Sicily, Italy is one of the most beautiful and unique places I have traveled to. During our adventures through the west coast of Sicily, we decided to end it on a relaxing note. We had an incredible stay at the eco-tourism hotel, Susafa. It is a member of Small Luxury Hotels (SLH) and is the perfect destination for a relaxing nature retreat.
Susafa is one of the most incredible hotels in Sicily. This Italian oasis offers unparalleled views of the Sicilian countryside, beautiful gardens, a stunning pool, and an incredible restaurant. If you are wanting a relaxing retreat in the Italian countryside, Susafa is the place for you. The attention to detail at this boutique hotel is incredible. Travelers looking for a soothing escape in Italy cannot miss Susafa.
Susafa Location:
Susafa, located in the Sicilian countryside, is composed of an old farmhouse that has been turned into a hotel, and a garden filled with herbs, fruit trees, and vegetable plants. Walking through the property you get to smell the wonderful scents of lavender and other herbs. The garden and property are surrounded by wheat fields. Every inch of Susafa has breathtaking views of the Sicilian countryside. Nothing compares to waking up at there with the sounds of nature and birds chirping while looking out onto the wheat fields.
Susafa is an hour and a half outside of Palermo. We didn’t rent a car so their transfer service picked us up from where we stayed in the center of Palermo (€130). The drive was beautiful, the route took us through the northwest coast of Sicily and then through the countryside. There were breathtaking views of farms, animals, and the ocean the whole way. Cefalù is a lot closer to Susafa so I imagine if you got a transfer from there or other surrounding areas it would be cheaper.
Susafa History:
Susafa is rich in history as it is a farm that has been passed down for five generations. The owner converted the farmhouse into a luxury hotel that pays tribute to its roots by mixing the design of the historic farmhouse with modern interiors. For example, the dining room was used for wheat storage, and the bar area for wine production. These are both now incredibly chic spaces that are completed with details from the past. The owner is very involved with Susafa and was there at most meals and activities.
Check-in and Service at Susafa:
Susafa was extremely accommodating with both check-in and check-out. We had to leave our accommodation in Palermo at 9, so the transfer they arranged for us picked us up then and dropped us off at Susafa around 10:30. I believe check-in wasn’t until 2:00. After we checked in they took us to the bar and welcomed us with drinks and we got to sit in front of the warm fire and learn about the history of Susafa before we went to an included cooking class at 11. By the time our cooking class was over (around noon) one of our rooms was ready so we gotta go there and carry on with our day.
Before checking out we stopped by the Susafa Shop and stuffed our suitcases with goodies from their farm. They let us leave our bags behind the desk as we participated in another cooking class. We finished our stay with Susafa with one last meal at their restaurant before the transfer picked us up and took us to Terrasini.
Dining at Susafa:
If you are spending all of your time at Susafa you will be exclusively eating at their Restaurant. Located in a beautiful dining room outfitted with many arches and a stunning fireplace. Susafa values using as much produce as possible from their garden as well as seasonal ingredients, so depending on when you go the menu will differ. All meals are accompanied by freshly made bread, homemade olive oil, and a fantastic wine list featuring mostly natural and organic wines.
Breakfast is the best and my favorite meal of the day at Susafa. They have an extravagant buffet with everything you can imagine from meats and cheeses to delicious baked goods, jams, cereals, fruit and my favorite is a juicer with fresh fruits and vegetables where you can make your own delicious juice. There are also egg dishes, pancakes, and other breakfast classics offered at an additional price.
Lunch at Susafa was quiet and the menu consisted of lighter options. We had yummy soups, veggies as well as meat courses.
Dinner at Susafa is lovely. You can enjoy your meal sitting by the fireplace. We had some nice pasta plates and a chicken with an apple caponata which was great. Their desserts are amazing. We indulged in their tiramisu and one with their apple jam. Both were unforgettable and I will definitely be trying to replicate some of Susafa’s dishes at home.
Rooms at Susafa:
The rooms are simple but beautiful. We got a classic double and a junior suite. This had to be my only disappointment with Susafa as while the junior suite was a higher price it was barely bigger than the classic double. It looked nothing like the photos online. Although they do offer 3 junior suites and the other two looked gorgeous with a loft and a nice day bed we ended up with the other one that did not meet our expectations.
Activities and Pool:
Susafa offers many exciting experiences to add to your stay. We did two cooking classes, a massage, a garden tour, and spent the afternoon lounging at their pool. Depending on the month the activities that they offer vary. I would recommend looking at their list of activities here and deciding what you want to do before your arrival.
The cooking classes were lovely. We did the Cannoli cooking class as well as the Sicilian food cooking class. Each room gets its own station which allows all of it to be very hands-on. You will learn the steps to prepare typical traditions from Rita, an incredibly nice lady who is in charge of all of the culinary activities at Susafa. While preparing the ingredients, and doing things such as needing the dough and mixing ingredients it is important to note these cooking classes last a little under an hour so you are skipping some steps and will not be using the same ingredients the whole time. For example, we did not fry the cannolis, we made the dough, rolled and shaped them, and then were given pre-fried shells to fill ourselves
Susafa offers hour-long messages for €60. The masseuse comes to your room and sets up in there. It is the ultimate relaxation activity at Susafa.
Walking through the garden and being able to smell and taste the many flavors of Susafa is the perfect way to spend your afternoon. Susafa offers garden tours where you can learn about all of the native plants that they have planted on the property as well as their reforestation project.
Susafa has the most stunning pool that overlooks the breathtaking countryside. There are lounge chairs that line the side of the pool as well as some more private ones off to the side. I spent most of my days at Susafa here laying down, relaxing, and swimming in the pool.
These are just the activities that we did while we were there. They have so many other ones that look amazing especially if you are staying there longer. The ones that I am looking most forward to next time are the romantic dinners outside as well as the picnic. Depending on what season it will be when I visit next I will definitely partake in the feast of cherries or Harvesting tomatoes activities.
Nearby Activities:
If you are renting a car there are many day trips that you can take from Susafa. Being in the middle of the region you have many options for places to explore. You can choose to explore some of the charming villages located in the countryside. Or a trip to Cefalu, Palermo, or Catania
Final Thoughts:
In conclusion, Susafa was the perfect place to end our trip to Sicily. Its peaceful energy, fresh air, and beautiful views provide the perfect relaxation destination. Staying at Susafa shows you how to slow down and appreciate every second you are there.
We had the best time partaking in the activities that Susafa has to offer as well as just walking around the property and hanging out by the pool. I recommend Susafa to anyone wishing to have a relaxing time in the Sicilian countryside.
I hope that you enjoyed reading this, and if you are traveling through Sicily check out my Palermo guide here.
Sarah 🙂
