Baglio Occhipinti Vittoria

In Sicily, there is an enchanted place always dedicated to the cultivation of vines, olive trees and, the production of quality wine. A place preserved by men in respect of Nature where a 17th-century building stands.

Over time, the block expands to become a real Baglio, where the fence walls become a protective embrace for all the families who work there cultivating the land and reaping the benefits. Today that place is a charming relais in which to regenerate immersed in the most authentic nature of Sicily.

Baglio Occhipinti is a charming place where twelve rooms, renovated respecting the territory and original architecture, allow guests to live a complete experience of well-being and regeneration.

Here Nature is not only a backdrop, but it is the mother who generates the fruits to feed on. Baglio Occhipinti is also a totally organic farm, so the concept of well-being starts from cultivation to arrive at the table in the rediscovery of traditional recipes.

Over ten hectares of the Ragusana countryside in the heart of south-eastern Sicily, immersed in the Val di Noto, right in the heart of the Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG and the most authentic Baroque architecture.

The history of the estate has always been linked to the production of wine and witnesses are the open-air limestone pits originally used for the collection of musts.

A collected Baglio that protects a larger estate of over 10 hectares to live in full. Inside the walls, the ancient rural buildings and the manor house become places full of charm where respect for tradition coexists with refinement for details and details.

The natural stone walls, a unique and unrepeatable backdrop, dialogue with objects of the peasant tradition, with period furniture and precious works of art and unique antiques. In the rooms, guests will never find a TV or a mini-bar, but always fresh water and a wine cellar with a selection of natural wines produced by the Baglio and the local area.

The consecration of beauty as harmony and its spontaneous sharing with guests is the most natural concept of luxury expressed by Baglio Occhipinti: daily simplicity in the attention to detail, expression of a refined lifestyle to guarantee its guests maximum comfort in the respect for nature and without ostentation.

Every part, every detail of the Baglio is experienced and shared with the guests who are involved in the collection from the garden, in the preparation in the kitchen, to then enjoy the pleasures of the table.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are small but important rites for which particular care is taken in choosing ceramics, porcelain, as well as silverware used daily and without any ostentation. For the parties, linen, porcelain and crystals are chosen, as well as the most important silverware, just like at home.

In Baglio Occhipinti the welcome is family, and according to tradition, it is Fausta Occhipinti, the landlady who welcomes guests. A welcome that is spontaneous interpretation and satisfaction of the need expressed by each individual guest.

THE HISTORY
The history of the estate has always been linked to the production of wine and witnesses are the open-air limestone pits originally used for the collection of musts.

The first building erected on a hillock and dated around 600 develops in real millstone towards 700 and finds its maximum expansion between 1830 and 1850. The millstone is the place where musts are collected, pressing and the harvest for the subsequent maceration and fermentation of the wine.

The history of wine flows into the roots of Baglio Occhipinti and still feeds it today, as does the concept of respect for Nature. Tradition created by the Occhipinti family and, in particular, by Arianna and Giusto with their wineries, designed to enhance the territory and Cerasuolo di Vittoria.

ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS
The term Baglio indicates a fortified farm and the etymology is found in both Arab, Latin and Greek culture. The stone walls surrounding Baglio Occhipinti are the beginning of the story of a territory and of a tradition read and interpreted by Fausta Occhipinti, landlady and landscape architect, who wanted to preserve its origins and the tradition of hospitality.

The manor house finds its corner stone in the millstone of over 160 square meters: the collection tank of the pulsating life musts of the Baglio is today a living room that welcomes its guests also for breakfast, dinner and moments of conviviality.

The restoration project saw the search for workers and craftsmen capable of building with ancient methods, such as perimeter dry walls: true works of art.todologie, come i muri a secco perimetrali: vere opere d’arte.

The entire renovation project is based on a scenic vision that takes into account the perspective escapes of the Baglio with an interpretation of the theater backdrop. The intense, white and constant light of the Sicilian sun is the natural narrator of each surface.

The same attention was paid to the interior furnishings, looking for handcrafted furniture elements capable of enhancing and narrating the tradition of the area, such as the Caltagirone ceramic, the kitchen sinks or the large wood oven.

The latter is the beating heart of the kitchen and the home: traditional recipes are prepared here such as “scacce ragusane”, a rustic and tasty dish based on focaccia filled with cheeses and vegetables grown in the Baglio. The preparation of the “scacce” is a moment of conviviality and communion with the guests who are spontaneously involved.

ROOMS & SUITES 
Each Suite and Room of Baglio Occhipinti was born from a conservative restoration project, designed to revive what were once the rural houses and environments lived by the farmers and transform them into places of charm and total comfort.

The stone of the walls, as the original construction material, becomes the plot of a story steeped in time and tradition: a panorama to be enjoyed inside each room, which also represents a real luxury, given the exclusively manual processing that requires an expertise now lost.

The rooms integrate with the territory, enhancing the view: the hills, the countryside and the magic of the Iblei Mountains become a canvas framed by each window or balcony of the Suites and the Baglio Rooms. During the stay you are pervaded by the triumph of colors, light and perfumes; citrus essences, hints of olive trees and wildflowers, occasionally dominated by the fragrance of roses.

