Caol Ishka

Unashamedly designer rooms spread among contemporary riverside barns, with pool, lawns and heaps of charm, 1.5km from Ortigia

It's an alluring name - no less so when you learn that it's Gaelic for 'the sound of water' - but how did Siracusa's coolest new hotel earn it? The answer lies in its owners: locally-born Emanuela met her Irish partner Gareth while studying business in London, and together they decided to bring the design-hotel concept to a riverside meadow in this delightful corner of south-eastern Sicily.

Battling with local bureaucracy, they spent four years restoring the family's old stone barns, fitting them with top-label furniture, exuberant bathrooms, grass-and-gravel suntraps and a raised infinity pool. Outsides were painted pale lilac, insides cool white or Corbusier-grey. Wicker-cube chairs sit on teak decks laid by Gareth; inside, for a bit of fun, ultra-modern lamps and chrome-sleek bathrooms are set off with lavish chandeliers and gilt mirrors. A new chef at their nouveau-Sicilian restaurant has added the final touch. If you relish modern design, faultless service and a sound night's sleep, there's no better base for exploring Siracusa and its rich hinterland.

Highs

• Every fitting, from the touch-stem angel light to the boat-sized bathtub and red-velvet chaise-longue, is a designophile's delight
• Being a mile outside town, and surrounded by grassy meadows, there's total silence at night
• Owners and staff speak excellent English and can advise on the best beaches, hikes, sites and restaurants
• Delicious food locally sourced and beautifully presented
• Easy road access and parking makes it a good base for car touring

Lows

• There's nothing within walking distance so you'll need a car (if you can brave the Italian drivers!)
• You may find the grey, cement-effect walls in some rooms a little overbearing
• Picky guests could point to a couple of cases of fashion over function (escaping shower spray, morning sunlight through the door) but it's nothing major
• River location attracts mozzies