Relais Villa Del Monte

A great base for seeing southeastern Sicily. Ragusa, one of the most beautiful baroque cities, is just 10 minutes away. Modica is about 20 minutes by car, and Noto and Caltagirone about 60 minutes, with Syrakus around 80 minutes away. This cozy agriturismo in an old farmhouse sits on a mountain amid farmland and olive trees, overlooking the valley with no neighbors in sight. From the terrace and breakfast room there's a stunning view of Ragusa Ibla and its dome. The rooms are brand new, with a minibar, flatscreen and modern bathrooms including a hairdryer. They're cleaned and tidied every day, with fresh towels every second day. The whole property is very clean. The pool is cleaned each evening and has enough daybeds and umbrellas for everyone, with pool towels included. Enio and Anna are lovely hosts who do everything they can to make a stay comfortable, from restaurant recommendations and reservations to day-trip suggestions. The service went far beyond what we expected. Enio stayed up until 3 a.m. to let us in and show us our room. Staff also left a little jar on the nightstand for my girlfriend's jewelry after noticing she'd been keeping it in a pile. We were welcomed on the terrace with sparkling wine, cheese and fruit. Breakfast had a great variety, including fruit, some picked by Enio from the garden, vegetables like carrots, cucumber and tomatoes, cheeses, sausage, cakes and cookies, juices, cereals and Enio's special omelette made with eggs from the farm and local cheese.

The farm felt like a little private world, so cozy, quiet and beautiful. Anna & Ennio were warm, friendly and clearly passionate hosts. We've never had a stay this wonderful anywhere else. The food was delicious, much of it homemade or homegrown, and the "little lunch" was the best lunch we've ever had. The wine was heavenly too. Thanks so much, Anna&Ennio. We'd love to come back next time we visit Sicily.

The view across the valley to old Ragusa is jaw-dropping, and the country setting is perfect. The modern, clean rooms were at a 4-star hotel standard, and the pool and surrounding area were just as well equipped. Breakfast had everything you could want, unless you need 2000 calories of fried food first thing in the morning. You'll need a car, but Punta Seca and Scicli, the locations of Inspector Montalbano's house and police station, are an easy drive away. You can also reach Etna and climb it within a day.

We had a fabulous break here. The complex was immaculate, the pool was perfect, and the views were amazing. It's a lovely place to relax, just a five-minute drive from beautiful Ragusa. Ennio, Anna and the lovely ladies were so friendly and helpful. Highly recommend.