Naturally gathered inside the belt of the baglio and distributed between the manor house and the rural complexes, at the center of the over 10 hectares of the estate, the Suites and the Rooms become the plot that connects the gardens and orchards in which they are immersed.

A renewed communion with Nature is the lifestyle professed by Baglio Occhipinti: in the room there will be no televisions, no mini bar, but only the chirping of birds and the whispering of the breeze to keep company.

A detoxifying holiday from everyday life to the rediscovery of a greater balance. For this reason, energy is produced naturally with solar and thermal panels, reducing the impacts on nature and the production of CO2.

The ceilings with exposed wooden beams, the original furniture elements that are combined with fine fabrics in modern colors, the terracotta floors, the ancient cement tiles: each element of construction and furniture is the result of research and study, for the custody of identity and the protection of a balance capable of enhancing the essence of a place designed to live in symbiosis with nature, enhancing it and enhancing its spontaneous elegance, and offering services from luxury boutique hotels.

DELUXE ROOMS
The Deluxe rooms are large, with sizes ranging from 32 to over 42 square meters, ideal for couples looking for a romantic setting in which to enjoy more space for themselves, or even for a family of up to four people, also thanks to the comfortable sofa bed. All have a single environment that also houses a living area.

In each room several windows guarantee the pervading of light, amplified by high wooden ceilings and exposed beams. The floors in white concrete, or decorated with original cement tiles, or handmade terracotta, become part of the identity of each individual room.

Sleep quality is guaranteed queen size beds, along with a comfortable double sofa bed. All the bathrooms are made of white mortar to enhance the stone walls which sometimes act as a backdrop to the always wide and floor-level shower. Respecting nature, the courtesy line is organic and based on Sicilian officinal plants.

The cottons and sponges are all natural and from a sustainable supply chain, washed with environmental certification. For guests, the welcome surprise of homemade organic soap exclusively for Baglio Occhipinti.

SUPERIOR ROOMS
The Superior rooms are full of charm and profoundly different from each other. Designed to live in total comfort the charm of the original rooms of the Baglio, preserving their ancient geometries and architectures.

The Superior Garden has a double height ceiling and houses a mezzanine which makes it ideal also for families. The Panorama is an intimate Superior room, ideal for a couple, capable of recreating a bohemian atmosphere also thanks to the presence of the ancient cast iron bathtub in the bedroom.

One allows direct access to the courtyard, the other has a view of the vineyards and the Iblei mountains. Sleep quality is guaranteed queen size beds. In the garden there is a second French bed to accommodate two more guests. Even the bathrooms are different in the Superior rooms, just to respect the architecture.

Respecting nature, the courtesy line is organic and based on Sicilian officinal plants. The cottons and sponges are all natural and from a sustainable supply chain, washed with environmental certification. For guests, the welcome surprise of homemade organic soap exclusively for Baglio Occhipinti.

THE BREAKFAST
The organic breakfast at Baglio Occhipinti is a true experience and a moment of communion with Nature, as well as the discovery of local quality products of the territory selected with extreme care.

When guests wake up, breakfast is served at the table, surrounded by green gardens, in the shade of fruit trees, or in the ancient Palmento in a refined and bright atmosphere, always surrounded by the Sicilian sun light.

Every morning guests can enjoy the fruits of the farm and nearby farmers: the zero kilometer proximity product is a guarantee of freshness and authenticity: artisan honey, fresh seasonal fruit freshly picked from the trees of the garden as oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, plums, black cherries, mulberries, figs, prickly pears, apricots. Each harvest respects the seasons and the natural alternation of the sowing and harvesting cycles.

Among the baked goods, home-made natural leavened bread with flour produced by the Occhipinti family with ancient grains and biscuits from the Baglio pantry, all to be accompanied with organic jams always produced at home and prepared directly with the fruits of the trees of the garden and vegetable gardens: orange, mandarin, lemon, grapefruit, pears, peaches and plums.

The selection of baked goods includes a choice of cakes and desserts made according to traditional family recipes and prepared every morning with high quality ingredients.

Returning guests usually ask for the almond cake, the Modica chocolate cake, the orange cake, the ricotta, the tarts with our jams, the typical Sicilian brioches “with the tuppo”, perhaps to be enjoyed with a lemon granita , homemade almond or mulberry.

For guests who prefer the more traditional European breakfast, there are always croissants and artisan biscuits, but created with the flour of ancient grains of the Sicilian tradition.

Organic farm butter and also organic raw milk yogurt are always produced at Baglio Occhipinti. To cool off nothing better than a fresh juice of freshly picked oranges, according to season, or a centrifuge of fresh fruit directly from the gardens or vegetable gardens. Almond milk, produced with Baglio’s almonds is a pleasant discovery for all guests.

Even the salty proposal is a pleasant discovery: every day a different proposal of fresh organic eggs from local hens enriched with local cheeses and meats, including Pecorino Primosale di Vittoria, Caciocavallo Ragusano DOP, fresh ricotta, organic provole, dry sausage, salami, lard, along with a tasting of hams, mortadella, poached eggs, soft-boiled, with tomato sauce and omelette.

