Azienda Agricola Mandranova

A garden of palm trees and african plants is the setting of our resort. We offer a stay of well-being and tranquillity in the rustic simplicity of the ancient farmhouse and in the renovated rooms of a an old train station and an old winery. The “gebbia”, formerly used for agricultural irrigation, has been transformed into a small but beautiful swimming pool where you can cool off from the heat of the summer.

On a hill, a few miles from the sea, there is a green oasis where a selection of native young olive trees grow in our olive grove, as well as some which are several hundred years old. All are individually irrigated. Here we produce extra-virgin olive oil, almonds and conserves that are expressions of our land, our sun, our Sicily.

TERRITORY
A few kilometers away from the farmhouse, is the town of Palma di Montechiaro. Founded in 1637 by the Tomasi di Lampedusa family, it was the place where Giuseppe Tomasi drew inspiration to write his masterpiece “The Leopard”. Mandranova is situated in the part of Sicily where the Burt Lancaster film “Il Gattopardo” was set, and offers easy access to the southern coast.

To the west, on the outskirts of Agrigento, there are the Valley of Temples and the archaeological sites of Seliunte. The brilliant white beaches of Scala Dei Turchi and Eraclea Minoa are a short drive away.

On the south-eastern side of the island Modica and Ragusa stand out with their beautiful Baroque churches and palaces. Lastly, in the center of Sicily there are the unmissable Piazza Armerina – with the wonderful mosaics at Villa del Casale – and Caltagirone, famous town for its pottery.

THE PROJECT
Mandranova is the expression of our will to enhance what our land can produce, integrating the traditional “knowledge ” with rational criteria and innovation, aimed at obtaining the highest quality products.

Mandranova is the expression of our will to offer simple hospitality and authentic contact with the real values and traditions that our land can offer. Mandranova’s hospitality is authentic and effortless, offer to guests a relaxed and traditional experience.

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
Mandranova, farm and resort, located on the hills of Palma di Montechiaro in the province of Agrigento, not far from the archaeological site of the “Valle dei Templi” and from the sea, structures in the months of May/June and September/October two programs of residences, inside its structure, dedicated to international mid-career artists.

The project, curated by Maria Chiara Valacchi, promotes research and study stays in an area steeped in valuable environmental, scenic and historic/architectural features encouraging new productions in the fields of visual arts and promoting the exchange between the artists and the country.

The activity is concentrated in the venue of Mandranova farm that within the space of a month offers to the selected artist a stay and a place where realize his/her own site-specific projects.

In support of the hospitality program will be made a publication on paper dedicated to every single experience, and also will be set up a system of on-line updates, in which the artists “in residence” will be free to disclose the relevant stages of their daily work.

Mandranova In Residence proposes itself as a specific curatorial project for this area and it aims to foster the creation of a network to put into dialogue different ideas, practices and models from global to local and vice versa.

ROOMS & SUITES
The resort has a total of 15 rooms/suites: in some, the original family furnishings make them warm and genuine, typically Sicilian; in others design and tradition blend harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. All rooms are very comfortable, equipped with heating and air conditioning.

SUITE
Our suites are spacious and comfortable, ideal for families. They are located on the first floor and have view over the gardens and the olive grove. The suite “Oliva” consists of one double room, one single room, two bathrooms and a living room.

The antique tiles, the polished floor and the antique furnishings create a comfortable family-friendly atmosphere, which is at the same time elegant and refined. The suite “Frantoio” has a large bedroom with en-suite bathroom, a comfortable living room and a terrace. Both are equipped with air conditioning and heating, TV, hair dryer.

VILLAS
The “Robazza” is a delicious independent villa, surrounded by olive trees, distant 300 meters (a few minutes walking) from the Casale, the main house. This beautiful self-contained villa used to be the estate’s winery.

It has been fully restored and modernised in a harmonious blend of old and new. Stone, cement and plaster are the materials used for the restoration. The house is surrounded by olive trees reflecting in the private pool; from the terrace you can enjoy an unparalleled view over the olive grove across to the sea. Robazza consists of 2 ensuite double bedrooms and a twin bedroom.

