light and the air felt bad. The kitchen wasn't really equipped for cooking, but after we asked for pots, pans, a cooking knife and a board, we managed to make some great dinners. Breakfast was okay, without much variety.

Our suite was spacious and comfortable, though having the shower right in the bedroom was a strange choice. We ate at the restaurant several times for lunch and dinner. The food was good, and locals came in to eat too. Breakfast was plentiful each morning, and the pool was always at a lovely temperature for cooling off in the Sicilian heat. The staff were kind, helpful and always willing to go the extra mile. The countryside setting was beautiful. By car, Modica, Noto, Syracuse and Marianelli Beach were all easy to reach. The location is clear when you book a hotel, so I was surprised by recent comments about it. Thanks to the Torre Don Virgilio for the hospitality!