All dishes are enriched with extra virgin olive oil produced by the ancient trees of the Baglio. A gargantuan triumph even for the most greedy guest. Breakfast is always included and, at any time, the staff of Baglio Occhipinti is happy to welcome requests to deal with food intolerances or allergies. To ensure the quality of the service, please specify special needs when booking.

THE LUNCH
Lunch in Baglio Occhipinti is a regenerating break served under the olive trees or in the ancient Palmento. Ideal to enjoy the refreshment of the shade after a morning dedicate yourself to sunbathing under the Sicilian sun or to recharge before continuing on walks to discover the area.

The proposed formula is oriented towards the discovery of traditional dishes, enhanced by the organic cultivation of Baglio. Pasta with tomato and basil, pasta with fried zucchini, Norma or pasta with Sicilian pesto are capable of evoking childhood memories and recharging, without weighing it down.

Together or alternatively, a selection of fresh salads of freshly picked vegetables enriched with Hyblean capers. All to combine with a selection of local meats and cheeses, such as the famous Ragusano D.O.P.

For guests who prefer a light lunch, it will be possible to opt for fresh fruit from the garden or the most delicious, but always light, granita to be accompanied with a brioche “with tuppo”.

The “tuppo” is a decorative growth of the brioche, a stylized and greedy hat to be separated and immediately dipped into the heart of the granita for a first taste. The light lunch is also ideal for those who want to dedicate the afternoon to the swimming pool or to a trip to the sea.

An idea for a different lunch? Ask Fausta to prepare a picnic basket to go exploring the Ragusa countryside and find a generous carob of shade for lunch on the lawn. Upon request, the picnic can include a guided tour of the farm.

THE APERITIF
The aperitif by Baglio Occhipinti is a refined way of combining the taste for good drinking with enchanting scenarios. At Baglio the aperitifs are organized in the vineyard connoting them with a romantic and reserved atmosphere, or near the swimming pool, surrounded by citrus fruits over three hundred years old.

Still, alternatively, they are organized on the panoramic terrace, offering an unforgettable view of the Iblei Mountains. When the weather does not allow it, the halls with the ancient Palmento become the natural theater of the magical moment before dinner.

The ritual of the aperitif sees the discovery of delicious cold cuts and cheeses of the territory accompanied with olives and the “capuliato”: a pesto of dried tomatoes that was born in the 1800s in Vittoria as the progenitor of the tomato sauce preserve.

Dried tomatoes, chopped and marinated with basil, garlic and chilli peppers become an addictive companion to accompany the most sophisticated cocktails, as well as the selection of natural wines proposed by Fausta.

After a day dedicated to the discovery of baroque Sicily or slow living enjoying the sun and the sea, the signature cocktails of Baglio Occhipinti are the right regenerating. Gin, Rum, Vodka and very high quality liqueurs will blend with the aromatic plants grown in Baglio, such as lavender, rosemary, mint and juniper to guide guests towards a new experience of natural drinking.

For wine lovers, a selection of natural wines for which it will also be possible to organize a guided tasting. Before dinner, on request, it is also possible to organize a tasting of extra virgin olive oil.

THE DINNER
Dinner at Baglio Occhipinti is a sensory journey to the rediscovery of traditional Sicilian cuisine through the story of the seasonal production of the vegetable garden, as well as the catch. The daily menu alternates meat and fish, but also vegetarian and vegan proposals to meet the needs of each guest and any need or request.

The menu is a six-course gastronomic experience: the chef’s welcome opens to the appetizer to go through the first courses and the second with a side dish. Dinner ends sumptuously with dessert and a selection of small pastries.

Of course, even the youngest guests are at the center of the attentions of Fausta, a careful hostess, and of the Baglio staff: in fact, a healthy and tasty dinner is prepared entirely dedicated to them.

Guests can dine in the garden, immersed in one of the vegetable gardens, or by the pool, surrounded by a citrus grove of over three hundred years, or in the ancient Palmento of the 700. The scenario chosen by Fausta is part of the sensory journey and makes dinner a ‘unique experience.

Upon request, guests can request a private dining service and have dinner in their room or in the private gardens (available for Suites and Classic Vigna).

On request, for family occasions or groups of close friends, it is possible to organize a social table in the ancient Palmento. An exclusive salon, characterized by the musts collection tank of over 160 square meters and the ancient fireplace, domestic hearth and place of gathering and regeneration during every season.

Dinners in the Palmento have the charm of soberly elegant events, in which the spontaneous elegance of linen, crystals and silverware amplifies the gastronomic experience.

THE WINE SELECTION
Fausta has chosen for its guests a selection of natural wines starting from the production of Baglio Occhipinti to continue to discover the whole Sicily and the terroirs that make up this continent to be explored also for the wine production of absolute excellence. The wine list of Baglio Occhipinti was edited by the sommelier Gian Marco Iannello together with the hostess, Fausta Occhipinti.

The paper was conceived starting from the principle of craftsmanship that summarizes the concept of natural wine: organic grapes, spontaneous fermentation of musts, no external substances, nor invasive procedures.