It benefits from its own private infinity pool and an outdoor sitting and eating area with built in charcoal barbecue. It also has a large open plan living room with a small kitchen with stove. The property is available for weekly hire, from Saturday to Saturday, with an option of using the facilities of the main house, such as breakfast, dinner, cookery classes, etc.

DINING
The restaurant offers a refined Sicilian home cookery based on our family tradition. Products come from the farm and the local area. At lunch time we propose a light buffet with salads, cheeses, vegetables and generally simple Sicilians recipes. At dinner we propose a fixed menu of four courses that change every day.

Starting from a fresh baked bread, made exclusively with ancient varieties of Sicilians’ wheat, you will be guided on an itinerary where the aim is to experience the old taste of Sicilian tradition reinterpreted in a modern way, in which ingredients are handle using new techniques of cooking. We are open to any recommendation due to particular dietary choice. Our wine selection lets you sample the full spectrum of Sicilian wines.

OLIVE OIL TASTING
The Olive Oil Tasting will make you discover the world of extra virgin oil, the importance of it, and give you unexpected emotions.

BREAKFAST
“Homemade” is the hallmark of the traditional breakfast that we serve every day in our farm. Starting from fresh and local ingredients, using some particular fruits picked in the garden, we make unique cakes, biscuits, marmalades and jams. By adding fresh baked bread, Ricotta cheese, fresh fruits, juices, tea and coffee we allow our guest to start the day in the best way.

ACTIVITIES
It is an emotion for us to show you how the extraction of the olive oil works. And especially to transmit knowledges and techniques that allow us to produce an high quality product.

At the beginning we will proceed visiting the olive oil mill, the area where we extract the oil, then we will move to the storage and bottling area: we are going to explain all the particulars step by step. Next we suggest the olive oil tasting, in order to discover the essence of our farm.

For a truly special experience, come and stay with us from the 25th of September to the 15th of October. You can participate in the olive harvest and production of “your olive oil”. Send a request for more details. During your stay, you can walk throughout the farm to experience first-hand our daily activity.

You will discover the African plants of the main house garden, the citrus grove and the vegetable garden in service of the restaurant, the cactus plants close to the pool and, off course, the olive and the almond grove. In particular the harvest of the almonds is at the beginning of August and at the beginning of September. You can enjoy it also by riding our bikes; send a request for more details.

Finally, starting from Licata’s harbor, you can enjoy with us a tour in our boat. A swim in the blue sea and light-lunch on board, close to the amazing rock’s coast typical of our area, will captivate your mind and leave you nice memories.

COOKING CLASSES
We offer daily cookery classes in our main kitchen. It starts at 11:00 a.m., end at 1:30 p.m. followed by lunch of what you cooked. We would like that guest take an active part in the creation of the menu, that you can choose among the Sicilian traditional recipes.

Vegetables are picked in the garden and other ingredients find locally, such as the delicious Ricotta cheese, the fresh fish catch into Licata’s bay and of course our own extra-virgin olive oil and almonds. You will leave with unique memories and new recipes which represent our ancient culinary tradition.

MEETINGS & EVENTS
Mandranova is the perfect place for your party, wedding or corporate meeting, cultural event, exhibition or concert. Our new meeting space, that comes from the former olive oil press, blend a mix of industrial architecture, design and technology. It is possible to host up to 50 – 70 people.

LOCATION
We are located in a very history rich part of Sicily, a 20 minute drive away from the world famous Valley of Temples at Agrigento, 5 minutes from Palma di Montechiaro, where Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa drew inspiration to write his masterpiece “The Leopard”, “Il Gattopardo”.

Here the film with the same title was set, staring Burt Lancaster and Claudia Cardinale. Our location offers easy access to the southern coast with it’s stunning beaches of Scale Dei Turchi and Eraclea Minoa.

Within easy reach you can explore the Roman mosaics at Piazza Armerina’s Villa del Casale (1h 20min) or the archeological sites of Selinunte (1h 45min). Caltagirone (1h 20min) of pottery fame is not far, nor are the beautiful Baroque towns of Ragusa (1h 50min), Modica (2h) and Noto (2h 30min).

Rooms: 16

Price: from 143 EUR per night

Source: www.mandranova.com