Eremo della Giubiliana

Sicily

Hundreds of years ago, Eremo della Giubiliana was the site of a fortress built to repel the raids of Turkish pirates.

After that, it became a convent under the rule of the Knights of the Order of Saint Giovanni. Today, however, it’s something very different indeed: a five-star luxury hotel.

Eremo della Giubiliana dominates Italy’s Sicilian coast. Its thick white walls and imposing towers can be seen from miles around, and the views from the hotel itself stretch out all the way to the edge of Africa. Inside, however, it’s a testament to Sicilian comfort and style – extravagant but never gaudy; intimate without the sacrifice of spaciousness.  If it’s a true Mediterranean spectacle you’re after, you’ll likely find nowhere better.

Why we like it

Some of the hotel rooms are converted from the friars’ cells of the original convent. The restaurant boasts a great arched hall to indulge in historical Sicilian dishes, which can also be enjoyed with views from the hotel’s Hortus Conclusus garden. For relaxation moments, the wellness area, Asphodelus, offers a range of natural treatments based on the oils and wines produced in the surrounding countryside. For exploring around, the hotel can take you on tours of the region by air, by land or by sea, and you can also stay in and try out one of the hotel’s own cooking classes.