Tenuta Olive Alive

The gardens and pool are lovely, but our ‘luxury’ Cornucopia room was damp, grubby and neglected. There was mould on the walls and a dehumidifier ran constantly in the bedroom. The bathroom was particularly dirty and unpleasant. Flickering upright neon lights, a dirty, unswept outdoor area, and old, flaking table and chairs all added to the sense that the place was unloved. The roof terrace was empty, without a chair or seat, and the cushions promised when we arrived never appeared. We couldn’t find any sign of a yoga studio. The only spa information we saw said to book several days ahead so a therapist could be found, so anything else shown online is misleading. We’d booked the room to end our Sicily holiday on a high, encouraged by the website and other reviews. Instead, this was by far the worst of the four places we stayed. The reality was a huge letdown, and I think the photos we’ve added show why. On our first evening, dinner was in a cold, unwelcoming room, which we later realised was also where breakfast was served. We tried to make the best of it, but the owner doesn’t cook or host ‘gala’ dinners. There’s a chef, and the owner only showed up occasionally with his lovely dog, who barks a lot. The dog woke us before 7, and the barking through the day wasn’t what we wanted on holiday, even though we own and love dogs. Noise was a problem from the start. We found out on our last afternoon that the owner had been getting ready to film drone footage without telling us. For two days we heard strimmers and brush cutters constantly, then on the third day a crew arrived with a drone and filmed all afternoon while we were by the pool. It was disruptive and ruined the day. When we complained, the owner was surly and aggressive and didn’t apologise. He acted as if hosting us was a personal favour, though we paid £1200 for three nights, which wasn’t worth half that to us. Other guests from Germany and the US also told us they were shocked by how ‘rustic’ the rooms were. We had to make an unplanned move to another hotel near Siracusa. Luckily, it was absolutely lovely and let us finish the holiday on a high, but Olive Alive had nothing to do with that. We’d arrived with very high hopes and left deeply disappointed.

Italo, the owner, made us feel right at home and was so accommodating. We loved unwinding by the pool, with the amazing views and food. Couldn’t have hoped for a better stay. We’ll definitely recommend it. 10/10.

The delicious breakfast and stunning views were standouts, and you can see how much care has gone into the details. From the minute we arrived at this beautiful estate, everything felt peaceful and serene. Wish we’d been able to stay much longer.

The calm and quiet were exactly what my partner and I wanted when we took a break from city life. We came in November, outside the season, and were the only guests in the villa, which made the stay feel even more special. From all around the property there are breathtaking views over Noto. Italo made us feel so welcome. On Friday and Sunday he cooked private dinners for us at the property, with seafood, traditional Sicilian dishes, and vegetables from his garden. It felt like having our own private chef, and every meal was made with so much care. Breakfast each day had a great range of sweet and savoury choices. I especially loved the freshly squeezed blood orange juice, since I have a soft spot for fresh juice. We spent our last day relaxing at the SPA and had a massage with Sorin. He was professional, kind, and easy to talk to. Even in November I managed a dip in the pool, with those beautiful views and the last bits of sun. I love animals, so Clio the dog and the cats were a treat. Paulina the cat stole both our hearts and hung out with us throughout the stay. She was ridiculously adorable. Our Noto room was sunny, spacious and clean, with everything we needed, including a fridge stocked with cold drinks. A lovely woman cleaned it daily, aired it out and made it look as if we’d just arrived. I’ve never had housekeeping that thorough or detailed, and it was one of my best experiences. You’ll need a car to get to Noto town, as it isn’t walkable from the property, though taxis are available and it’s only an eight-minute drive. The villa was beautiful and so well cared for. Our stay was even better than we’d imagined, and we’ll be back in Sicily, if only to chat with warm, lovely Italo again.