Caol Ishka

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Siracusa, Sicily

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

Reviewed by Michael Cullen

Caol Ishka, Italy, Overview

CAOL ISHKA - REVIEW

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 enjoy modern design, unpretentiously slick 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 (though their cuisine was faultless when we visited)
Easy road access and parking makes it a good base for car touring

LOWS

It's too far to walk into central Siracusa (you definitely need a car, if you can brave the Italian drivers!) but if Emanuela's latest plans hatch successfully, you will soon be able to take a boat in from their riverside deck
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, and overall the design works very well

Print Whole Report

Name	Caol Ishka	Location	Siracusa, Sicily
Type	Boutique Guesthouse: 10 rooms	Country	Italy
Price Guide	Dbl: €190-280, BB	Open	All year except 12 Jan-11 Feb 2009 (maintenance)


DISTANCES	Airport: 60km	Nearest Shops: 2km	Nearest restaurant: 2km	Beach: 8km