Dimora delle Balze

Style

Terracotta treasure

Setting

Columns and carob trees

Set in a restored 19th-century masseria, Dimora delle Balze is a stone masterpiece of local flavour and history. The 11-room hotel is situated around three courtyards, including a saltwater pool, a lounge and a breakfast terrace with views of the Unesco-protected Val di Noto. Each room is named after a piece of art, film, literature or music by a Sicilian artist, and all are decorated in the local style. Many have terraces overlooking the 60-acre estate’s gardens and citrus groves. If you’ve got a car, make the 35-minute drive across the valley to Noto’s historic centre, where bucolic charm gives way to Baroque splendour.

Facilities

Rooms

11, including one suite.

Checkout

11am. Earliest check-in, 3pm. Both are flexible, subject to availability.

More Details

Rates include a Continental buffet breakfast, with meats and cheeses, as well as fruit from the hotel garden.

Also

The common areas are wheelchair-accessible, and there is one dedicated room for wheelchair access, with wider passages and a roll-in shower.

Hotel Closed

The hotel opens annually from March to November.

Fitness Center

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Pet Friendly

Pool

On-Site Restaurant

Room Service

Spa

At the Hotel

Farm, gardens, spa, gym, free WiFi. In-room: Smart TV, air-conditioning, minibar, free bottled water, Nespresso coffee machine, tea-making kit and custom bath products.

Our Favourite Rooms

Each room is named for a work of Sicilian art, with a unique story and design. Many have restored frescoes and most have terraces or gardens. Clandestini, named for works by Giovanni Iudice, sits atop the tower, with prime valley views and a small balcony. L'Annunciata, named for a painting by Antonello da Messina, is the most romantic space, with a crystal chandelier and a spacious terrace.

Poolside

Open 10am to 7pm, the saltwater pool is flanked by sunloungers and comfortable overstuffed lounge chairs.

Spa

Bordered by a path of rosemary, lavender and jasmine, Senses Spa uses organic Sisley products for full-body treatments, massages and facials in two natural treatment rooms. Chromotherapy sessions are taken with views of the valley in the patio's heated plunge pool. If you'd rather work up a sweat a different way, the fitness centre has Technogym equipment and a weight area.

Packing Tips

Bring Sicilian books: the hotel’s focus on local artists and writers is inspiring.

Also

The rolling grounds include fragrant lemon orchards with blossoming jasmine, and a garden that supplies vegetables for the kitchen.

Children

Little Smiths are welcome – extra beds (€80 a night for over-fours including breakfast, free for under-fours), baby cots can be added to some rooms and babysitting is €30 a child per hour; the lack of activities make this best as an adults-only escape.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Take a table outside for a meal with a view.

Dress Code

Loose linens are perfect for the relaxed setting.

Hotel Restaurant

Set beneath a pergola in the Limonaia area overlooking verdant fields, the pool bar and lounge is open throughout the day, serving modern Sicilian dishes, with many ingredients coming straight from the property’s organic gardens for cold salads and seasonal specials.

Hotel Bar

The laidback bar has a fantastic selection of Sicilian and Italian wines, and staff mix classic cocktails, including refreshing spritzes.

Last Orders

The lounge is open from 10am to 11pm each day; breakfast is served from 7.30am to 10.30am each morning. The bar pours till midnight.

Room Service

You're welcome to order from the lounge menu during opening hours.

Planes

Catania Fontanarossa is about an hour’s drive from the hotel, with direct flights from London, and connections from far-flung cities through Rome and Milan. Smith24 can arrange hotel transfers.

Trains

Syracuse is the nearest train station, a 30-minute drive from the hotel. The station connects the region to cities throughout Sicily, with further-flung service to Milan, Rome and Venice.

Automobiles

A car is recommended for anyone who’d like to explore the island. The hotel has valet parking on-site.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Settle in by the saltwater pool to relax and enjoy the orange-scented breezes and Sicilian sun. The fragrant orchard and well-restored courtyards are worth exploring as well. The hotel is nicely situated to visit the Baroque buildings of Noto and the Greek and Roman ruins of Syracuse, both of which earn Unesco status. Stroll Corso Vittorio Emanuele in Noto for postcard-worthy architecture, most of which dates to the early 1700s, after a massive earthquake levelled the town. Get an early start for Syracuse to see the locals stock up on local tomatoes and seafood at the morning market on Ortigia (daily, except Sunday), then explore the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre and the many ornate churches and basilicas that stud the town. The beaches along the Ionian coast are known as the island’s best, with warm, tranquil waters and soft sands. Fontane Bianche is prime among options, with snack bars for those looking to spend the day. An hour south of the hotel, the Vendicari Nature Reserve is a secluded spot for hiking and swimming. Migratory birds, including storks, flamingos and cranes love it too, and make it a year-round paradise for spotting colourful birds. About two hours north of the hotel, Mount Etna is Europe's largest active volcano, and one of Sicily's most prominent landmarks. EtnAround offers jeep tours and hikes to the summit, or to the most recent eruption sites.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .