Paolo — People who like traveling to secluded destinations rarely take into account the Mediterranean sea, wrongly considered overcrowded and noisy everywhere. The island of Pantelleria located midway between Sicily and Tunisia escapes this common view. A little bit out of reach, the island compensates the traveler with a breathtaking landscape, where (unusual especially for the south of Italy) human interventions have almost improved its beauty. Tenuta Borgia is a marvelous sample of this statement. An ancient independent country mansion surrounded by small hamlets typical of Pantelleria (Dammusi) restored and made into private suites with their own garden, some with private large Jacuzzi pools. All details are scrupulously designed in full obeisance to historical crafting tradition. The main pool from which one can swim viewing the African sea is carpeted with ancient Sicilian tiles making Portuguese azulejos jealous. This spot enriched by blooming hibiscus, olive and caper trees is the epitome of Mediterranean glory. After one has fully enjoyed the dolce far niente, the island offers horse and bike riding, trekking, sailing and diving, all activities never mixing with the crowd. Unique atmosphere, essential elegance, warm hospitality turn tenuta Borgia into an unforgettable Mediterranean vacation experience.

SCaboto — This is a marvelous “country chic” residential place located in the Pantelleria Island in the middle of the country 1 km away from the tiny village of Rekhale and a few more km from Scauri village. The country surrounding Tenuta Borgia by itself is really spectacular: ancient vineyards, olive trees, and caper plants cultivated in linear ground areas protected by walls (terrazzamenti in Italian language, i. e., terraces) constructed with volcanic stones all over on the mountain one over the other in order to make the ground cultivable. All these incredible terrazzamenti overlook the immense Mediterranean sea over the horizon. No advertisements, no cement, no background noise but the sound of wind from Africa (libeccio wind) from Italy (maestrale wind) from Greece (grecale wind). in this scenario, Tenuta Borgia consists of a main dammuso house with swimming pool (water is precious in Pantelleria) where the owners live and that can be rented in the case of a 10 people family or group, and a few perhaps 3or 4 additional smaller dammuso houses of variable sizes fitting 4 to 2 persons. We stayed at the dammuso Palmeto. You should be prepared that no food or room services, are provided but dammuso houses are so elegantly designed in all details from linen to wood windows-doors from private small swimming pool (for 2 of the dammuso houses) to positioning to watch unique landscapes that you forgive this lack of service. Personally I liked the absence of Wi-Fi but others may be disappointed. Overall Tenuta Borgia is one of the best resorts I have ever seen in the world. Selective (few dammuso houses available), well payed for its value, and really unique country hose for beauty of nature, landscapes of sea and ground (mare and terra), and spartan (minimalist, it depends from point of view) elegant country chic hospitality. Be ready to accept wildness of a Mediterranean island that means pleasant and unpleasant little beasts. How the latter will influence your stay, again, will depend on your own attitudes to like or dislike. For me it ranks in the 5 star universe.