Azienda Agricola Mandranova

Hotel review

A stay at Mandranova is more than a mere visit to a luxurious and elegant rural idyll, it is a total education. Culturally, gastronomically and aesthetically you will come away enriched. The family owners Giuseppe and Sylvia care deeply about all aspects of their home/hotel and it shows. Giuseppe is front of house and full of convivial charm and chat. He encourages his international clientele to meet and mingle before dinner over a glass or two of delicious Sicilian wine, or to share a table in the dining room. And don’t let this put you off, it is fun – you meet all sorts of remarkable people staying here amongst the olive groves. Sylvia meanwhile orchestrates the kitchen and the day to day running of the place with efficiency and impeccable attention to detail. You will be seduced by her home made pastas and sauces, delicate almond cakes and olive oil to die for (home grown, processed on site and available for purchase!). Mandranova oils are world famous so don’t let Giuseppe catch you adding balsamic into the mix. The decor is pared down and cleverly contemporary, offset by the rustic structure of the original farm buildings; altogether a perfect foil for the hot Sicilian summers. There is a small but pretty infinity pool landscaped into the hillside above with a profusion of pink daisies leading the way. The only small thing to detract from this dreamy spot is the slight sound of traffic on the busy coast road which runs between Syracuse and Agrigento. Take a cooking course; learn about olive oil production; visit Greek and Roman ruins; or just daydream....you cannot fail to be enthused by the delights of Azienda Agricola Mandranova.

Caroline Townsend Review published: 02/08/2019