Therefore, Fausta together with Gian Marco paid particular attention to the raw material, the territory and the vintage. All fundamental parameters to accompany and enhance a traditional cuisine.

COOKING CLASS
Fausta Occhipinti and the chef of Baglio are pleased to invite you to the cooking classes organized to rediscover the recipes of the Sicilian tradition, in particular, the preparation of fresh pasta, the “Scacce ragusane” (stuffed buns of the tradition of south-east Sicily) and of the famous arancino, also celebrated by Andrea Camilleri in the stories of Commissioner Montalbano. The cooking class can also have a variant on desserts with a special course to learn how to prepare the famous Sicilian cannoli.

The cooking classes at Baglio Occhipinti include a real ritual: it starts with a toast with a glass of wine and a walk in the garden to discover, learn about and collect the vegetables that will be cooked. So, all with your hands in the dough and ready to saute for about two hours.

Just enough time to admire the sunset and you are ready for a dinner at the table reserved for guests took part in the cooking class: a 6-course dinner will await them during which they will also savor what was prepared during the cooking class. You just have to choose between the courses:

• Preparation of fresh Pasta: different types to choose from, including ricotta ravioli, tagliolini and cavati
• Ragusane scacce cooked in a wood oven
• Arancini
• Sicilian cannolo

The cooking classes last two hours and include a welcome glass of wine and a six-course dinner. Drinks during dinner are not included.

THE WELLNESS EXPERIENCE
Physical and mental well-being is one of the experiences that best describes a stay in Baglio Occhipinti. Well-being understood as a holistic approach to life and to the relationship with nature, and not to a simple treatment or a specific massage.

The total sense of well-being is perceived since the arrival, thanks to the scent of the air: pure and pervaded by the scent of flowers and trees. Light is one of the narrators of Baglio, it enters through the large French windows, it reflects on the light surfaces of the period floors and on the bright roofs to reach every corner.

Living the farm is well-being: long walks through the fields and vineyards, nourishing oneself with food grown entirely organically, rediscovering traditional recipes that are the cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet.

YOGA RETREAT
The slow and peaceful atmosphere, the predominant nature, the kindness of the people, the naturalness of the food, make Baglio Occhipinti one of the most authentic yoga retreat in Sicily.

The philosophy of respect for nature, the choices of sustainability and the care of every detail from agriculture to nutrition, naturally emphasize the balance between body, mind and spirit.

The staff of Baglio Occhipinti is ready to organize personalized retreats and courses, which can include personalized massages and diets, for a holiday of regeneration and rediscovering total balance.

THE SWIMMING POOL
A place of refreshment, a place to live for an aperitif characterized by the slowness and enjoyment of nature, but also a romantic backdrop for a dinner under the citrus trees, the Baglio Occhipinti swimming pool has been conceived to coexist with the concept of a large vegetable garden concluded.

Purified with salt, to reduce the use of chlorine, it has a natural stone border made by local workers, creating continuity with the lawn that surrounds it. All around a citrus grove of over three hundred years and fruit trees. The swimming pool is open all day, without any restrictions, to allow the guest to enjoy it just like at home.

The swimming pool is part of the Mediterranean garden project, wanted just like the Panteschi gardens: a natural protection and cultivation system, but also as a water management system with geometries of the Arab and Persian historical tradition. The renovation of the Borgo has accompanied nature in every detail, without ever opposing it.

ORGANIC FARMING 
Baglio Occhipinti follows the unstoppable rhythms of Nature. It is immersed in the suggestive hilly countryside of south-east Sicily, surrounded by vineyards and ancient olive groves, surrounded by colourful fruit trees and fragrant flowery fields.

The Baglio observes and participates in the succession of seasons, marked by flowering, ripening and collection of products that the generous earth gives. The over four thousand square meters of organic vegetable garden donate vegetables, fruits and vegetables all year round, grown according to Nature.

Among the traditional ancient varieties of the territory, broccoli, cabbage, chicory, chard, onions, garlic, peas, broad beans, tomatoes, aubergines, Vittoria summer courgettes and pumpkins are grown and processed. All with great pleasure of the guests who discover the native varieties and enjoy them at the table.

Sustainability and respect for Nature are also guaranteed by the production of organic fertilizer, made with the selection of compost. At Baglio everyone takes care also of the sustainable use of water. The mulching is done only with manual weeding.

The gardens of Baglio Occhipinti are always in production, all year round, and can be visited by guests who will always find something good to collect, taste and cook. Flower surround the gardens naturally: lavender and borage, also used in the kitchen. All around it is possible to find rose gardens that embellish the corners of the countryside.

The triumph of the vegetable gardens is in the kitchen, where the ancient recipes of the Occhipinti family, kept and handed down from Rosaura to Fausta, guarantee a wise use of vegetables linked to wellness and health, as well as to good taste.

The Baglio Occhipinti’s garden is a pleasant place where you can have lunch, dinner, enjoy the sunset and the scents of the countryside while sipping a good glass of wine.

