Near Modica and nearer Pozzallo, Masseria Cianciò (pronounced chancho) is a handy base for exploring the wonders of southeast Sicily. Set amid olive and carob trees, surrounded by dry-stone-walled fields, this 19th-century farmhouse has been welcoming guests since 2000. Former cowsheds and warehouses around the central cobbled courtyard have been transformed into 8 rooms and apartments, most with private gardens.
What sets this agriturismo apart is the retro country-kitchen decor throughout. Owner Gina Ricci, a former interior designer, has scoured the island for vintage and heirloom pieces, to delightful effect. She has juxtaposed chintz and check fabrics with old crockery (she has a thing for china hens), antique furniture and 18th-century tiles (which you can buy in their small shop), and imbued the whole place with a light touch. Accommodations are good value; some have kitchenettes if you prefer to self-cater, and picnic baskets and dinners are available on request.
Highs
- Original vintage country decor, artfully styled
- Generous yet dainty breakfasts served in the stone-and-cobbled breakfast room
- Set in extensive gardens and grounds with a lovely pool plus a playground for children
- Tranquil, rural setting yet close to beaches, Unesco Baroque towns, and only an hour and a half's drive from the airport
- A delightfully authentic agriturismo; you feel very much in the heart of Sicily here
Lows
- No restaurant - but you can order picnic baskets and (with 2 days' notice) dinners
- The nearest outside eateries are 4-8km away
- The retro rustic style is not for everyone: there are few mod cons, kitchenettes are old-fashioned, and it's off the beaten track
- Bathrooms are small in most units
- Rural B&B
- 8 rooms
- Breakfast (+ other meals on request)
- All ages welcome
- Closed: 26 Dec 2024 - 28 Mar 2025
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Babysitting
- Creche / Kids Club
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Communal DVD player
- Communal TV
Rooms
The heart of Masseria Cianciò is its charming cobbled courtyard, where you can take breakfast and sometimes enjoy barbecues in summer months. Seven of the 8 rooms and apartments lead off this courtyard; only two are accessed round to the side - and all are on the ground floor.
Created from former livestock sheds and grain warehouses, no two rooms are the same. Most feel spacious with high wood-beamed ceilings and white-washed walls plus access to private gardens or patio areas at the back, as ours did. Some have 2 bedrooms (the second bedroom is always a twin) and/or kitchenettes. Shower bathrooms, with hairdryer and basic toiletries supplied, are usually compact; we found all to be immaculately kept.
Each room, whatever the size and configuration, shows the same deft styling: check curtains, posies, floral cushions, vintage kitchenware, antique bedheads and tiles. Yet none feels cluttered and there's a subtle colour scheme of red and green.
All rooms have a mini-fridge with drinks, both alcoholic and not, and snacks (extra cost). The 3 apartments/room with kitchenettes are delightfully retro - one even has an original 1920s bread oven - but not bristling with mod cons or very spacious.
Features include:
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Minibar
- WiFi
Eating
Breakfasts at Masseria Cianciò were some of the best we had in Sicily: very authentic, showcasing homemade jams (including tomato, yum), local honey, and an elegant display of freshly-baked cakes, pastries and breads. Served in the cobbled-floor breakfast room, the spread also consists of fresh fruit, cereals, never-ending coffee and tea, juices, and a smorgasbord of cheese and ham specifically for northern Europeans.
There's no restaurant but you can order picnic baskets and dinners. There are 2 options of picnic; a lighter version with an emphasis on fruit and salad, or one with more Sicilian fare such as stuffed pasta rolls. Let them know of any special requests or dietary requirements. For dinners, note that they need 48 hours' notice. We were caught out by this so didn't get to try the proffered 3-course meal of a rich Sicilian starter followed by homemade pasta then dessert plus fruit. Occasionally in the summer they'll put on a communal barbecue in the courtyard.
There are kitchenettes in 3 of the apartments. They are cute if old-fashioned, and each has a kettle, hob, gas cooker, pots and pans, cutlery, crockery and fridge-freezer. You'll need to buy everything you need for self-catering; only washing-up liquid is supplied. A welcome basket can be provided on request, in which you'll find pasta, olive oil, tomato sauce, salt, sugar and coffee; note there is an additional daily charge for use of the kitchenettes. There's a bar service on request, just ask if you'd like a glass of wine, there's a wine list to choose from.
If eating out, there's a good restaurant 4km away and plenty more in Pozzallo (8km), including a pizza place for takeaways. Staff can advise.
Features include:
- Breakfast
- Dinner by arrangement
- Kids' meals
- Organic produce
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Enjoy the Masseria's pretty dry-stone walled fields and pathways full of birdsong and flowers, olive and carob trees, and its tranquil pool area and private courtyards
- Take a Sicilian cookery class and learn how to make traditional dishes such as cavatelli pasta with aubergine and ravioli with ricotta cheese
- Explore the Unesco-listed Baroque towns in this region: Noto, Modica, Ragusa and Scicli are all worth visiting
- Head to Pozzallo for its sandy beach plus bars and restaurants; from here a boat can take you to Malta for a day trip
- There's a renowned nature reserve, Vendicari, nearby
- The Cava Ipsica caves are also close; these have remains and ruins dating across millennia
- Staff can advise on local attractions and excursions such as horse riding, wineries and markets
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Birdwatching
- Boat trips
- Cooking classes
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Historical sites
- Horse riding
- Museums / galleries
- Shopping / markets
- Swimming
- Wine tasting
Best Time to go
Sicily is best visited in spring and autumn as it can be blazing hot in summer, despite sea breezes. Most places, including Masseria Cianciò, are closed during the winter months.
Our Top Tips
Take a day trip to Unesco-listed Modica, the nearest of the Baroque cities in the southeast of Sicily, built in a cleft in the limestone plateau and divided into Modica Alta (Upper Modica) and Modica Bassa (Lower Modica). While there, don't forget to sample the famous local Modica Cioccolata (some of which will be on your pillow at Masseria Cianciò on arrival for booking through i-escape).
Location
Masseria Cianciò is about 8km from Pozzallo and 16km from Modica in the southeast corner of Sicily.
By Air
Fly to Comiso, or, if you're touring the whole of Sicily, to Catania or Palermo.
From the Airport
From Catania it's 1.5 hours by car, following the SS115 via Siracusa and Noto. Although the Masseria does provide transfers on request, you'll probably want a hire car for your stay (see below).
By Car:
For car hire see our car rental recommendations. The Masseria can be a little tricky to find, so make sure you take directions with you (provided automatically when you confirm a booking through i-escape). You can park for free in the field beside the playground.
By Boat
If you're driving from southern mainland Italy, take the regular ferry from Villa San Giovanni to Messina (every 20 minutes; sailing time of 20 minutes) then follow the A18 motorway south to Catania (155km / 1.5 hours) before picking up the SS115 to Modica (110km / 1.5 hours).
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Comiso 51.0 km CIY
- Catania Fontanarossa 100.0 km CTA
Other:
- Beach 8.0 km
- Shops 8.0 km
- Restaurant 8.0 km
Our guests' ratings...
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