Immersed in vineyards that seem to reach all the way to the Mediterranean Sea, La Foresteria Planeta Estate near Menfi in southwestern Sicily is an extraordinary place to stay. With incredible cuisine matched with the estate’s own wines, the hotel is a gastronomic paradise.
Recommended by Annabel from Smudged Postcard
If you thought western Sicily was all about the sweet wine of Marsala, think again. La Foresteria showcases the best of Sicilian wine, from the white Grecanico to the red Nero d’Avola.
The Planeta family planted vines in the 1980s and have seen huge successes recently. Although the wine is now sold worldwide, there is no better place to experience it than at the estate itself.
Unlike many luxury hotels, at La Foresteria, you will not find muted beige color schemes. The fourteen rooms at Planeta are full of warm Mediterranean colors.
Doors lead onto a garden terrace surrounded by fragrant herbs and olive trees: expect scents of rosemary, lavender, or marjoram to come drifting through along with the sound of the Mediterranean Sea, which can be viewed from most of the rooms.
The bedrooms share the incredible sea views with the hotel’s infinity pool, a perfect destination to while away in the afternoon or to contemplate what might be on the menu for dinner.
It is the food that makes La Foresteria such an incredible place to stay.
The tasting menu at La Foresteria is particularly popular: each of the eight courses is accompanied by one of the estate’s wines.
Expect delicately flavored ravioli with ricotta and mint or perhaps freshly caught scabbardfish, followed by a local Sicilian dessert such as cassata.
Although guests at La Foresteria will undoubtedly want to spend much of their time outside in the glorious sunshine, the hotel also has peaceful areas for those quiet moments.
The drawing room is filled with books and offers an honesty bar, while the bar area itself is open at all times of day for a drink, be that a morning cappuccino or an evening aperitivo.
Trips to the estate’s wineries can be arranged, including the 16th-century farmhouse at nearby Ulmo, where the first vines were planted. Cookery courses with the resident chef are top-rated: guests can learn the art of typical Sicilian dishes such as caponata or cannoli.
Bike hire and walking routes are available for guests visiting outside of the scorching Sicilian summer, while spa treatments can also be arranged.
La Foresteria is midway between the medieval town of Sciacca and the incredible Greek temples at Selinunte. The hotel is an excellent base for exploring this much-underrated corner of Sicily.
Palermo can be reached in an hour and a half, while the port town of Mazara del Vallo, with its strong links to North Africa, is under an hour away.
However, guests of La Foresteria may find it difficult to tear themselves from the beauty surrounding the hotel. The views from the terrace at La Foresteria across the vineyards to the sea are quite breathtaking.
There are some incredible beaches in Sicily, and summertime on the island is legendary. The Blue Flag Beach at Porto Palo is backed by sand dunes and is located just a five-minute drive from the hotel.
Here, at the Planeta’s own beach club, guests can enjoy a glass of wine or a light meal after a refreshing dip in the Mediterranean. There are many other excellent Sicilian beaches to explore close by, including untouched nature reserves east of Sciacca.
La Foresteria can be reached from Palermo and Trapani airports in an hour.
Transfers are available from the hotel, but car hire is highly recommended for guests who wish to fully explore this rich and fascinating part of Sicily.
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Tim Kroeger, founder of Universal Traveller, leverages extensive experience in luxury travel and tourism to offer firsthand insights into emerging hospitality trends.
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