Sikelia Luxury Hotel Pantelleria

Elegant and exclusive traces enclosed by ancient white vaults. A rough and fascinating island whose story is told through the harmony between metals, glass and precious fabrics. Sikelia as an artistic and emotional experience.

UNIQUE

• Unique are the contrasts between the white roofs and the blue sea, the green countryside and the black volcanic rocks.
• Unique are the forms that the wind and the weather have given to creeping olive trees and rocky shores.
• Unique are the Zibibbo vineyards, part of Unesco’s World Heritage, protected from the wind by typical dry-stone walls.
• Unique are our suites, each one unequalled, all elegant and refined.
• Unique are the exclusive works of art that adorn the ancient rooms of our dammusi.
• And you, too, are Unique, our guests to whom we devote ourselves, in our quest to make every single moment at Sikelia unique.

TIMELESS

• Timeless is the island of Pantelleria, where our senses are enveloped in a rough and wild nature, and time passes slowly like in the most authentic Africa.
• Timeless is the search for stone tombs, shrines and other ancient island treasures, built in ancient times.
• Timeless is bathing in the rock sediments of the Lago di Venere, where the early history of life is innate.
• Timeless is the origin of the name Sikelia, which dates back to sometime in the Byzantine era, when the Empire was divided into themata.
• Timeless is falling asleep gazing at the ancient Arabic arches of our suites.
• Timeless is your experience at Sikelia, where time seems to stand still and the soul finds its original union with the spectacular elements of nature.

HIDDEN

• Hidden is the island of Pantelleria, solitary in the sea between the coasts of Sicily and Africa, an ancient land whose people once worshipped Ishtar, the goddess of love.
• Hidden are its pathways, winding through Mediterranean shrubland and volcanic rocks.
• Hidden are the hot springs flowing from the rock and the Mirror of Venus, set in a beautiful natural amphitheatre.
• Hidden is Sikelia, concealed within the rounded walls of ancient dammusi dwellings, a haven of peace and serenity.
• Hidden are our Alcoves, concealed behind a golden door for exclusive relaxation.
• Hidden are dinners in the vineyards under starry skies, accompanied by the intoxicating scents of the harvest.

INTENSE

• Intense like the sunset with its African hues and the night sky, illuminated only by starlight.
• Intense like the rare silence of Pantelleria nights, which envelop you in ancestral emotion.
• Intense are the authentic flavours of our cuisine, with its typical Arab and African influences.
• Intense are the flavours and aromas of the Pantelleria wines you will enjoy every day.
• Intense is the pleasure of a massage in the shade of the Arabic garden, in total harmony with the island’s soul.

DESIGN
From one woman’s passion for this magical, rugged, wild place came the idea of transforming a large private residence into an exclusive destination. We placed the conversion and extension of the original structure in the hands of Gabriella Giuntoli, an architect originally from Milan.

Giuntoli brought a conscious harmony to the project, respecting nature and the ancient dammusi, thanks to her extensive professional portfolio and her life experience on the island itself. The design details, the choice of materials and the architectural languages were handled by two young engineers, Francesco Alessandrelli and Katherina Pazienza Gelmetti, who integrated technical aspects with formal research.

The interior design was born from a complicity and understanding between Katherina and Giulia Pazienza Gelmetti, who share a taste for simple elegance, firmly integrated with the natural way of life of the island. High quality fabrics, metals, concrete and glass become a source of enrichment of this striking setting designed around the vaults of the ancient dammusi.

ARTISTS & SIKELIA
Gennaro Avallone is an artist who has worked in the multidisciplinary field of applied arts for many years, producing increasingly mature results. The craft he has cultivated, right from his early work, the artistic experience that brings together the languages of sculpture and painting, the creation of unique functional objects: all of this, and more, comes together in an original journey.

Avallone originally started out using stucco, with its infinite variations, and since then has incorporated a host of other materials into his aesthetic universe, yielding considerably complex results to fulfil the requests of high profile international clients. His contribution to the Sikelia project is clear in his great paintings, in multiple pieces of furniture and in the objects present in the communal spaces and some of our suites.

On Pantelleria Avallone has worked by subtraction, letting his materials guide him. Like an archaeologist, he approached the decoration project by drawing out the faintest traces of ancient pottery, pale memories of glazed painted tiles, faded relics of a world almost devoid of colour, predominantly concentrated in dark shades.

On this volcanic island, he has allowed fire to speak, from which both bronze and glass are born, both present in his work, alongside stucco and concrete. In an exercise of harmony with the unique characteristics of the site and with a cultured and respectful client base that over time has given him the privilege of expressing himself.

SUITES
Stylish suites housed in ancient dammusi dwellings bring together strict monastic interior architecture and refined contemporary elegance. Welcome to Sikelia. Our warm and personalized welcome will make you feel right at home.

