It has taken some time to review this place as we couldn't figure out how to express our disappointment. We want to be fair and accurately portray our experience. So much about this place is good, but the vibe is a bit off-putting. So many contrasts: The setting is lovely and the building is quite old with lots of character. Our room was large but dark with a small and dank bathroom and possibly the most uncomfortable bed I have ever slept on. No hot water the first day--they hadn't turned it on. Beautiful and interesting library connected to the room--albeit again dark and a bit dusty. Pool is nice but the pool area is quite sad--no landscaping (and not much furniture) and as a result, dirty/muddy. View from the pool is wonderful however. The surcharge for pool towels is obnoxious (please just put it in the room rate). The "hotel pricing" for laundry is obnoxious. Dinner was lovely but very expensive for what it was--simple cooking done well but still very simple. Fresh fruit only for dessert at a Euro 60/person price point--maybe the most expensive meal we had in Sicily. Breakfast was mediocre compared to what we experienced elsewhere in Sicily and Italy. We've traveled extensively and found this place to be a bit short on warmth and hospitality--especially relative to our experience broadly in Sicily. We got the impression that the owners are not particularly interested in guests. The staff however, was terrific and quite friendly. Regrettably, we cannot recommend this place at this price point.…
I’ll try to be as fair as I can here. I had booked two nights and ended up leaving early and using only one. After seeing this place online, I sort of arranged my trip to Sicily around it- I’d had such lovely experiences in similar lodgings in other places and I normally don’t like to stay in cities. I envisioned an airy room with high ceilings, somewhat of a view, relaxing in the country. By all means, I was NOT looking for luxury or a huge Italian masseria where they made olive oil or somesuch. I get there and attendant Francesca, who I should note was so lovely and tried to appease my disappointment as best she could, welcomed me. Just upon entering I was a bit unsure of my choice. This feeling was confirmed as she showed me to my room, which was right there overlooking the patio. Here’s the tricky part: as I explained to her, there was no objective “fault” -it’s not that it was dirty or smelly. But it’s not what you get from the website. At least my room was quite small and dark; ordinary tile floors; very small bathroom with zero charm. More Ikea fittings than I would have wanted. As for the rest of the furniture and decor... uneven. I believe they aimed for “quaint” and landed on “grandma’s house”. It was a little sad. Maybe the other rooms are nicer. The property as a whole is nice and well-kept, but smaller than the photos suggest. I felt there wasn’t much of a place to *be* there (outside your room that is). Pool area was also kind of sad tbh. €5 charge for use of pool towels, which I didn’t do but I found a bad policy. Francesca offered to make something as it was almost 3pm and I probably wouldn’t get to town (Ragusa) in time for lunch, and indicated that anything I ordered would be €30. Again, not a great policy. The owner wasn’t there at the time to discuss the situation, so I decided to stay the night and leave the next day. She was there to serve me breakfast. I explained my disappointment as best I could and frankly downplayed a little because I’m not fond of confrontation first thing in the morning. At first she was a bit defensive/confused, said maybe I’d come too tired or angry or that my spirit was low or something... after clarifying it wasn’t the case, and that there was not an objective fault to complain about, I just chalked it up to personal taste and said I simply didn’t want to be there, and she was fairly gracious about it. Per the refund: Silvia said the policy was no refunds after the 3rd day prior to the stay; I argued that that’s usually true for the first night only. She said she also couldn’t do a refund on the credit card, but that she’d try and wire the money. I haven’t gotten around to emailing with the info so I cannot say how that will go, but then again I didn’t push further at the time as I just wanted to move on. Breakfast was home made and fresh. Good linens. Would have appreciated something warmer than just a half-length comforter. To get there, I recommend downloading the local Google Map, as reception is unstable and the in-car GPS wouldn’t find the location.…
This is one of the loveliest places to stay. Tranquil, beautiful, small and out of the way. It's an off the beaten track treasure! The hosts are the nicest people who spared no expense to make the rooms, linens and details perfect. Their offerings for breakfast are local, genuine and particularly delicious. The staff are friendly and discreet. The location is great for day trips all over the surrounding area and one can do a walking circuit in the cooler hours of the day. Recently a pool was added to the property so lounging around and keeping cool is also possible. Highly recommend at least 2 nights or more in the idyllic spot!
I had a wonderful time at Tenuta Cammarana. It's like an oasis after driving down an unpaved country road. Tenuta Cammarana is a stately structure with lots of character. I was greeted warmly by Silvia, the owner and provided a quick tour of the facility and an overview of its history. My room was very large and comforable. I had dinner there both nights and the food was ample and outstanding. The staff were warm and friendly. It was a perfect place for rest and relaxation at the start of a three week vacation. I hope to visit again and I recommend Tenuta Cammarana highly.
