Grotta e Carrubo

A Panoramic Grotto Residence for Four in Sicily

Snaking graciously around the curve of old Modica stones, this lofted grotto residence with three multi-level terraces in the shade of an ancient carob tree was meticulously carved from the hillside overlooking the Sicilian village of Scicli. It was designed for four, with two bedrooms and a shared bathroom, plus an open space with a sofa bed, and it's been celebrated in Elle Décor Italia and Archilovers, among other design publications.

Intimate and innovative, the space reveals a sanctuary quality despite its underground nature—a sensual, lushly landscaped spot celebrated for its creativity and seductive styling. Set into the blonde rock face, the hideaway is fully incorporated into the hillside under the church of Saint Matthew.

Working with architects Cristiano Urban and Rachele Sebellin as well as lighting designer Eleonora Grigoletto, the home's owner, artist Margherita Rui, and her husband Alessandro added natural lime plasters and chestnut timbers to the local Modica stone. Rui also designed the home’s fabrics, some fixtures and tiling, and a collection of ceramic tableware. Local artisanal pieces such as hand-embroidered cushions, olive twig baskets and handblown borosilicate glass carafes by the owner are incorporated into the residence for a modern aesthetic within its elemental walls.

Spread over five levels, each connected by staircases both naturally carved and built, the home is topped by a roof terrace. Other outdoor spaces include a shaded patio and lush landing of stone thoughtfully landscaped with overflowing beds of prickly pears and shady lemon trees, lush strawberry and mastic plants, and fragrant Sicilian native herbs and shrubs.

Layout

First level: Entrance with an iron pergola and plants

Second level: Solarium with city and countryside views

Third level: Lounge with sculptural built-in sofas

Fourth level: Kitchen, bathroom

Fifth level: Master bedroom, loft bed

Outdoors:

Dining terrace with large lava stone table

Small pool carved into the rock, washbasin

Terraces up two additional levels

Solarium/roof deck

Additional features

Pool is closed annually October through March. Public parking is located 100 meters from the grotto, and the house is accessed via a short, canopied staircase.

Around

The house is located in Scicli’s S. Giuseppe district at the foot of an ancient path that leads to the Monumental Complex of the Cross, the town’s oldest oratory with a church and convent dating from 1528. The Sampieri seafront is only a few kilometers from the residence and the city of Modica is nine kilometers away, with the city of Noto just a half hour’s drive. The grotto is only a few minutes’ walk from restaurants and shops at the heart of Scicli. The grotto's calm natural surroundings create a quiet oasis from the buzz of the seafront town, and the cave's lush landscaping and intimate patios make it an “easy to stay at home” sanctuary.

If you do strike out, Scicli is one of Baroque Sicily’s opulent gems. The town sits at the junction of three valleys only a few kilometers from the sea, and offers a medieval maze of rose-hued houses laden with jasmine and flowering vines. The town’s center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (joining seven others in the culturally-rich Val di Noto). The Palazzo Beneventano is considered one of the world’s most beautiful Baroque palaces—don’t miss its Moorish heads and masks. The Piazza Italia is home to several palaces, the Palazzo Fava famed for its striking Grifi balcony, and also home to the church of Madre di Sant’Ignazio.

The local neighborhood, the S. Giuseppe/Altobello district, sits in a natural canyon, and there’s access to the abandoned Byzantine village of Chiafura from San Bartolomeo church. Churches dot the rocky hills on Scicli’s outskirts, an ancient area that doubled as a spiritual and defensive area prior to the earthquake of 1693 that altered the city. The town also serves the modern art world, and Scicli Group is a school of sculpture and painting, with members including Carmelo Candiano, Piero Guccione, Franco Polizzi and Sonia Alvarez. The coast here offers some 20 kilometers of beaches, flanked by crystal clear waters and several tiny waterfront hamlets.

Location

S. Giuseppe district, Scicli, Sicily, Italy. Nearest airport: Catania (128km)

Best time to visit

April to October