History serves as a backdrop and reference point in this small B&B, with contemporary design and renovations firmly rooted in the present. Organized around the central courtyard, the two accommodations once housed livestock and crops, with the mangers and feed bins imaginatively repurposed into functional living spaces. 

Architect Patrizia Sbalchiero used traditional materials and techniques to match the tone and elemental simplicity of the existing buildings, integrating the rural past with modern living. The original stone, ceilings of reeds, and walls blackened by fire form a backdrop of a bygone time in an innovative combination of rustic authenticity and stylish modernity.

Owner and interior designer Andreina Lebole decorated the interiors with an eclectic but spare collection of Scandinavian and German furnishings and traditional Sicilian handcrafts, with artworks by Elisabetta Reicher, and lighting designer Davide Groppi’s simple, luminous fixtures. 

The separate spaces are all your own, while the communal spaces invite you to enjoy the tranquility of the country, lounging poolside in the sun, playing croquet and bocce, reading a book in the library, and enjoying the simple pleasures.

Come share in (and taste!) the olive harvest in September and at the beginning of October for an authentic Sicilian experience.

Settled within an expanse of olive groves and vineyards in the Ragusa region of the island, this small luxury hotel in Sicily is an authentic slice of the rural past.

Still a working farm, the main house and all of the outbuildings have been carefully restored to preserve their authenticity and Sicilian identity. The two accommodations in the center courtyard sit below the main house and open out to the pool and gardens in a seamless extension to the landscape. Each of the rooms sleeps two, and both have independent access and private baths. Guests have access to the main house dining areas and library, with breakfast served daily and simple and delicious rotating menu of traditional fare available. 

The rambling grounds are ideal for long walks among the olive groves, with trails leading out into the countryside, or lazy sunny afternoons by the pool, and sunset apertifs on the terrace. 

Discover N'orma's unusual kitchen in our Stories section here, and read about a visit to N'orma here.

RAGUSA PROVINCE

Surrounded by lush farmland, nature reserves, and forests, the quiet town of Chiaramonte Gulfi sits along the “balcony” of Sicily with beautiful panoramic views over Ragusa province. The town is ideal for leisurely strolls through the old center, with its cafes, shops, bakeries, and open square along its ancient cobbled streets. There are several museums and churches of artistic and historical interest as well.

The province’s historic heart, the UNESCO-designated city of Ragusa is a Baroque gem perched against the rocky peaks. Divided into both the new and old centers, the historic jumble of alleyways and squares overlook the via Cap Bocchieri and opposite to the La Rocca Palace. 

It’s less than an hour’s drive to Marina di Modica, Marina di Ragusa and the Andrea Doria promenade, and some of the best beaches on the island including Sampieri and  Donnalucata as well as the beautiful Vendicari Nature Reserve. The nearby UNESCO “sister” cities of Scicli, Modica and Noto are stunning examples of the greater Val di Noto Baroque settlements. Syracuse and Catania are just up the coast along with the famous Mt. Etna.  

LOCATION

Sicily, Italy. Nearest airports: Comiso (15km), Catania (80km)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring through fall