El Mosaico Del Sol Resort

We spent three beautiful days at El Mosaico del Sol and the experience was truly memorable. The warmth of the place and the people, both in atmosphere and hospitality, made us feel right at home.||Everything was spotless and full of charm. Breakfasts were fresh and unhurried and the sea just a short walk away was stunning and unforgettable.||The location is ideal, within easy reach of Lampedusa’s most beautiful beaches and main sights.||We left feeling lighter and we’re still thinking about when we can come back.

Our first experience of Lampedusa was in 2018 and it was magical. For a multitude of reasons 6 years went by that we weren't able to travel on vacation, and when the opportunity arose again we were debated as to visiting a place we hadn't been before, or returning to a place we had enjoyed. When I learned that a dammuso at El Mosaico was available for our travel dates, all hesitation disappeared! We spent a magical week in the comfort and tranquility of a dammuso, exploring the island with our scooter, and delighting in the wonders of nature including the delicious food! The highlight, without a doubt, was the excursions on Il Danzar with the incomparable Orazio (we went three times, but we would've gone on the boat every day if we could have!). All organized thoughtfully and meticulously by Renato. When our flight home was canceled at 10:30pm, he immediately came to our rescue while we observed many other passengers struggling to make arrangements. We enjoyed the "new" system of closing off a larger section of the main road to traffic in the evenings, transforming the center into a sort of "town square" with live music and outdoor dining. It surely has increased opportunities for the shops, restaurants and bars, but also makes it into a lovely experience for travelers to gather and share a sense of community while on vacation. Renato's recommendations are a guarantee - follow his guidance and you can't go wrong, which is a wonderful feeling when you're on vacation and want to relax without worry. The dammuso is on a quiet property with ocean views, and is equipped with everything you need for a comfortable stay. Air conditioning works beautifully. Racks are provided to hang clothes to dry. The kitchen has all the basics and a BBQ is available on the patio if you prefer to dine in or dream of grilling up your own fresh fish. We won't let much time pass before our next visit!

