Hotel Borgo Pantano

Hotel Borgo Pantano is a great example of a sensitive yet sleek restoration, helping it perfectly reflect its charming countryside location. This rural 19th-century farmhouse has loads of charm and character, with vintage trunks and huge bookcases sitting alongside old millstones and exposed brickwork. There's a chic edge, too, with bright white interiors and a lovely pool area. The attention to detail is impressive throughout the hotel as well, with fresh flowers, carefully placed candles, and lovingly-tended bright bougainvillea. Cabanas with white drapes blowing in the breeze and hammocks strung between citrus trees combine to create an undeniably romantic vibe that's tailored to couples. However, the hotel draws a lot of young families during the summer holidays, so for a secluded couples’ escape it’s worth traveling off-peak.  

Hotel Borgo Pantano is secluded down a rural lane in the Ciane e Saline nature reserve, surrounded by lush countryside and fruit groves. It’s remote, so guests here need to rent a car or take the limited shuttle to reach Syracuse’s tourist attractions. The Archaeological Park Neapolis -- Syracuse’s greatest concentration of ruins -- is a 15-minute drive away. Ortigia, which is home to Duomo di Siracusa and winding alleyways lined by beautiful Baroque buildings, is a 20-minute drive from the property. Fontane Bianche and Spiaggia Del Gelsomineto are within a 20-minute drive for those wanting a beach. Farther afield, the beautiful city of Noto is 40 minutes away by car and the Necropolis of Pantalica, with its ancient rock-cut tombs, is just over an hour away. The airport in Catania can be reached in 50 minutes by car.

Cozy rooms are done in a simple, contemporary style and are named after Sicilian artists and poets. The decor differs by category. Double Comfort Rooms are simple spaces with tiled floors and wrought-iron beds. There’s a wardrobe and small desk, but little else in the way of furniture. These rooms have a bathroom with a stall shower. Classic Rooms have chicer decor that includes details like neutral striped wallpaper and chandelier lighting. Small bathrooms in these lower categories have monochrome tiling, decorative ocean-inspired mirrors, walk-in showers or shower/tub combos, bidets, and wall-mounted hairdryers. Junior Suites are more modern, with wooden floors throughout the downstairs lounge area and loft-like sleeping spaces with rooftop terraces. Bathrooms in these units have white-tiled floors and dark mosaic walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads. All rooms have amenities like air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and minibars. 

The grounds here are vast, with plenty of areas for lounging dotted around the landscaped lawns. In the center of the gardens, a large wade-in pool is surrounded by a smart wooden deck. Indoors, Luigi Capuana restaurant serves up authentic Sicilian dishes. The simply decorated, yet attractive, space includes an outdoor terrace that peeps out over the hotel’s terra-cotta rooftops. Breakfast includes a huge choice of handmade dishes and gets rave reviews from previous guests. The small lobby bar is a cozy spot, with a couple of stools and a few shelves of spirits alongside quotes from the likes of Charlie Chaplin. A small wellness center has a massage room, whirlpool, and a slightly odd cupboard-like sauna room, while the gym-slash-game-room has a treadmill and a couple of exercise bikes alongside ping-pong and foosball. For kids, there’s a small nursery room with shelves of soft toys and an outdoor playground. Guests have free use of road bikes and mountain bikes, and beach towels and umbrellas can be taken to nearby beaches free of charge. Other facilities here include a computer corner and fast and reliable free Wi-Fi in the rooms. It’s advisable to rent a car here, and there’s plenty of parking on the hotel’s long driveway. Airport transfers can be arranged for a fee, and there's shuttle service to Syracuse, though timings are limited and it's not free.