AROMATIC GARDENS & WILDFLOWERS
Sicily offers unforgettable experiences to all senses, but what is most striking are always the colours and scents: the aromatic plants that grow at Baglio Occhipinti pervade every room with their scents and inebriate the guests.

Rosemary, sage, mint, thyme, savoury, marjoram, lavender, basil, parsley, lemongrass and oregano grow all year round in the aromatic garden of the Baglio and are spontaneously discovered by guests by merely looking out of the rooms, living on the patio or walking among the vegetable gardens.

Guests will have the opportunity to meet Giambattista, who will be lavish with botanical explanations on the origins and methods of cultivation. The aromatic and medicinal plants are also the source of the herbal teas produced with passion by Fausta: the guests will enjoy teas in the room, and they can ask to organize a class to learn how to produce them at home.

With the arrival of spring, wildflowers bloom, and the gardens are covered with new coloured and fragrant spots, together with precious gifts such as wild fennel and thistles, excellent for purifying and delicious herbal teas in the kitchen for traditional recipes.

THE CITRUS GARDEN
Baglio Occhipinti is a true hortus conclusus, that is, a traditional Arab garden full of oranges, lemons, cedars, grapefruits, bitter oranges, mandarins, but also pears, pomegranates, plums and figs. All around high dry-built walls, from the skilful setting of stone on stone, to protect plants from the wind, but also unwelcome guests.

The Baglio gardens give a sense of Sicily: protection, a feeling of relaxation and belonging to an ancient and proper context. Guests are free to experience the whole Baglio, enjoying the orchards and reaping the fruits or tasting it in the room, where they will find it fresh every day.

OLIVE GROVES & EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
In September it is time to harvest olives. The little ones – as the olive flowers are called – grown during the spring among the evergreen branches have now become the precious fruits. In Baglio Occhipinti, Tonda Iblea is cultivated, an autochthonous cultivar typical of eastern Sicily which, after the harvest, gives the green gold of our land: extra virgin olive oil.

The oil has a set of typically Sicilian flavours and a rather intense olive fruitiness. The Extra Virgin Olive Oil has a bouquet of very varied hints such as tomato, almond, artichoke, cut grass and aromatic herbs. The taste is very harmonious and sees the presence of mainly sweet and spicy, while the bitter notes are very light.

The colouring is green-gold, while the overall acidity is very low. Rich is the content of polyphenols and vitamin E. The oil of Baglio Occhipinti comes from olive groves that are more than a thousand years old, and many of them have a diameter of more than three meters, some inside the Baglio Occhipinti, but most of the trees are located in the Piraino district near Chiaramonte Gulfi.

Guests can ask to visit the estate and, perhaps, to organize a picnic with a basket prepared by Fausta, all to be enjoyed in the shade of a millenary olive tree. The olive harvest is an important moment for the family and involves all members.

The days of the harvest pass between tastings of the still bitter olives, picnics under the tree waiting for the squeezing and tasting of the first oil which is welcomed with joy in the late evening, just like the birth of a new family member.

Guests will always have the opportunity to taste the oil right from breakfast, but also for lunch and dinner. Extra virgin olive oil is one of the main components of the Mediterranean diet and, on request, guests can also buy it for having it shipped home.

EXPERIENCES IN SICILY
In Sicily, in the heart of the Val di Noto, a holiday at the Baglio Occhipinti will be an unforgettable experience. Our staff will be happy to speak with guests and recommend the best trips, excursions, art visits to discover the wonders of the Val di Noto and to better experience the essence of an ancient beam surrounded by nature.

The ancient Palmento of Baglio Occhipinti is located in the center of the DOGC Cerasuolo di Vittoria, located in a strategic position not far from the sea and the main Baroque cities and archaeological sites.

At Baglio you can touch the real country life with your hand, with the freedom to lie under the olive trees, taste the fruits of the fields, inebriate the scent of the rose gardens, relax by the pool, and also, be able to experience the daily life of an authentic cuisine that comes directly from the land of the estate. A unique experience dedicated to well-being and good eating and healthy.

Feel free also to stroll through the gardens, vegetable gardens, vineyards, olive trees and fields of our estate and to explore the nature that surrounds the Baglio, a place away from the chaos of the city that smells of freedom and peace, full of scents and colors authentic, from which to start the tour to discover the beauties offered by a land of charm, history and art like Sicily.

VISIT THE CELLARS OF THE CERASUOLO DI VITTORIA DOCG
Baglio Occhipinti is located within the only DOCG in Sicily: the Cerasuolo di Vittoria. A sweet and harsh countryside, the Ragusa area is a wonderful alternation of landscapes ranging from the sea to the hill, often rich in olive groves and carob trees, and which together with the vast presence of limestone make this territory a theatrical setting.

Wine is a family story, of the Occhipinti family, which thrives on passion for its land, for its countryside and that has transformed this feeling into a mission: to jealously guard the relationship with Nature which is the basis of each production. Hence the choice of organic for each cultivation.

The COS company of Giusto Occhipinti and the Arianna Occhipinti farm, together with Baglio, represent the strong bond of a family with the territory where they were born and raised: a territory that deserves respect, care and attention for the vast wealth of traditions and treasures it brings with it offering new life and new stories.

