Borgo di Luce I Monasteri Golf Resort & SPA by MIRA Hotels
One of the most charming hotel resorts in the South-East of Sicily 2022: Borgo di Luce – I Monasteri Golf Resort & SPA
About The Location
In mid-June, I went for the first time ever to a beautiful and historic island in the south of Italy. Sicily is in fact the biggest Italian Island. Sicily is famous for its beautiful cathedrals, lemon groves, vineyards, island beaches, and amazing architecture. Indeed, two of the most known landmarks are the Palermo Opera House and UNESCO Baroque church in Noto. Noto was quite close to where I stayed, and we went to visit this Sicilian city which is famous for its rich historical architectural heritage. Indeed, Noto has been hailed by Condé Nast Traveller as Sicily’s Hidden Gem.
Why so? Well, it is known as Sicily’s Capital of Baroque. Each and every building structure has its own unique and intricate design lavish churches, private palaces, and public buildings are all beautifully built. It is a true dream for those who love that époque as well as a good plate of pasta.
Sicily is also famous for those who love a good hike. It has super trekking routes, with the legendary Mount Etna Volcano being one of the most popular places to go. There are also incredible archeological and historical sites like the Valley of the Temples, the Segesta Temple, and the Baroque town of Noto.
This rich heritage is because Sicily has been home to many ancient civilizations: from the Greeks to the Romans and the Ottoman Empire, this island in the Mediterranean Sea was a real melting pot of history and culture. So needless to say, Sicily had been on my list of places to go for quite some time and I was delighted to be able to visit Italy once again this summer. During my stay, I was hosted by the Borgo di Luce I Monasteri Golf Resort & Spa which is a 5-star hotel just between Syracuse and Noto.
Getting to Borgo di Luce I Monasteri Golf Resort & SPA – and Beyond It
There are two main airports in Sicily: Palermo and Catania. I recommend flying into Catania as it is just over an hour from the Borgo di Luce I Monasteri Golf Resort & SPA. For this, you can either rent a car or organize a transfer which is super easy to do from the airport. I opted for a private transfer (SunTransfers was the name of the company), as I had used it beforehand when traveling in Saint Tropez, so I knew it was trustworthy and efficient. I made sure to do the whole coordination before flying, especially as my flight was at an ungodly hour, so I would not need to think too hard about how, when, where, and what not once I landed in Sicily.
Located in the south-eastern part of Sicily, you will find Borgo di Luce I Monasteri Golf & SPA Resort, nestled just 12 km from the sea. It is situated between 2 beautiful and historically rich cities: Siracusa (or Syracuse) and Noto.
Mira’s Borgo di Luce – I Monasteri Golf Resort & SPA is in a rural area. Surrounded by citrus orchards and olive trees, this Golf Resort is one of the top picks when it comes to looking for the best luxury hotels in Sicily.
After a little over an hour of driving through the beautiful Italian countryside, we passed through a neat row of trees that lined each side of the road and then pulled up to the hotel’s private parking. We were then greeted by the hotel concierge who (given the early hour) invited us to discover the breakfast buffet and a cup of strong Italian coffee. We gladly accepted this offer and walked through the white, cool corridors and down a passageway to the breakfast room.
About The Hotel: Borgo di Luce I Monasteri Golf Resort & Spa
A 5-star hotel in the secluded Syracuse outback, Borgo di Luce I Monasteri Golf Resort & Spa, a member of Radisson Individuals. It promises a unique stay in the rural area surrounded by citrus and olive groves. Perfect for nature lovers: The villa is a tranquil oasis, with plenty of greenery surrounding the grounds and an 18-hole golf course to really bring the villa to life. So if you’re looking for an authentic Sicilian villa and plenty of gardens to relax and unwind in, you’ll find just that at this beautiful hotel.
Before becoming a hotel, it was in fact an ancient Benedictine monastery. In 2012 it was transformed into a 5-star hotel. It has all the characteristics of a Roman farm villa and offers elegantly decorated and modern common areas.
