Centuries ago, earthquakes devastated properties around southern Sicily, but the Eremo della Giubiliana miraculously escaped any damage. Now a relaxing sense of seclusion and tranquility pervades the staircases and corridors of this delightful sandstone-walled palazzo. Add to that the friendliness of the property's staff and you have a wonderfully hidden retreat away from the stresses of modern life.

Located near the town of Ragusa on a hillside with views of the surrounding countryside, the property stands amidst a series of interlinking pathways with garden areas scattered with olive trees, Grecian urns and Washington palms. Hens, chickens, pheasants and other birds and domestic animals are also housed elsewhere on the estate. So widespread is the hotel, it also grows beans, lentils, chickpeas, capers, cicerchia, wheat, and almonds elsewhere on the property and makes its own marmalade and drinks such as Amaro and wine from Nero d’Avola grapes.  

Historical interest is enhanced by a limestone necropolis on the grounds in which ceramic pottery, bronze jewels, necklaces, and seven box tombs were found. The property was also home to Benedictine hermits and the Templars (made dramatically mysterious through The Da Vinci Code novel and movie). The group known as the Knights of Malta (KoM) was encamped at Eremo Della Giubiliana for 30 years after the monks left. This group owned the Sicilian property until it finally came into the hands of the current owners.

Reached through imposing electronic gates and up a short driveway, the reception area is a wood-ceilinged, limestone-walled affair, with partially carpeted black and gold marbled floors. An impressive set of 16th century Italian armor stands like a benign metallic servant at attention just inside the door. Furnishings around the lobby are fascinating and include several old and tattered books, some dating back hundreds of years to the mid-1700s, including a history of The Knights of Hospitallers. Written histories of old maps of Sicily, a decorative wood and leather trunk you’d expect to find washed up onshore after a Spanish galleon wreck, and pencil and oil portraits decorate the space. A collection of colorful ceramic wine jugs stand in the corner of the floor while an intricately-ornate walnut cabinet houses liquors and wines. Soft, embroidered seats are scattered around the lobby providing plenty of room for leisurely conversation or reading.

The property has 17 rooms and suites, as well as five cottages, located a short walk across the road outside the main gate. Located in open fields with a garden, a veranda and hedging as a privacy screen, the cottages offer a sense of peace and tranquility interrupted only by the early morning chirrups of birds. Bicycles are provided for leisurely jaunts along the nearby pathways. Inside, décor is quite simple composed of a large central room, ample cupboards and side tables, a ceiling of varnished oak and smooth, bare limestone blocks framing a welcoming fireplace. Separate from the bedroom, the bathroom is decorated with wall tiles in gay colors of blue and red and a beckoning bathtub.

Dining in the property's Don Eusebio Restaurant, named after the present owner's grandfather, is nothing less than regal. The restaurant is decorated with framed ancient maps of Sicily and medieval oil paintings on the walls, candelabras, and a piano. A cozy corner with soft, flower-motif sofas, two small bookcases and a table full of glossy photographic and historical books add charm to the space. There's also a small bar and coffee corner beside marble steps leading down into the restaurant.

Guests can enjoy dishes such as a combo of prawns and crunchy fragments of baby calamari (chef's specialty); salad sprinkled with oranges, walnuts, herring and fennel; or veal modicano with local mozzarella cheese from a farm six miles away and topped off with poppy seeds, a large smear of rocket salad sauce and golden olive oil. Firm but smooth, the small tower of minced veal is rare, moist and bursting with flavor. The Marsala-flavored, Tagliolini pasta with rabbit and Modica (a nearby town) chocolate is a plate of sublime authenticity, combining native creativity with locally-sourced products.

The only problem with Sicilian food is that it’s hard to stop eating; of course you'll want to leave room for dessert though. The chef’s interpretation of Sicilian parfait is so good you may never want to have any other ice cream again.

A sign beside the main electronic entrance gate for Eremo della Giubiliana states, "Abatare la storia,' or "Live the history." It captures the essence of this fine masseria and is a fair indication of what awaits guests here. The hideaway is an elegant Sicilian retreat shaped over the centuries by groups as varied as the Arabs, the Normans, the Spanish and the Knights Templars, complete with fine dining experiences and an incredible history.