Baglio Occhipinti is the starting point from which to travel with the senses among the best itineraries of Cerasuolo di Vittoria, including the Famigliao companies, such as the Arianna Occhipinti winery and COS di Giusto Occhipinti. Real tasting experiences related to good wine and the discovery of the Val di Noto.

In fact, the DOCG is not only vineyards and wineries, but also a succession of baroque cities full of charm, a UNESCO heritage site. A journey along the most beautiful coast of Sicily and through the liberty elegance of the city of Vittoria, admiring art, history, culture, nature and tasting great wines.

RAGUSA & THE COUNTRYSIDE 
Baglio Occhipinti is the ideal place for those who want to escape from the chaos and everyday life of the city by spending a holiday of pure relaxation among the natural trails of the Iblei mountains, riding a horse or on an adventurous mountain bike.

Just ask the staff of Baglio or Fausta, the hostess, to discover new emotions and sensations through the discovery of a new way of living the Sicilian countryside. A real active journey in the countryside.

Jumping on horseback, admiring the rural scenery typical of south-east Sicily from another perspective, riding on the paths of the Iblei Mountains: a new and exciting experience that awaits the guests of the Baglio. Immersed in the olive, carob and almond trees, the ride will be pure adrenaline and amazement, immersed in an oasis of serenity and peace.

Baglio Occhipinti will guide its guests to discover the most suitable experience to get in close contact with nature and animals. Riding the Ragusan donkey or a horse, enjoying a backdrop that fascinates with the authenticity of the landscapes and the regenerating power of Nature.

Guests are guaranteed a range of excursions based on the duration, experience of the riders and the level of difficulty of the excursion, with diversified programs.

The bicycle is the most natural way to reactivate the movement of the whole body and create a new relationship with Nature as we proceed to discover the Sicilian countryside. The guests of the Baglio can choose between mountain bikes and pedal-assisted bicycles to choose a mode compatible with their attitude, while always respecting nature and a zero-impact choice.

Each bike tour will be a journey full of scents and colors typical of the Mediterranean scrub, where you can admire the biodiversity of the Ragusa countryside at its maximum splendor: orchids, myrtles, carob trees, gorse and palm trees. Accompanied at every ride by the chirping of crickets, the chirping of birds and the fluttering of butterflies.

A DAY AT THE BEACH 
A short distance from Baglio Occhipinti, a picturesque and colorful coast of south-eastern Sicily awaits you, ideal for enjoying a trip to discover the blue and crystal clear waters of the area. An unparalleled beauty of rugged coasts, golden beaches and green-tinted reserves that will leave guests amazed.

A day at the beach is ideal for enjoying the warm Sicilian sun lying on the most beautiful beaches of Sicily. All that remains is to ask the staff of the Baglio for the most suggestive places and be advised according to the season to enjoy a perfect day at the beach.

RANDELLO NATURE RESERVE
Within the Cava Randello Nature Reserve, Randello beach is considered among the most beautiful in Italy. Ideal for those who want tranquility, this uncrowded beach is bathed by a crystal clear sea and shows a wonderful alternation of Mediterranean scrub with sand dunes; on the seabed a vast pine forest embraces the coast.

This oasis today represents an equipped green lung open to all, ideal for spending a relaxing day enjoying a picnic, perhaps prepared by Fausta, for doing sports and regenerating in the shade before a dip in the sea.

Wild and unspoiled beauty, the beach is covered with shells of all shapes and sizes, and is guarded by dunes and reed palisades. The Randello Reserve rich in cypresses, holm oaks and oaks covers 156 hectares and protects some necropolises of the Kamarina archaeological park..

SCOGLITTI FISHING TOWN
Scoglitti, a pretty seaside village of Vittoria, overlooks the Gulf of Gela about thirty kilometers from Ragusa. The coast of Scoglitti offers a panorama full of beaches, characterized by a very fine sand, free and uncontaminated, but also with some beaches equipped with deckchairs and umbrellas.

Beautiful white dunes that alternate with wide beaches and shallow waters, ideal for a holiday of tranquility and good food thanks to the presence of fish bars and restaurants nearby.

A place that thrives on fishing and tourism with a marina and another as a refuge for fishing boats. The town is colored with folklore during the afternoon sale of the fish at auction, giving smiles to passers-by and tourists.

PUNTA SECCA & ITS LIGHTHOUSE
The coast of Punta Secca, formed by a beach of fine and golden sand with shallow waters, is located near Vittoria, about thirty kilometers from Ragusa. At sunset, this beach shows all its charm, with its rocks emerging from the sea where the water becomes even more clear and crystalline.

The beach, as well as the village, owe their fame to the television series of the “Commissario Montalbano”, taken from the stories of Andrea Camilleri, who with his stories has excited and intrigued tourists from all over the world, so much so as to push them to Punta Secca just for a photo in front of the balcony of the house of the best known commissioner in Italy.

A small fishing village dominated and protected by the lighthouse, built in 1853, which today represents a reference for the inhabitants and a real tourist attraction for visitors.

