We don’t think there’s a better way to experience the ancient feel of Modica than with a stay at a historic stone home dating back to the 1500s. This home delivers that, along with a few 21st-century touches to keep things feeling luxurious. It’s in the heart of the city, where the narrow streets are home to chi-chi coffee shops and family-run restaurants serving Sicilian cuisine. You’ve even got a view of the ancient church next door from the terraced garden.

Set over stone terraces and patios, the garden is filled with verdant plants and cacti, and feels like a little oasis in the centre of town. Seats and sofas are shaded by olive trees, and there’s dining for the group by strings of fairylights. Then there’s the circular stone hot tub, shimmering like a jewel.

Inside, it feels like an ode to Sicilian tradition, with pristine white walls and minimalist furniture. The living room is adorned with modern art and has a selection of books for some downtime, and the kitchen is all sleek modernity despite being tucked behind an old stone archway. The old water cistern has been transformed into a wine cellar, with a high-end selection of local Sicilian bottles. Then there are the bedrooms, each with their own old-world character like the traditional circular bed in the master and fireplace in the second.

Home truths:
*In a stone house dating back to the 1500s, the garden is terraced and there are stairs in the home so it may not be suitable for those with limited mobility
*In the third bedroom, the double bed has one side against the wall
*Your host can provide a cot and high chair for infants, just ask
*There is no private parking with this home, but free on-street parking is available
*The wifi can be spotty in certain areas of the home