My husband and I are just returning from a three-week stay with Renato, Rafaela. Rocco, Nadia, and the entire El Mosaico team. To say we loved our stay is an understatement. We initially booked a two-week stay at the hotel, based on the great reviews. We were supposed to the ferry back to Agrigento, where we were going to spend our third week. After our first week at El Mosaico, we realized that we should have booked all three weeks with Renato...I mean...why would we possibly want to run around Agrigento in the August heat, when we could relax at the beautiful beaches of Lampedusa, eat fantastic food, have zero stress, have every need taken care of, enjoy the nicest people in all of Italy, and get to go out on Captain Orazio's boat whenever we wanted to? So, we asked Renato if he had any availability for the third week, and after a little shuffling on his part, he was able to make it happen for us, by accommodating us at the Dammusi. All I can say is WOW! As much as we loved our stay at the hotel, we loved the dammusi even more. What you give up in the convenience of being at the hotel (driving to breakfast, having the stores close by), you more than make up for with the beautiful views of the ocean, the serenity and the peacefulness of the property. While we absolutely loved both places, I would HIGHLY recommend the Dammusi if you can swing it. We never wanted to come home from our stay there. In both places, there is a king-size bed that is VERY comfortable, the air conditioning is ice cold, the kitchenette is perfect for keeping the food and beverages you need (although the Dammusi is set up a little better if you actually want to cook a meal), and both are quite spacious.||So...let me say a few words about Renato, his family and the team at El Mosaico. This is the best of the best. First of all, everything is spotlessly clean. I don't think I saw an ant, or a flying bug in my hotel room in the entire two weeks I was there. There were a few times that the cleaning ladies came in to clean while we were at breakfast and before we had a chance to pick up (which I felt terrible about). They folded clothes, organized my makeup, and did such a professional job. And speaking of breakfast...Rafaela has a beautiful spread, with Italian meats and cheeses, Italian cookies and pastries, breads and croissants...fruit and yogurt, and the BEST was when she started bringing the figs from her fig tree. YUM! And Rocco's espressos, cappuccinos, and morning Italian lessons were something that we looked forward to each day. This is a true family hotel, run with love, and it is clear that they have a real passion for what they are doing. Nadia, who runs the front desk, is always helpful with anything you need, and was AMAZINGLY helpful in getting us reservations, arranging a bus for us from Bergamo to Malpensa in Milan...or ANYTHING needed. And Renato took care of all of our dinner reservations, got us a rental car, and basically made our entire vacation simply perfect. If you're staying at El Mosaico, and you don't have what you need, it's because A) you didn't ask Renato for it, or B) it doesn't exist on Lampedusa...because if it does, Renato will make it happen. ||Some of the highlights of our trip were the boat rides with Captain Orazio (We went out twice...if you miss this, you are missing one of THE best experiences of Lampedusa, and something that quite honestly, is a very life-changing experience). Both days were absolutely AMAZING, and probably the best thing we did while we were there...plus the lunches on the boat were TO DIE FOR!! Trust Renato's recommendations for dinner. He knows. The one time we didn't, we were so disappointed. After that, we only listened to Renato, and we were never disappointed again. We loved The Mercantile Fish Market, Pizza Carallo Bianco, Il Gemelli, and Hotel Cavallucio Marino for dinner. For the beach, we went to Cala Croce. There are a lot of beaches to go to in Lampedusa, but Cala Croce is a great beach, they have ombrelloni and lettini (chairs and umbrellas to rent), and it's easy to get in and out, unlike many of the beaches, which can be a major hike (something that us fat, lazy Americans are not used to doing :) The water at Cala Croce is really calm, clear and beautiful. We did go to the famous Rabbit beach while we were there, and I'm glad we did, because it was beautiful, but the hike out was quite intense, and at 54, and 57 years old, and in reasonably okay shape, it was A LOT, on a hot day, so make sure you know what you're getting into before you do it. Some of the other beaches, which I think are much nicer, like La Tabaccara, you can only get to by boat, and THAT is why going out with Captain Orazio is so great! The other thing I want to say is that everyone...and I mean, EVERYONE on Lampedusa is just so nice. Everywhere we went, people were so beautiful to us. Our Italian is extremely limited...my husband's better than mine. Very few people here speak English. And yet, everyone was just so nice. We wanted to practice our Italian, but people wanted to practice their English, so it made for some very lovely, and very funny situations, but everyone went out of their way to help us, and we formed some wonderful friendships in our three weeks in Lampedusa. People told us their stories of family in America...and what became very clear to us, is how much people liked Americans. It just reaffirmed my love for my Sicilian people...but Lampedusa, quite honestly, is Sicily X 1000. People are the warmest and friendliest I've ever met on my travels in Italy.||Lampedusa is a place that not a lot of Americans get to. And when they do go, few Americans stay for as long as we stayed. My husband and I are world travelers and have been to Italy and Sicily many times. We have been to some of the best beaches in the world, including the Maldives, Fiji, and all over the Caribbean. We're not easily impressed, and we don't change our travel plans easily. We were so impressed with everything about Lampedusa. If you're looking for a place to run about and sightsee, this isn't it. If you're looking for a 5-star resort, like you get at the Ritz Carlton, this isn't that, either. But if you're looking for a place that has everything you need to just relax, have a perfect beach holiday, and do almost nothing except take in the beauty of Lampedusa, enjoy the most delicious food, and be surrounded by the warmest and most wonderful people in all of Italy, THIS is the place where you want to get lost for a few weeks. You will reemerge as a new, rested, and rejuvenated person. Let Renato and the family at El Mosaico take care of you for a few weeks. I almost hate writing this review, because I don't want this secret out, but Renato and his family are so wonderful, that the world deserves to know what a little hidden gen El Mosaico and Lampedusa are. Thank you for making our 30-year anniversary the best ever, Renato and Family at El Mosaico!