MARINA DI RAGUSA
For years the coasts of Marina di Ragusa have received awards and the Blue Flag for the quality of beaches, waters, coasts, services and safety measures. A short distance from the coast of Punta Secca, the beaches of Marina di Ragusa are characterized by fine golden sand with shallow waters, ideal for a family outing with younger children, who will be happy to play on the shore and safely.

La Mancina beach, a few steps from the marina, is ideal for young people who want to play sports, thanks to the pitches arranged along the beach, and to enjoy a coffee break or a refreshing aperitif in one of the many bars close to the coast.

For those traveling with family and children, on the other hand, the Lungomare Andrea Doria beach is the largest and best equipped with various beaches, services and restaurants.

A side that offers opportunities for any desire for relaxation and recreation, thanks also to the opportunity to practice water sports such as surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing, or snorkeling along the rocky coast with blue waters and high depths perfect for a relaxing swim with fins and mask.

THE CITIES OF THE SICILIAN BAROQUE 
In the heart of the Val di Noto, in an area with a theatrical charm, the Baglio Occhipinti is born. Immersed in south-eastern Sicily, a territory that explodes with artistic testimonies in every corner, from Caltagirone to Noto, from Modica to Palazzo Acreide, up to Scicli, Catania and Ragusa, destinations easily reachable from Baglio Occhipinti.

A tour in the Val di Noto is an unmissable experience for anyone wishing to travel to discover cultural beauties, a landscape that tells its story through monuments, frescoes, cathedrals, perfumes, colors and taste.

Traveling in Sicily means savoring each city, grasping its essence and carrying it within you throughout the journey to discover the wonderful landscapes of the sea and countryside. Living Baglio Occhipinti is also the opportunity to visit the fascinating places of this part of Sicily, a land of art, flavors and nature.

VITTORIA
Immersed in the lush Iblea countryside, between the Ippari and Dirillo rivers, Vittoria is known for the quality of its land where vines are grown that generate great wines, among all Cerasuolo di Vittoria. Cerasuolo is a source of pride for the city, in fact it is the only wine to bear the DOCG brand.

A city in which fascinating liberty architecture flourishes that alternate with baroque and neoclassical monuments creating a harmonious play of styles. Impossible not to mention the places of Vittoria present in the television series of “Il Commissario Montalbano”, starting from Piazza San Giovanni where you can stroll through the streets of the center reliving glimpses seen in the screenplay.

RAGUSA IBLA 
Ragusa appears elegant and refined, with its bright colors and warmer shades that herald a double soul: Ragusa Superiore, more modern, and Ragusa Ibla, older. A splendid open-air museum, a part collected in the valley and a part lying on the hill, made of historical works of art, narrow streets and alleys full of Baroque elements.

Ragusa brings with it all the splendor of the past to show it in the present. Its double splendor is fascinating: Ragusa shows all its elegant baroque and modernity of shops and buildings at the top, while downstream, Ibla tells all about its medieval past made of majestic Baroque churches and small streets that conceal a timeless charm.

MODICA
Like the other cities of south-eastern Sicily, Modica was destroyed by the 1963 earthquake, but had the strength to rise thanks to the Baroque period. A refined city that today enjoys popularity also thanks to the production of chocolate produced with a cold process that has allowed it to boast the prestigious IGP – Protected Geographical Indication brand, recognized by the European Union.

In addition to this culinary delicacy, the city preserves artistic and architectural beauties of great importance, which has earned it its inclusion in the list of UNESCO protected assets as a World Heritage Site.

The citizens of Scicli “is the most beautiful city I have ever seen. More than Piazza Armerina, more than Caltagirone, more Ragusa, more than Nicosia and more than Enna … perhaps it is the most beautiful of all the cities in the world. And people are happy in cities that are beautiful. ” With these words in 1941, the well-known writer Elio Vittorini described Scicli in his literary work “Conversations in Sicily”.

Scicli is a charming baroque village nestled between the quarries of Santa Maria La Nova and San Bartolomeo, which hides palaces and churches of inestimable beauty in a small and intimate historic center, considered a Baroque jewel.

Scicli is a stop not to be missed during a tour of the Sicilian southeast, for its completeness of attractions and beauties, ranging from the sea to the urban center, from the kitchen to the popular festivals rich in spirit and folklore.

NOTO
The town of Noto is not far from Baglio Occhipinti. Noto is the capital of the Sicilian Baroque, a town fully steeped in art: it almost seems to be a theatrical setting, and for its beauty and cultural and artistic importance it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2002.

A place not to be missed during a holiday in south-eastern Sicily, which will amaze visitors with the charm of its monuments, historic buildings, streets and churches.

A bright town capable of welcoming with its nineteenth-century triumphal arch, and then kindly invite you to continue along Corso Vittorio Emanuele until you reach the Cathedral of San Nicolò, with its original staircase famous all over the world. A Cathedral, icon of beauty, architecture and Baroque masterpiece recognized all over the world.

CALTAGIRONE
The city of a thousand times, Caltagirone stands on a hill 608 meters above sea level and is famous for its large production of ceramics, among the oldest in Italy.

