Eremo della Giubiliana Ragusa - Sicily

Sheltered behind ancient walls and immersed in the carob woods typical of the Hyblean Plateau, Eremo della Giubiliana is a stunning period residence which has witnessed some of the most important moments in the history of this part of southeast Sicily. The Eremo dates back to the 12th century, when it was constructed as feudal holding of Renna. Over the centuries, the building has served as an Arabian style rural home, a fortified hermitage and, in the 16th century, a fortress occupied by the Knights of Malta. In the 18th century the edifice was converted into a residence for the aristocratic Nifosi family, members of which still own the property and have been responsible for its transformation into a 5 star hotel.

A holiday spent at the Eremo della Giubiliana is one guests will always remember. Thanks to a painstaking restoration project, each and every corner of the ancient Sicilian residence has been returned to its original splendor, enabling guests to experience a unique ambience of times past. In the area where monks once slept, the bedrooms and suites are characterized by exposed wooden beams, pitch stone floors and thick limestone walls. Luxurious fabrics, period artworks and family antiques combine with the latest in modern technology to offer a delightful combination of old world glamour and contemporary comfort.

The ancient refectory of the Knights of the Order of San Giovanni and halls furnished with antiques, 17th century paintings, and rare maps of the Sicily, house the "Don Eusebio" Restaurant, an elegant eatery in which guests are treated to the very finest traditional Sicilian cuisine. The same refined atmosphere characterizes the tearoom, piano bar, breakfast room and the crypt, this last containing a superb selection of prestigious Sicilian wines.

The Eremo della Giubiliana is a period residence featuring magnificent halls, peaceful courtyards, shady porticoes, and a tower which dominates the whole of the estate and is tall enough to be easily identified from the sea. The Eremo is set in extensive gardens, characterized by enchanting medieval pathways which lead to the swimming pool, and the Arab Court, a secret garden in which, just as in centuries past, beautifully scented Mediterranean herbs are grown.

Of course a hotel like the Eremo della Giubiliana could not be without a luxury spa. The "Asphodelus" beauty farm, with view of the olive groves, offers a range of superb wellness treatments performed with products created to exploit the natural antioxidant properties of the Eremo's olive oil and wine. In the vast grounds of the hotel, there is a fascinating archeological park with ruins dating back to the 5th and 3rd century B.C. and a private airfield.