Hotel Casale Milocca in Syracuse, Sicily

Hotel Casale Milocca sits on a restored 19th-century farm surrounded by Sicilian gardens, orchards, and an Enchanted Garden. The property includes two outdoor swimming pools: one large pool with hydromassage jets and a separate children's pool with a shallow end. Free bicycle rental service is provided to reach Fanusa Beach, located 750 meters away, and the hotel offers a fitness trail through its ecological grounds.

All rooms include a satellite flat-screen TV and a private bathroom, with some offering a private terrace or balcony overlooking the gardens. Superior rooms provide access to an exclusive private garden area, while the bathrooms feature Sicilian tiles that celebrate local craftsmanship. Guests can enjoy the fragrance of herbs and flowers from their own mini patio in the Superior Double Room with Terrace.

The on-site restaurant is the only hotel in Sicily featuring a synergistic concept: all ingredients come from the hotel's own organic garden, achieving zero food miles. Breakfast is served al fresco in the lavender garden and includes homemade cakes, jams, and custom omelettes made from local produce. Dinner offers Sicilian dishes such as zucchini pesto lasagna made with garden vegetables, alongside a pool bar that serves hand-made gelato from the hotel's crops.

A wellness centre is available for an extra fee, with facilities including a spa, sauna, hot tub, and massage services. Guests can book a 60-minute massage from therapists such as Sara, and the spa lounge/relaxation area provides a quiet space for recovery. The hydro massage pool and sun terrace with loungers and pool towels complement the wellness packages on offer.

The hotel provides dedicated children's amenities: a children's playground with slides and swings, a baby garden, and a children's swimming pool with shallow end. Toys around the pool and kids' outdoor play equipment keep younger guests entertained, while board games and puzzles are available indoors. Babysitting and child services can be arranged through the 24-hour front desk, and bicycle child seats are offered with the free rental bikes.

Location: On the Plemmirio Peninsula, 750 m from Fanusa Beach, 10 km from Syracuse

Rooms: Superior rooms with private terraces or balconies and exclusive garden access

Dining: Synergistic restaurant with zero food miles, using own organic garden produce

Wellness: Spa, sauna, hot tub, hydro massage pool, and massage services

Family: Children's playground, baby garden, kids' pool, babysitting, bike child seats

Sustainability: Eco-conscious practices, organic farming, ecological fitness trail