One of the stops not to be missed is undoubtedly the Regional Museum of Ceramics, a beautiful example of safekeeping and protection of the history of the material that has made Caltagirone famous all over the world. Among the most majestic ceramic works, there are the famous Teste di Moro, also called “graste”.

These refined and precious works have adorned the balconies of Sicilian buildings and palaces for centuries, and are the daughters of a legend with a tragic-sentimental aftertaste. The Museum full of coloured majolica and unique pieces from the Renaissance period will captivate the visitor’s gaze to leave him spellbound.

PALAZZOLO ACREIDE
Located in the green heart of the Iblei mountains, this small and charming village attracts for its uniqueness of the urban structure, imbued with the testimonies of different eras.

Palazzolo Acreide hides the mysteries and stories of past civilizations, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy included in the list of World Heritage Sites, also defined as a pearl of the Sicilian Baroque.

Palazzolo Acreide is the ideal destination for those who love trips out of town and those who want to visit an uncrowded place. Palazzolo Acreide is a hiker’s paradise, thanks to three archaeological and naturalistic itineraries. Guests will be able to visit the Akrai area, the Greek Theater, the Pantalica necropolis and the Museum Antonino Uccello.

CATANIA
Catania is far about an hour and a half by car from Baglio Occhipinti; it is a trip out of town ideal to discover the city that lives a close relationship with its volcano. The Etna mountain is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Catania shows all its vastness of monuments, historic buildings, baroque architecture that are intertwined walking through the historic centre. To visit the Cathedral with the adjacent main square, where the statue with the elephant symbol of the city stands, perhaps while tasting the pointy Catania style arancino.

Culinary is a worthy tradition, in fact, Catania, like every corner of Sicily, has its typical dishes: granita, with all its versions, rotisserie, crepes, rice zeppole and horse meat. The city of Catania deserves to be explored by dedicating at least one full day to it.

TAORMINA
Taormina is the custodian of a perfect blend of history, art, traditions and nature, certainly, among the most loved villages in Sicily by tourists from all over the world. At the north of Catania, this small town overlooks the Ionian Sea, and it is located on the natural terrace of Mount Tauro at about 200 meters above sea level.

A beautiful land dominated by different peoples and cultures, such as the Greek and the Arab, and still French and Swabian, which have transformed Taormina into a cultural heritage of great importance.

His Ancient Greek Theater is the clearest testimony a glorious past that comes out and shows itself in all its natural beauty. Spending a day in Taormina means enjoying a panoramic walk along the seafront to observe the fascinating Isola Bella. Taormina is a timeless place.

SIRACUSA
Located in the far east of Sicily, Siracusa is an evocative place that Cicero called “the most beautiful city in Magna Grecia”, and still bears the marks of its history as a cultural capital from the Greek age to the Renaissance and Baroque period.

The city is a UNESCO heritage since 2005. Siracusa preserves a mixture of testimonies of its past: from the Greek to the Roman style, up to the Baroque. It is a union of styles that flows into an unmissable scenario rich in history.

To visit the island of Ortigia, the Cathedral with a baroque facade that rises on the peristyle of the Doric temple of Athena, the temple of Apollo, a Doric sanctuary of the early sixth century BC. A process that is enriched by moving to the Neapolis district, full of remains of the Greek theatre, the Roman amphitheatre, the great altar of Gerone.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
Sicily boasts seven Unesco World Heritage sites. Invaluable jewels handed down from our ancestors, unmissable places to see at least once in a lifetime.

Baglio Occhipinti is located in the heart of the Val di Noto and this position facilitates guests on their tour to discover the archaeological wonders of Sicily. Among these, to be considered inevitable, the Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina, the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento and the Greek Theater of Palazzolo Acreide.

VILLA DEL CASALE
About an hour’s drive from Baglio Occhipinti it is possible to reach this splendid archaeological site. In Piazza Armerina there is the Villa Romana del Casale, an example of Roman architecture famous all over the world, recognized and become an icon above all for the beauty and quality of the conservation of mosaic floors.

The Villa, consisting of sixty rooms and approximately three thousand five hundred square meters wide, was named in 1997 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. A building full of frescoes and mosaics, such as the “bikini girls”, the “great hunt” and the “erotic scene” that become the protagonists of an indelible memory.

VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES OF AGRIGENTO
The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento is an inevitable trip for history buffs: in the valley time seems to stand still, the eyes look around without seeing the end of this vastness. An imposing series of twelve temples and numerous archaeological finds arranged throughout the valley.

The Temple of Concordia and the Temple of Juno leave impressed by the state of conservation, as well as the Temple of Heracles and the other places of worship of the Hellenic acropolis. Do not miss a visit to the Archaeological Museum in the valley.

AKRAI THEATER
Known as the Teatro del Cielo, thanks to the striking visual impact it manages to arouse in the observer, the Akrai Theater is located in Palazzolo Acreide.

A fascinating theater with a panoramic view of the Anapo and Etna valley, with 700 seats, this archaeological work dating from the third and second century BC was brought to light during an excavation campaign of 1824.

Rooms: 12

Price: from 210 EUR per night

Source: www.bagliocchipinti.com