A few kilometres from the coast near Siracusa in Sicily, set amid a landscape of lemon and orange groves, lies an estate that gives little away at first glance. Stone walls, an elongated façade with arched openings, a modest chapel in the courtyard, olive trees and wide lawns in between: the Dolce by Wyndham Siracusa Monasteri is a four-star resort housed in a former Benedictine monastery dating from the 9th century. The building served as a Roman villa, later became a monastery, and ultimately passed into private hands as a Sicilian masseria before being converted into a hotel. The result is a combination of historic fabric and modern facilities rarely found at more than a handful of addresses across Sicily.
The history of the monastery: from Roman villa to masseria
The oldest parts of the estate date back to the Roman Imperial period, when a Villa Rustica operated here, with farming and the administration of a sizeable territory along the eastern coast of Sicily. In the 9th century, Benedictine monks took over the site and established the monastery itself ,which gives the estate its name to this day. As Siracusa News notes regarding the historic fabric, during this period the monks combined agriculture with the cultivation of vines and olives, a pattern that lives on to the present day in the surrounding countryside. The monastery remained in operation for several centuries, interrupted by the historical shifts within Sicily's feudal system.
Following secularisation in the 19th century, the estate passed into private ownership and was run as a Sicilian masseria , that is, an agricultural estate with a manor house, stables and store rooms. During this period, citrus cultivation shaped the layout of the parkland that remains visible today. The return to use as a publicly accessible facility took place in several stages from the 2000s onwards, with restoration of the original building fabric and supplementary new construction for rooms, a spa and ancillary spaces. The restoration has been conceived so that the monastery's underlying structure, in particular the arrangement of the courtyards and the thick stone walls, remains legible.
The hotel lobby occupies the historic heart of the former monastery, with lofty natural-stone vaulted arches and whitewashed ceiling beams. The ceramic vases are a nod to the Sicilian craft tradition from which the restaurant Le Ceramiche takes its name.
Rooms, suites and spaces: what the resort offers today
The resort currently has 102 units, comprising 83 rooms, 14 junior suites and five king suites. The rooms are distributed across several former monastery wings and a new-build section, with views over the park, the courtyard or the lemon groves. The furnishings follow a classic four-star standard, with light material choices, natural stone elements in the bathroom areas and bespoke furniture tailored to the historic setting.
The spa bears the name of the historic estate and is one of the resort's core facilities. Indoor and outdoor pools, a Turkish bath, sauna, whirlpool and treatment rooms are housed in a wing that echoes the material language of the main building. Alongside classic spa treatments, the house offers guided therapies using local ingredients such as olive oil, citrus essences and sea salt. For those seeking exercise, there is a fitness suite and walking routes through the surrounding park, which covers over 90 hectares threaded with old stone walls, small viewpoints and a network of paths.
Restaurant Le Ceramiche: Sicilian cuisine with international references
The hotel's restaurant is called Le Ceramiche and is housed in the historic heart of the estate, in a vaulted hall with high ceilings and stone walls. Head chef is the Sicilian cook Mirko Previtera, who trained in several internationally acclaimed kitchens, including The Fat Duck by Heston Blumenthal in Bray, United Kingdom. For Le Ceramiche, Previtera has devised a menu that combines classic Sicilian ingredients, such as bottarga, ricotta salata and lemons from the estate's own grounds, with more contemporary techniques.
Le Ceramiche is also accessible as a standalone restaurant outside the hotel operation, and a reservation is recommended for guests from outside the hotel. Further areas are available for breakfast, light meals and aperitivo, including a terrace overlooking the park and the golf course. The hotel bar also serves the classic Sicilian aperitivo with spritz and local wines, for guests spending the evening on the premises. The kitchen places emphasis on ingredients from the area around Siracusa, which is also reflected in the wine list, which features several estates from the Val di Noto and the Etna region.
The U-shaped new wing of the hotel, with its pool and courtyard, borders the old citrus groves and the 18-hole golf course. On the horizon, the interior of the Province of Syracuse comes into view.
The golf course: 18 holes, currently under renovation
The resort includes an 18-hole golf course with a par of 71, extending across the 90 hectares of parkland, partly through lemon and orange groves and partly along old stone walls. The course is considered one of the most scenically appealing golf courses in Sicily, with views across the interior and, on clear days, as far as the sea. At present, however, the course is not in operation: according to information from the operator on the official hotel website , the Golf Club I Monasteri will remain closed for renovation work until November 2026. Those planning a golfing trip to Sicily who wish to include this course would be well advised to schedule their stay for after November 2026, or to consider other golf facilities in the region.
Gruppo Bulgarella, Wyndham and the Italian expansion
The estate is owned by the Sicilian Gruppo Bulgarella, one of the most active hotel development groups in southern Italy. Operations have been conducted since June 2025 in partnership with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts under the Dolce brand, the premium segment of the Wyndham portfolio. It is the second Dolce property in Italy and forms part of a framework agreement between Wyndham and All In Italia Hotels & Resorts, which provides for the opening of 20 properties in Italy over the coming ten years.
For guests, this has several practical implications. The property is accessible via the Wyndham booking system and the Wyndham Rewardsprogramme, with the corresponding options for earning and redeeming points. At the same time, Gruppo Bulgarella has left a distinctly local imprint on the culinary direction, the architectural language and the management of staff, which is evident in the kitchen, the tone of service and the selection of local suppliers. The combination of an international brand and local stewardship makes this one of the most interesting addresses in the current Sicilian hotel market, comparable to other properties in the Italian boutique hotel landscape, such as Borgo Monchiero in Piedmont.
A room at the Dolce by Wyndham Siracusa Monasteri, featuring the characteristic white ceiling beams and a light palette of materials. The property offers a total of 102 rooms, including 14 junior suites and five king suites. On the desk, a Sicilian Testa di Moro serves as a traditional ceramic accent.
Surroundings: Siracusa, Ortigia and the Baroque towns of the Val di Noto
The resort's location is one of its central assets. Siracusa lies just a few kilometres away and, together with its historic centre of Ortigia, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island old town, with its cathedral, the Piazza Duomo and the harbour, is one of the most rewarding historic centres in southern Italy and is reachable in under 20 minutes by car or taxi. In addition to Siracusa, several of the Baroque towns of the Val di Noto are within day-trip distance, among them Noto, Modica and Ragusa Ibla, with their dense sandstone centres and the remarkable Baroque architecture that emerged after the earthquake of 1693. The entire region is among the Sicilian addresses featured in our article on slow travel between culture and nature described in detail.
For nature enthusiasts, the Caves of Pantalica and the Vendicari nature reserve are reachable in under an hour by car. The coast at Fontane Bianche and the bay of Marzamemi offer bathing options in a classic Sicilian setting. Those wishing to visit Etna can drive to Catania in around 90 minutes and continue up into the higher elevations of the volcano. The resort therefore works equally well as a place for a quiet retreat in the park and spa, and as a base for a structured journey through the south-eastern corner of Sicily. The combination of historic estate, peaceful setting and proximity to one of Italy's richest cultural regions makes the Dolce by Wyndham Siracusa Monasteri an address that suits several different travel concepts at once.