The entrance hall is large and leads off to different areas including a beautiful patio with a panoramic terrace where guests can relax with a glass of good wine.
About The Borgo di Luce I Monasteri Golf Resort & Spa Hotel Rooms
We were led to our room which was situated in the courtyard right next to a ripe apricot tree. Our room was furnished in a modern sophisticated manner. As you entered the room there was a large wooden desk and cabinet filled with water and coffee. There was also a sofa seating area which was just next to a sliding door. Behind which was a beautiful large walk-in wardrobe that led you through to the large bathroom. Cream white interiors with dark wood floors, the room was tranquil and elegant. It has a staircase that led up to a mezzanine where there was a plush bed, another built-in wardrobe, and a bathroom, both the upstairs and downstairs had showers. The room felt like the perfect, cool refuge from the Sicilian sun.
The hotel has a total of 102 rooms, located in different buildings, divided into the following sections:
- Superior – 35 m2, double or single bed, with a view of the golf or the garden view
- Premium Borgo – 35 m2, double bed, with a golf view
- Deluxe Villa – 30 m2, double bed, located inside the old monastery.
- Junior Suite – 35 m2, double bed, view of the ancient inner courtyards.
- Suite – 60 m2, double bed, view of the courtyards of the old monastery.
The Borgo di Luce I Monasteri Golf Resort & Spa Breakfast Buffet
At the restaurant Sala Laghetto guests can enjoy a buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner are only a la carte with Mediterranean cuisine. Special menus for vegetarians and coeliacs are available on request. We actually had breakfast in the room the second day, which I would highly recommend. A large platter is brought to your room on a golf caddie, laden with fresh fruits (including one of my all-time favorites: papaya!), scrambled eggs, cheeses, salmon, and bread. Along with fresh juice and Italian coffee to ensure that we started the day off in the best possible way.
About the Borgo di Luce I Monasteri Golf Resort & Spa Services & Activities: The Spa, Golf & Swimming Pool
With two outdoor swimming pools that are interconnected and a large spa, the Borgo di Luce I Monasteri Golf & SPA Resort is the perfect place to relax and unwind. I performed enjoyed the pool area as they had very comfortable lounge beds so you could laze around the water.
You can also relax at the full-service Zàgara spa, and enjoy their massages, body treatments, and facials. Designed in 2013 by the architect Simone Micheli. The spa is spread over 300 square meters and it is divided into different areas: Turkish bath, emotional shower, sauna, Jacuzzi, relaxation area, 5 cabins equipped for personalized wellness treatments and a salt room.
The sun-drenched golf course is certainly one of the main highlights of the Borgo di Luce I Monasteri Golf & SPA Resort: it is set in 86 hectares of orange and lemon trees and immersed in lush Mediterranean vegetation, with mandarins, lemons, and figs. It is an 18-hole, par 71 golf course of 6,250 meters and was designed by David Mezzacane (president of the Italian Association of Golf Course Architects) and Vincenzo Mazzacane. There is also a pro-shop, where you can get all the necessary equipment for golfing, changing rooms and lockers.
What is more, they offer golf lessons on-site at the Borgo di Luce I Monasteri Golf & SPA Resort. So we headed to the driving range of the golf course which has 40 stations and putting greens after a little dip in the swimming pool.
Now, these are not your average golf lessons as your instructor is an expert with an incredible professional journey. The golf lesson was with the professional Italian golfer Anna Nistri, who is the winner of three Italian Championships and her career includes 15 years in the Italian national team, and 2 years of the European tour. She is on the Emilia Romagna Regional Committee.
Other services that the Borgo di Luce I Monasteri Golf & SPA Resort offers include horseback riding, diving, and sailing excursions in the surrounding area, upon request.
Conclusion
In my opinion, the Borgo di Luce – I Monasteri Golf Resort & SPA is truly a place to escape from everyday life and relax in the lush, Sicilian vegetation. Picking apricots straight from the tree and enjoying them, the swimming pool area and golf lessons were certainly one of the highlights for me.
For more information visit:
https://www.imonasterigolfresort.com/en-GB