Our arrival at Tenita Cammarana was met with confusion as to how many people we were(always two) and which room we booked . When we made the reservation we checked to make sure there was someone who spoke English since we do n to speak Italian. The owner Silvia was in Rome so our entire stay was a combination of charades and Google translate. We were unable to get any meaningful information or directions to any place in the area. THe only positive was the room which was a very nice suite though staff kept coming into our exclusive living room as though it was a common area. The dinner experience was unbelievable. Tenuta charges 60 euro per person which is more expensive than Michelin starred restaurants in the area. We expected alot. What we got two nights in a row were different forms of fried fish and the same for dessert. The food was mediocre repetitive and the second night, virtually inedible. They made a very minor adjustment on our bill when we checked even though we ate almost no dinner the second night. The owner's husband didn't say much to us in any language and we were made to feel that we were an annoyance in his house. All in all it was a very weird and not enjoyable experience . We would never come back and wouldn't recommend the place.…
It is difficult to put into words the deeply relaxing experience of staying at Tenuta Cammarana. It is, as other reviews describe, beautiful and peaceful. The food is wonderful, as is the friendly staff. Our room was comfortable and the house is furnished with lovely and interesting antiques. But there is more to this place: the deep quiet when watching the stars at night in the cool stone courtyard; the buzz and hum of the animal life in the garden as you watch the kittens play amongst the cacti; going back in time as you walk through the fields and think about the hands that built the old foundations and walls; taking in the warm scent of the flowers and ripening fruit. All this, AND , it is close to the beach, and a great base for exploring southeastern and central Sicily. My husband and I stayed for 6 nights and had many adventures, and after each we were restored within the cool walls of Tenuta Cammerana. We hope to return one day! Thank you Sylvia and Giuseppe, Linda, Carmela, cats and dogs!…
Sylvia and Guiseppe are the most fantastic hosts. The property is cozy, beautiful, and in the middle of a gorgeous field. Do choose to eat in - both Syvlia and Guiseppe are amazing chefs and provide food fresh from the market and with recipes handed down through generations. They are so helpful with suggestions and getting places. I absolutely loved my stay!
Our host Sylvia was so welcoming and shared lots of recommendations of places to visit and to eat during our stay. It's a great base to explore the area from, our itinerary was to see the various sites of the infamous Inspector Montalbano and Sylvia was happy to help us plan our day to take in all the important sites with recommendations of where to enjoy lunch and dinner along the way. The house has a real charm, our room was comfortable and breakfast was a delight with local specialities. We were made to feel as though nothing was too much trouble and really enjoyed our stay here. The family cats and dogs add to the experience, all are super friendly but they don't encroach on your stay, so whether you're an animal lover or not there's no reason to miss out on this little haven of calm. …
A place lost in time, beautifully restored, with all the necessities, set in the middle of nowhere. We arrived around 17.00, a perfect time to take in the sprawling grounds with the well tended garden. Sylvia, the owner, came down to greet us, using the typical Sicilian gestures. Leading us to our room, we meandered from one to the other, taking in, the attention to detail furnishings. Our room large, clean and comfortable....perfect for a 3 night stay. We had pre booked dinner with Sylvia, as we wished to enjoy the property and not venture out. Dinner was at 8pm. It was getting dark as we headed to the dining area. A small, high ceilinged green house, with a perfectly laid table set for two, an intimate setting, for private dining. The 3 course meal, consisted of fresh ingredients from either the property itself or from nearby farms. The wine, selected, after a lengthy discussion with Sylvia was delicious. The following day I had to go to this goldmine of a vineyard which I did, but I will write about it separately. I could have eaten there every day. I highly recommend staying at Tenuta Cammarana and indulge, in the luxury, of a slower pace in life.…
Where to begin. Location : This beautiful gem of a hotel is perfectly located in Southeastern Sicily. It is easily accessible from a main highway and is an ideal location for day trips numerous points of interest, including Regusa, Syracuse and a number of beaches. Our original plan was to stay 2 nights. Immediately after arriving, we extended and stayed a full week. The hotel: While easy to get too , the actual hotel is located off a rural road that is off another rural road, both of which are lined with stone walls. The hotel is glorious! It is surrounded by an ideal bucolic setting. It is a converted country estate and it sits majestically amongst small family owned farms (that produce fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses and meats) and the sweeping Sicilian countryside. The hotel has been fully modernized without loosing any of its ancient charms. This is because the owners are architects and artists and the design elements are perfectly executed. There are 5 rooms, all of which are very private and uniquely decorated with a mix of family antiques and beautiful appointments. There are 3 separate court yards where one can take an outdoor shower, read a book, or sip on a delicious latte. There is even a beautiful spa tucked away where you can linger in the sauna or relax and practice yoga. The private dining room is truly unique (one of the most beautiful we have seen anywhere in the world) - it is a custom designed green house careful sculpted by Silvia, one of the owners. The host : A truly lovely couple! They pay attention to every detail, so that your only job it to relax and enjoy. They are both professors in Rome and internationally acclaimed artists (shhhh, its a secret : ). They are warm, kind, interesting and great conversationalists! Food: We have not stopped talking about the food! It is the best Italian food we have ever had, and we live in New York City. If Giuseppe wasn't already an incredible artist, he could easily become a world famous chef! Everything is fresh, seasonal and locally sourced. We ended up spending every morning in the dining room sipping on delicious cappuccinos and lattes (planning out our upcoming day) and every night relaxing while enjoying our dinner and staring at the stars! It was a truly magical and memorable experience and we would recommend the place extremely highly!…
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