An exclusive, timeless place, synonymous with luxury and tranquillity, which will accompany you in your discovery of the many contrasts of the island of Pantelleria. Sikelia houses 20 Suites, all different in conformation, and which all share the same stylish design, meticulous attention to detail and style coherence.

Each suite expresses its exclusivity with works and unique pieces tailor-made for Sikelia with natural materials that are reminiscent of the wild nature of the island. The different categories group the Suites according to their position and views within the hotel’s structure.

The Iconic Suites are our own hidden jewels: intimate terraces from which your gaze can wander through the surrounding countryside until it meets the sea, from which to enjoy privileged views of our African sunsets. Let yourself be amazed, whilst nestling amongst the pillows of your private terrace, by the spectacle of nature, shaded by a fruit tree.

MASTER SUITE
The cosy feel of our Master Suites is the result of skilled design and attention to detail. Private outdoor spaces offer intimacy and unique views of the intense landscape of this rugged island: the countryside, palm trees and dammusi rooftops will be the backdrop to your moments of relaxation. Our suites, built within an ancient dammusi structure, are all different in conformation, but share the same stylish design and meticulous attention to detail.

Because of the peculiar nature of the hotel, and the need to guarantee our guests the utmost tranquillity, Sikelia is not suitable for children. Our Master Suites are between 40 and 45 m 2 and are comprised of: bedroom, living room, bathroom with waterfall shower, and private outdoor space with a ducchena.

WINE & FOOD
Emotional cuisine to nourish the soul, showcasing all the flavours and aromas of rural traditions. A palm grove framed by the white cupola of our dammusi, in which you can share the pleasures of the table under magical starry skies, in a silence so profound and sincere that only an island so close to Africa can offer.

THEMA’ RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
Africa and Southern Italy come together in the flavours and scents of this land sculpted by the wind and the sun. It is hard not to fall under the spell of the simple but bold flavours on offer at Themà, prepared by the expert hands of our Executive Chef Diego Battaglia, who skilfully combines Sicilian traditional recipes with an Arab and African twist.

Fresh ingredients and innovative ideas combined create new tastes that make every single encounter with the flavours of this land truly unique. Every evening we will wait for the sunset on the white roofs with the aperitifs of our bartender, capable of expressing local aromas and flavours. Together we will experience emotions that blend with the intensity of the lights of the sunset.

COSTE GHIRLANDA’S WINES
This is why we chose Coste Ghirlanda as our food and wine partner, cultivator of vines, olive trees, capers and fruit trees. Coste Ghirlanda is a unique and timeless place. Zibibbo grapes grown ad alberello, picked by hand with a technique now part of the Unesco World Heritage, produce the perfect wine for those evenings when our senses are dominated by silent nature and the scents of fruits ripened under the intense African sun.

Protected by the typical dry stone walls of Arabic origin, shaped by the wind and cultivated in keeping with ancient tradition, Pantelleria’s vines yield incredibly aromatic grapes, expertly transformed into wines with unique organoleptic properties.

The strength of the wind, the heat of the sun, the rare rainfall and the lava soil mean that all our crops differ a little from year to year. This is why no two bottles are the same, and each vintage brings new fragrances, new flavours and new emotions in every single glass of red, white or Passito.

L’OFFICINA
Magical evenings immersed in the silence of the Pantelleria nights and the scents of the vines before the harvest: this is the Coste Ghirlanda Wine Laboratory, an enchanting place, perfect for relaxing moments sipping a glass of wine at sunset or a passito later in the evening.

A unique corner of Pantelleria, where you can enjoy the authentic flavours of the island’s delicious and evocative cuisine in total tranquillity, and discover the best combinations of Coste wines and local produce. An authentic eno-gastronomic experience, accompanied by special attention to detail, that allows you to live unique moments in a private environment where nature dominates the senses and perceptions.

SPA & WELLNESS
Rediscover the pleasure of getting in touch with nature thanks to the emotional wellness experiences offered by both Sikelia and the island itself. Pure fitness and wellness experiences through trekking activities, e-bikes, and walking to recharge the energy of our body.

Pamper yourself and indulge in regeneration under the enchanted starry sky of the island. Indulge in the pleasure of a massage in our Arabic garden, under the shade of a palm tree, surrounded by the scent of jasmine. Submerge yourself in the beneficial properties of the mud on the shores of Lago di Venere.

YOU – MINDFUL LIFE PROGRAM
A holiday retreat that aims to bring centre your world again through yoga sessions and meditation, as well as seminars and theoretical study sessions, combined with a healthy and natural diet. The YOU – Mindful Life Program comes to life thanks to combination of energies emanating from the island of Pantelleria and Sikelia’s magical effect.

