Casa Valentine

At the Crossroads of Ancient and Modern Ragusa

Built in 1930, then renovated from the ground up and expanded in 2023, this Sicilian original reveals a harmonious union of old and new by the architects at GUM Studios, offering scenic panoramas of Ragusa Ibla’s Baroque buildings and terracotta rooftops, plus easy access to the modern city.

This is a home where original tiles, vaulted stone ceilings plus arching doorways and windows showcase its architectural heritage, but they've been merged with subdued modern comforts. GUM Studios revisited the entirety of the property, a four-level space that now offers two bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms with modern fixtures, a fully equipped chef’s kitchen and a terrace kitchenette, plus a generous living room with contemporary fixtures and furnishings.

The two crisp, modern bedrooms with Juliet-styled balconies are at the heart of the 1930s-era home’s redesign, the pinnacle of which is the rooftop terrace towering above UNESCO-classified Ragusa Ibla.

Layout

Lower level: Piazza entrance, kitchen

Second level (1st floor): Main entrance, laundry, half bathroom, bedroom with balcony and bathroom

Third level (2nd floor): Bedroom with balcony and bathroom, living room with balcony

Fourth level (rooftop addition): Terrace, kitchenette

Around

Casa Valentine offers unparalleled views of Ragusa Ibla’s Baroque architectural beauty and the best of both Ragusas—the old and new towns. A 12-minute walk from the house takes guests to the heart of the ancient city, with its more than 50 churches, pair of Michelin-starred restaurants, and UNESCO World Heritage classified Baroque architecture. Dating back to the second millennium BC, the city tops a limestone rise between two deep valleys, the Cava San Leonardo and Cava Santa Domenica. Ragusa’s winding streets are famed for their combination of old and new—a modern area and an ancient zone called Ragusa Ibla. Palaces and museums reveal the area’s rich history, with the Museo Archeologicao Ibleo detailing the city from its prehistoric origins. Local stone is used in the old city’s gorgeous Baroque buildings, named a UNESCO site in 2002, and three landmark bridges lead into the historic district.

The property’s owners offer a list of “must sees” in the city, from markets and restaurants to tourist sites and historic landmarks. Slow down and breathe in the beauty from a bench in the Hyblean Garden or visit the lush park grounds of the Castle of Donnafugata, covering some eight hectares, with both native and exotic plant varieties. The house is also a great base from which to take off on day trips by car to neighboring Modica, Scicli and Noto, or head to the coast at Marina di Ragusa and stop in the seaside charmer of Sampieri.

Location

Ragusa, Sicily, Italy. Nearest airports: Comiso (23 minutes), Catania (just over an hour)

Best time to visit

Year round