Casa Talía slowliving
Hotel · Modica
Via Exaudinos, 1/9, 97015 Modica RG, Italy
Highlights
Chic rooms, garden, city views, delicious homemade breakfast
Chic rooms, garden, city views, delicious homemade breakfast
"Talia means "Look!" in the Sicilian dialect - and you'll have to look hard to find this gorgeous guesthouse, camouflaged inside old houses on Modica's tiered hillside. There's no reception, but wave your magnetic card in front of the stone wall and a concealed sensor will unlock a rustic door. Step into the hidden garden, filled with birdsong and dripping with fat figs and plums, white lilies and pink anemones, and - talia! The tightly packed houses and ornate churches of this stunning Unesco-listed town are spread like an amphitheatre at your feet. Marco and Viviana, architects from Milan, spent 3 years creating their dream home, fusing natural materials (recycled roof tiles, pressed-iron beds, old oak chairs) with the subtlest of modern technology. Bedrooms, spread among the cottages, get cane ceilings above luscious mustard or cerulean walls, and traditional floor tiles beside gleaming chrome and glass wetrooms. It's their homage to 'slow living' - and a sublimely peaceful retreat among Italy's finest Baroque towns and sandy beaches. Highs A gem in the heart of Modica - itself a Sicilian gem Superb attention to detail (reclaimed door handles, repointed masonry, chrome Grohe taps) - as you'd expect from a pair of designers Cooling off in the infinity pool to a backdrop of spectacular city views Leisurely breakfasts under the fig tree, with local jams, delectable cakes and fresh fruits Friendly, very helpful hosts, who can point you in the direction of historic hill towns, beautiful beaches and nature reserves (all within a 30-minute drive) Lows It's 100m from the nearest car park (signs guide the way) It's a 10-minute puff up the hill from town - not ideal for the less sprightly or the very young Complaints of poor storage in some rooms, and a couple (Zenzero and Casa Buendia) have showers hidden behind curtains rather than sitting in fully enclosed ensuites" - Michael Cullen
"Perched above Modica’s honey-hued rooftops, Casa Talia is a cluster of restored stone dwellings in the city’s old Jewish quarter. Created by two Milanese designers, its eight rooms reflect Sicily’s layered past, weaving in Greek, Arabic, and Spanish details through hand-painted tiles, lace textiles, and antique accents. Small gardens look out over the baroque skyline, and breakfast is served at a long wooden table carved into the hillside. It is a distinctly Sicilian stay in one of the island’s most visually striking towns." - Tablet Hotels
"Perched a short walk uphill from the UNESCO-listed historic center, this intimate eight-room boutique retreat was created by Milanese architects who restored neighboring stone ruins into a cluster of interconnected buildings set among terraced gardens and stone pathways. Design and sustainability are central: lime plaster, stone, terracotta and traditional bamboo ceilings sit alongside modern touches like orb lamps and local Ortiga bath products. Rooms are individually characterized (examples include a two-level suite with a bamboo ceiling and clever under-stair storage, a Mediterraneo room focused on blue Azulejo tiles, and a Sciara room with a red-and-black ceramic wall); many have terraces with sweeping Baroque-city views. The property feels like a hidden hillside gem that attracts guests seeking privacy, a slow pace and homespun charm—wandering the lanes and discovering features such as a water-cistern-turned-lounge or a reception that was once a wine cellar is encouraged. Mornings are unhurried, with a simple cooked breakfast of seasonal housemade items (yogurt, granola, fresh fruit, bread, preserves, bruschetta and freshly baked cake) served in a garden or a white‑washed cave room; afternoons bring a pool with panoramic, highly photogenic vistas. On-site dining, a bar and a spa are planned, and current amenities include a pool, free Wi‑Fi, air conditioning and on-request spa treatments and chef services."
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Sean Zurawski
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Nicole Gozzi
Sepideh Moghaddam
Dominik Brunner