Through different disciplines and methods, you will experiment different exercises and practices dedicated to movement and wellbeing, to improve both your physical performance as well as to develop a better awareness of your own body, and to manage emotions so that they do not become an obstacle whilst learning to control of our energy.

At Sikelia a natural and personalized nutrition plan, based on the principles of la dieta Mediterranea, will favour the awareness of the importance of eating programs that lead to lightness and wellbeing.

PANTELLERIA
This is Pantelleria, the Black Pearl of the Mediterranean, a place to discover and respect, with its dark rocks carved by the wind, its sharp forms softened by the roundness of the white dammusi dwellings, its natural hot springs and rejuvenating mud, the precious legacy of the volcano from which the island originated.

The music of the wind lashes out suddenly on the cliffs, as if wanting to remind us that nature, here, is the absolute master, while it embraces the sea of a blue so intense one seems to be lost in a dream that tells the tales of an Africa closer than we could have ever imagined.

Pantelleria is part of Sicily, but the island actually lies much closer to Africa than Italy. It is precisely this privileged position (Homer called it “the navel of the Mediterranean”) which gives the island its look and its culture rich in contrasts, a place of Arabic forms and typical scents of Southern Italy.

The island is characterized by its dammusi, archaic architectural structures made in stone, immersed harmoniously in the Zibibbo vineyards. Vineyards whose cultivation is still carried out according to ancient rules and traditions that have been recognized as part of the Unesco World Heritage.

THE COASTLINE
The island stands out, amongst other things, for its rugged coastline and the green countryside overhanging the sea. This isn’t a place of sandy beaches, but rather one of small coves with crystal clear waters, spectacular and mysterious caves and a comfortable descent to the sea over smooth rocks. Set sail with our boat the Esperanza to discover the fascinating cliffs and dive into the crystal clear waters around the island.

OPEN AIR SPA
Pantelleria’s volcanic origins are also to thank for its authentic open-air spa facilities: from the hot springs of Gadir and the Benikulà Cave’s natural sauna to the mud of the Lago di Venere. Every hidden corner the island will guide you through a regeneration of the senses and a newfound connection with nature.

ARCHITECTURE & NATURE
The architecture too is unique, reflective of the fact that man has had to bend to the will of nature, which here reigns supreme. Unusual stone gardens created to protect the citrus trees from the wind. Typical dry stone walls which weave between the curves of the white dammusi dwellings. Black volcanic lava stones which emerge within the green landscapes that slope down to the sea through ingenious terracing.

EXPERIENCE
Let yourself be transported by the energy of Pantelleria’s volcano to discover the scents and colours of this wonderful island. Let yourself be surprised by the olive trees shaped by the wind and the hands of man. Let yourself be cleansed by the crystal clear and deep blue waters of the sea.

Let yourself be led through the discovery of natural paths nestled in a unique context. Pantelleria; an island that you will truly discover only by abandoning yourself completely to his will, uncovering its secrets.

SEA
Discover the very essence of this island by sea: explore spectacular caves, beautiful coves and quaint gulfs with their warm volcanic waters. Deep and silent underwater worlds, rich in history, which create a real diving paradise.

L’ESPERANZA
A traditional local fishing boat renovated “alla Sikelia”. Sail with us through blue waters to truly capture the essence of the island’s cliffs, proud and austere.

WINE TOURISM
Loose yourself amongst Pantelleria’s vines and vineyards, wandering from one wine cellar to the next while sampling the island’s flavours.

EXCURSIONS
On foot or by mountain bike, explore nature trails through volcanic rocks, Mediterranean shrub land and primordial caves.

RENT THE PALACE
A unique and unconventional frame that can become exclusively yours. Turn Sikelia into your intimate and private Sicilian home away from home. Real luxury gives unexpected pleasures that go beyond what is essential and necessary.

At Sikelia the small details embody this concept. The secret lies in doing ordinary things in an extraordinary fashion. Our staff, or rather your staff, will assist you in the creation of an experience tailored according to your preferences.

Our Chef and his team, whom will always be at your disposal, will allow you to choose when and where to experience the flavours of the island. Furthermore, the elegance of Sikelia and the suggestiveness of our Coste Ghirlanda Wine Estate will be the perfect combination for unforgettable moments.

EVENTS
Our full dedication and attention, imagination and extreme care of every detail is what propose in addition to the scents, colours and silence of this wonderful island. Whether it’s a special dinner, a celebration, a wedding party, an exclusive party, a business meeting or an incentive activity, our staff is ready to turn your desires and high expectations into unforgettable events.

The energy of a place which remains authentic, African sunsets and star studded skies will be also help us give your event its finishing magic touches, creating special moments which we dare you to forget.

Rooms: 20

Price: from 430 EUR per night

Source: www.sikeliapantelleria.com