Dimora Santagatha

Style

Sepia sleeper

Setting

Oh, hello Noto

Named for Noto's one-time patron saint, Dimora Santagatha is an elegantly restored palazzo in Noto Alta, a peaceful neighbourhood glowing above the honey-hued old town. This intimate stay, illuminated by designer lighting, highlights original features such as cementine-tiled floors and characterful walls bathed in soothing shades of sage and espresso con crema. Add a radiant mix of contemporary and antique pieces, alongside a sun-dappled courtyard, and the result is nothing short of divine.

Facilities

Rooms

Seven, including three suites.

Checkout

11am, and check-in is at 3pm.

More Details

Rates include a consummate breakfast of freshly baked bread, pastries and cakes, granita, cheese, cold cuts, yoghurt, and eggs cooked to order, as well as excellent coffee, of course.

Also

Unfortunately, the historic town of Noto is not a wheelchair-friendly destination, lined with cobbles and stepped lanes. If you have some mobility, you may find the hotel's ground-floor room meets your needs.

Free Internet Access

At the Hotel

Self-service tea and coffee facilities and free WiFi throughout. In rooms: TV, air-conditioning, tea- and coffee-making kit, minibar, free bottled water and Avant bath products.

Our Favourite Rooms

For a little more space, opt for a suite; these generously proportioned pads have to-die-for bathrooms complete with his-and-hers sinks.

Packing Tips

Pack a copy of The Leopard, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s iconic historical novel about a Sicilian aristocracy trying to survive in a time of radical social change. You know, for context.

Also

If you opt to book all seven suites for your exclusive use, the hotel is happy to arrange the services of a private chef, showcasing anything from traditional Sicilian plates to Michelin-starred fine dining.

Children

Over-eights are welcome, but no extra beds can be added to rooms, and this bijou stay has more of a grown-ups-only ambience.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Nab a perch at one of the mid-century tables in the communal dining room, where statement light fittings dangle from arched ceilings.

Dress Code

Take a cue from Monica Vitti in Antonioni’s L'Avventura and opt for pearls, polka dots and real big hair.

Hotel Restaurant

There’s no restaurant on site, but each morning a lavish breakfast spread lines up freshly baked bread, pastries and homemade cake, plus granita, yoghurt, cheese and cold cuts. Eggs are cooked to order; fruit juices and coffee are readily available. If you book Dimora Santagatha's seven suites for your clan's exclusive use, the hotel can arrange for a private chef to whip up evening feasts a casa.

Planes

Catania-Fontanarossa Airport is an hour’s drive away from Dimora Santagatha, with direct flights from the UK and Europe. From here, the hotel can arrange private transfers for around €150 each way.

Trains

Noto station is around two kilometres away from the hotel, with connections to the surrounding Baroque towns of Syracuse, Modica and Ragusa.

Automobiles

Public transport can be patchy in Sicily and taxis tend to be pricey, so having your own wheels allows you to roam on your own schedule. On-street parking is available nearby.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

There’s plenty in Noto’s centro storico to keep you going in between spritzes. Dimora Santagatha is just a five-minute walk from the city’s main drag; and, since the centre is perfectly symmetrical, it’s easy to navigate, too.

After a devastating earthquake toppled the city (and many of its neighbours) in the late 17th century, the Baroque architects of the era went all out on its magnificent rebuilding. It’s documented in great detail at the Noto Civic Museum, but clear to see in the city’s extravagance, awash with grimacing gargoyles and pillow-cheeked cherubs, curvy terracotta stone and willowy wrought iron balconies. Among the most photographed is Palazzo Nicolaci, the 16th-century residence of Sicilian nobility.

Noto has a whopping 33 churches in total, but our favourites have to be Chiesa Madonna del Carmine and the awe-inspiring Basilica di San Nicolò. By train, you’re in easy reach of the island’s other baroque belles too; sample the Aztec-inspired chocolate of Modica, trace the steps of Montalbano in Scicli and taste your way round food-focused, Ragusa. Or, if you’ve a car, visit the Vendicari Nature Reserve, which gives you access to some of the region’s most serene beaches like San Lorenzo, Eloro and Calamosche.

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. .