Located in the breathtaking scenery of the Plemmirio promontory, across the mouth of the great port of Syracuse but only 8 km from Ortigia, the ancient quarter of the city, Masseria Testaferrata is nestled in the heart of a 55-hectare (135,000-acre) organic farm inside the Plemmirio nature reserve. A unique setting, a garden of Eden where orange and olive groves compete with the omnipresent and fragrant Mediterranean bush for the conquest of this sun-drenched peninsula.

The crystal clear waters of the “Pellerina” cave, part of the marine reserve, are only a 10-minute walk away. Masseria Testaferrata has been beautifully restored to offer rooms with unique furnishings for the most demanding visitors who wish to break away from traditional hotels or bed & breakfasts.

The Masseria experience is different and unique, it is a journey to the roots of Italian rural culture. The farm is active and produces organically grown citrus fruits, olives, vegetables and cereals. The “masserie” are the ancient fortified farmhouses that dot the countryside of the southernmost provinces of Italy. In a sense, they were heirs to the Roman villas of the 18th and 19th centuries, providing food and income for the landlord. They constituted a sort of self-contained microcosm, with the manor house located at the center of a complex of farm buildings, barns and other structures to house workers, animals and tools. The masseria was the landed gentry’s designated country escape from busy city life.