We had never been to Lampedusa, few Americans get there so it wasn't easy to get information. Mosaico del Sol looked good so we booked it. The hotel is comfortable, good sized rooms, a pool, and a great location within walking distance to everything (grocery store across the street). But the MAIN attraction is Renato, the owner and manager. And his staff is incredibly helpful and friendly. He is such a gracious person, incredibly helpful and full of resources. Without him, the place would be 4 stars. With him, 5 isn't enough. He picked us up at the airport, dropped us off for departure, had an electric scooter for us, and was available to answer all of our questions promptly. We went on his boat tour, hosted by Orazio (who could be the chef of a fine restaurant), viewing Lampedusa from the sea is a must! Oh, and a special shout out to Nadia, who runs everything else...she gave us a fantastic dinner recommendation and we loved her! Highly recommended!

Our stay in Lampedusa was the highlight of our trip! They don't come any better than Renato. Hands down, he is the most passionate, kind, and welcoming hotel owner we have ever met. Renato picked us up from the airport and began sharing information about the ins and outs of the island. Taking the first steps into the hotel, you can immediately feel that this is Renato's true passion. The details throughout the hotel are perfection: built-in couches positioned to maximize views, hand-painted tiles, playful artwork that reflects the owner and the island, gorgeous woodwork accenting the walls and ceilings, and a yellow hue that really calibrates you to the sunny and happy disposition of Renato and the staff. It couldn't be more perfect. The rooms are a very generous size, again, beautifully appointed with artisan details and perfect craftsmanship. The hotel location is perfect as you can walk to the town center, and the complimentary scooter is awesome! The scooter is definitely necessary in order to get to and from some of the island's main attractions, not the least of which is Rabbit Beach. Breakfast was always delicious and the staff is very nice and accommodating. Lampedusa itself is stunning, and Renato and Mosaicos del Sole certainly reflect this grandeur. We are already plotting our return trip!!

Renato and all of the team have a sense of pride in everything that they do. We felt so welcomed by everyone from the moment we arrived & were always greeted with big smiles. The hotel is spotless adhering to all Covid-19 guidelines and has a beautiful quirky interior. Breakfast was delicious with the best freshly baked croissants & coffee ever tasted. From the moment we landed we were taken care of with a pick up from the airport. directions on how to get about the island with the loan of a free scooter.|Renato also sorted our boat trip around the island and a boat trip to Linosa which was superbly organised. We feel lucky to have found this little gem on the island and would definitely recommend.

If there is anything more beautiful than the island, it’s the people at this hotel. The hotel is beautiful, the food is wonderful, the location is great. What makes this place so special though is the service. Nothing was too much to ask for and often things just appeared without you having to ask. Everyone worked beyond the call of duty. I broke my foot the night before arriving to Lampedusa and required a trip to the hospital once I arrived. What seemed like a potential nightmare turned into a delightful experience with the help of Renato, his family, and staff. I can go on and on about the lengths that everyone went to to make my stay enjoyable. The boat tour is a must and the captain puts together a delicious spread. Wow what an experience. Would give more than 5 stars if I could.

Our stay in Lampedusa was easily the highlight of our week long Sicily trip. El Mosaico del Sol is like an oasis of paradise, perfectly located 5 mins drive from the airport and 5 mins walk from the Via di Roma, the main street of Lampedusa town. Renato will pick-up and drop-off at the airport, show you around town, provide rental scooter, recommend restaurants and anything else you may need - ALL included in the price of the room. The hotel itself if wonderful, very bright, clean and cheerful with excellent rooms, pool and rooftop area which is excellent for relaxing with a book, catching the sun or even drying a swimsuit. Fantastic buffet breakfast as well. I also recommend the boat trip which is great fun - relaxing and with an amazing fresh Italian full course lunch served on board! ||||Renato was a truly fantastic host with perfect English and deep knowledge of all things Lampedusa. There are very few non-Italian tourists on Lampedusa (part of its charm for foreigners!) and El Mosaico is THE place to stay if you're Italian is a little rusty. ||||HIGHLY recommended, we will definitely be back!!