Slow Living in Sicily: A Peaceful Retreat at Susafa Hotel

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Advisor - Alexa Mollicchi Casanova
Curated By

Alexa Mollicchi Casanova

  • Food & Wine

  • Nature Escapes

  • Slow Travel

  • Relaxation

Slow Living in Sicily: A Peaceful Retreat at Susafa Hotel
Curator’s statement

Susafa is where I turned 30. Craving quiet as I entered a new decade, I found something even rarer: stillness. From the first sip of almond milk swirled with cherry jam to the golden hush of evenings by the pool, every detail felt intentional, intimate and generous. Thoughtful touches like the welcome treats waiting in our room, a lovely perk of being a Fora advisor, made it feel like a love letter to slowness and presence. It’s one of the only places I’ve ever finished the books I packed, and I’d return in a heartbeat to do it all over again, exactly the same.

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Where to stay

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We spent a long summer weekend in Sicily, flying into Palermo and renting a car to head inland toward Susafa. If you want to explore this part of Italy properly, a rental is essential — not just for freedom, but because the property itself is tucked into the countryside. The final stretch of road is unpaved and bumpy, so it’s best to choose your car accordingly and drive slowly as you approach. That off-grid feeling is part of Susafa’s charm. This is a child-free property (welcoming guests 12 and older), which makes it a great fit for couples, solo travelers or friends looking to disconnect and truly unwind.

Photo courtesy of Susafa Hotel

What makes Susafa special goes beyond aesthetics — it’s the way everything is considered and local. One of our favorite experiences was the cooking class. We made focaccia, a variety of breads, and a full Sicilian meal with ingredients sourced almost entirely from the estate itself: flour milled on site, olive oil from their groves, fresh-picked tomatoes and basil, burrata, pistachios and more. We cooked in the kitchen with the chef and sat down to enjoy the meal afterward, leaving with full bellies and an unexpected sense of connection (plus a very cute certificate).

Photo courtesy of Susafa Hotel

Mornings at Susafa quickly became a highlight thanks to the incredible breakfast spread. Picture: a rainbow of fresh fruit and vegetables, a DIY juice station, beautifully presented cheeses, made-to-order eggs, and standout house-made cakes and pastries. It set the tone for each day, whether we stayed by the tranquil pool or explored the surrounding area. We also booked a massage in the spa cabin surrounded by nature — utterly relaxing and totally worth reserving ahead of time if you're visiting in high season.

Photo courtesy of Susafa Hotel

For a change of pace, we took a day trip to Cefalù, about 1.5 hours away. It’s the kind of coastal town that lives up to the postcards. We rented beach chairs for a swim among locals, wandered through charming cobblestone streets and wrapped the day with a seaside dinner as the sun set. Pairing the quiet of the countryside with the energy of the coast made for a perfectly balanced escape — one we’d recommend in a heartbeat to anyone craving a deeper, slower experience of Sicily.

Photo courtesy of Susafa Hotel

Photo courtesy of Susafa Hotel

Photo courtesy of Susafa Hotel

Photo courtesy of Susafa Hotel

Need to know

Susafa is seasonal and typically open from spring through early fall — check the calendar if you’re planning shoulder season travel. The countryside location means you won’t find shops or restaurants nearby, so treat it as a true retreat and plan to have most of your meals onsite (the food is a highlight). Pack comfortable shoes if you'd like to explore the surrounding trails, and bring layers — even in summer, the evenings can be breezy. Cell service can be spotty, but Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. For ease, consider flying into Palermo, which is the most convenient major airport, and aim to arrive before dark since the final stretch of road is unlit and unpaved. And lastly, be ready to slow down — Susafa is not the place to check things off a list, but to let time stretch out and savor the quiet.

For more inspiration, visit our Sicily page.

Advisor - Alexa Mollicchi Casanova

Travel Advisor

Alexa Mollicchi Casanova

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