Description Kaol Ishka

The Masseria

One of the dishes prepared by the chef

Reception area

The Masseria at night

The Masseria at night

Detail of the garden

"Saarinen" room

Entrance to the rooms

Anapo river

Swimming pool

One of the verandas

Another view of the Masseria

Swimming pool at night

Reading room

Hotel restaurant

Restaurant

External restaurant area at the Baglio

Restaurant area inside

Bar

The atmosphere of this property is truly unique as is its position on the banks of the Anapo river which is renowned since ancient times for it papyrus plants which still grow on the banks of the river, part of which runs through the extensive grounds of the property. This old fortified Sicilian farmhouse or "masseria" is furnished with great style and attention to detail. The objects and furniture inside the property have been chosen for their exceptional artistic and aesthetic values. The environment is elegant and stylish with great attention to detail to ensure that your stay is both comfortable and unique. The surrounding countryside is unspoilt and creates an oasis of peace and tranquility in which time is measured by the slow passage of the river.

The hotel is surrounded by a large Mediterranean garden covering an area of 13,000 square metres which contains the swimming pool (14 x 4 metres), the solarium and several verandas where you can read or take breakfast. The structure of the garden follows the characteristics of the land close the Anapo river: bamboo and wild herbs bordering the natural vegetaion give way to flower beds of aromatic plants, corners of Mediterranean scrub and a large lawn by the swimming pool. Inside the property there is a comfortable reading room, a computer station with internet connection, a bar and the "Zafferano Bistrot" restaurant where the chef prepares his own, updated versions of traditional Sicilian dishes from ingredients chosen with meticulous care. The property has 6 double bedrooms, 3 Superior rooms and 1 De-Luxe room, all individually decorated and each with its own bathroom with large shower or, in one case, a bathroom with bath. The interior decoration is a harmonious mix of handcrafts, modern design and antiques. There are numerous nice touches: Sicilian Baroque next to modern design and great attention to detail in the bathrooms which have spacious showers and free-standing wash-basins. Internal architectural features include wood-panelled ceilings and suspended ceilings with recessed lighting. The natural oak beams in the exposed ceilings have a bleached and oxidised finish. The parquet flooring is made from a range of different woods including teak, paduk, wenge and oak. The oversize doors have a variety of hand-made finishes: gold leaf in the restaurant, "Le Grazie" mosaics and fabrics.

The hotel is located near to the mouth of the Anapo and Ciane rivers in the nature reserve of the same name and is 5 minutes from Ortigia and the Archeological Park at Syracuse. Syracuse is an ideal spot from which to visit a large part of the eastern area of Sicily. In less than 1 hour by car you can reach Cavagrande del Cassibile, Pantalica, the Vendicari Nature Reserve and the principal cities of Baroque (declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site) which include Noto, Modica, Ispica, Palazzolo Acreide and Ragusa Ilba. There are also numerous beautiful and uncrowded beaches to visit in tjhe area.