Casale Spinazzella

It's a shame, because the farmhouse is in a wonderful location, just a few kilometers from Donnalucata, the beautiful Playa Grande beach, and Marina di Ragusa. It's also well placed for exploring much of the lovely Iblean countryside. But the two-story apartments in the old farmhouse are close to bare-bones, and some basic things are missing. The ground-floor bathroom can't be used, and the plastic toilet seat should have been replaced years ago. There are no bedroom curtains, so the sunrise wakes you up. That's lovely for a few mornings, then it becomes unbearable. You end up trying to keep the shutters open for air while finding some way to darken the room. Inside, there's no sofa. Outside there's a small wicker couch for two and two armchairs, all without cushions. The garden is big and has beautiful maritime pines, but it's not well maintained. The terrace is described as a solarium, yet there isn't even a deckchair, so it isn't really usable as one. There's no air conditioning. You can use the washing machine, but not the dishwasher. The BBQ area is very comfortable. It's quiet, tucked behind the driveways of a lovely residential complex of villas surrounded by greenery. There's no covered parking. You park in the lot in front of the farmhouse, reached by a flight of stairs, and the car is always in the sun. With different management and a little more investment, the place could be quite different. The owner asks for immediate payment in cash when you arrive, though this isn't stated anywhere. And you don't get a receipt or invoice.