Azienda Agricola Mandranova Agriturismo Review | Hotels Above Par

"Set amid olive groves and grain fields near Palma di Montechiaro on Sicily’s southern coast, this family-run agriturismo occupies the ancestral estate of Giuseppe Di Vincenzo, renovated into a boutique retreat in the late 1990s and open seasonally from late March to mid-November. The operation puts farming first — olive oil and almonds are the primary products, with a working olive oil mill, daily farm tours, and cooking classes that use produce from the gardens (aubergines, zucchini, peppers, lettuce in summer; fava beans in cooler months). Rooms and suites are dispersed across several historic buildings, including a converted old train station, and are furnished with heirloom pieces overlooking a central courtyard garden inspired by the Orto Botanico di Palermo and planted with Mediterranean and African species. Communal, home-style dining features a set four-course dinner served at 8 PM (the atmosphere encourages mingling, generous pours of Sicilian wine, and second helpings such as leftover risotto), plus breakfasts with fresh-baked cakes, jams, almonds and extra-virgin olive oil. On-site amenities include a square infinity pool set in a former open-air cistern with stone terrace and palm-leaf cabana, lounges and a library in the former olive facility (Vespas, art, a pool table, and a summer artist-in-residence program), and limited WiFi confined to common areas for a deliberate digital detox. Practical details: four-star property with 13 rooms, rooms from about $140/night, farm employs year-round staff in addition to hospitality personnel, and the closest major airport is Vincenzo Bellini Catania Airport (CTA)."