Casa Carlita

Close to the Beaches and Baroque of Sicily

Set on a hilltop in the Val di Noto, the southeastern part of Sicily famed for its Baroque cities, Casa Carlita is just a short drive through expansive olive groves to the region's beaches. The home itself was built with Sicilian materials, including local sandstone, and the gardens are composed of a lawn and native vegetation. An infinity-edged pool is half shaded by a dramatic loggia and overlooked by a terrace that's ideal for taking in views across the Ionian Sea.

Inside, the home is modern and minimalist, with plenty of space for unwinding. It has a large, elegant kitchen with dining table. All rooms are ensuite, and three of the four double beds can be split into singles, making this a great home for families as well as groups of friends sharing.

AROUND

A direct path from the house leads to the resort Masseria della Volpe, where guests can book a table at Coda Rossa, a notable local restaurant. Alternatively, check in to the spa, or book some time on the tennis or volleyball courts. It's a 15-minute drive to the beaches, to the fishing village of Marzamemi, or to the Baroque jewel, Noto. Built in the 1700s, the small town has UNESCO World Heritage status, with churches, theaters and palaces galore, and it hosts a long-standing annual flower festival, the Infiorata di Noto, that transforms the small city into a fairytale of architectural grandeur lined by streets carpeted in flowers. Nearby Ragusa is also a Baroque masterpiece, a town of two “downtowns” in which 18 buildings are UNESCO protected. The village of Modica occupies a deep gorge below the 300-meter-high Guerrieri bridge, a town divided into two parts where domes, bell towers, and church spires rise from the red-tiled roofs.

LOCATION

Modica, Ragusa, Sicily, Italy. Nearest airport: Catania (46 miles)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring through fall