Ruffiana

Inside

accommodation at Ruffiana is laid out over two floors.

The main entrance leads from a secluded courtyard into a luminous, open-plan living space with black-and-white, geometrically patterned floors and walls in white and olive green. A pair of wide, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors bring in the views and open out onto the surrounding terraces.

The focal point is a kitchen island clad in rich, emerald-green tiles. Incorporating a wine fridge, induction hobs, and a bar area with high stools, this is a place for sociable cooking and dining. The well-equipped, stylish kitchen proper is accessed via a door a few steps away.

To one side of the kitchen island is an attractive sitting area with well-cushioned, contemporary modular seating looking towards the pool; to the other, behind a semi-partition wall, is a snugly positioned sofa.

Strategically placed glass vases and ceramic pieces from Santo Stefano di Camastra add a dash of Sicilian colour and interest, while the owners’ travels are recorded with exotic artefacts brought back from distant climes.

A shower room with more of those emerald-green tiles completes the accommodation on the ground floor.

Ceramic-tiled stairs lead up from the first sitting area to the first floor, which is entirely dedicated to a generous suite. A landing opens out onto a shaded terrace with a suspended cocoon chair looking out towards the sea and Noto, while in the bedroom, blue-and-white geometrically patterned floor tiles signal a change of ambience and flow outside via a wall of sliding glass doors onto a panoramic terrace. To one side sits a couple of designer sofas and a curvaceous, standalone tub, while to the other is a double bed. An en-suite shower room completes the picture.

Outside

most al fresco life at Ruffiana plays out on a large L-shaped terrace that runs along two sides of the house. Accessed from both the kitchen-diner and the living area via two sets of wide, sliding glass doors, the terrace offers seclusion, plenty of spots for relaxation, and wide-open views out across the grounds, the surrounding countryside, and the sea.

Just outside the kitchen is a shaded area with dining table and a magnificent old carob tree. A few steps from here, is the serene, zero-edge pool, which is hard to resist at any time of day.

Following the terrace round to the side of the house, also accessed from the living area, is a partially covered outdoor lounge area furnished with a large, well-cushioned sofa and coffee tables.

The delightful views are at their best from the bedroom’s private terraces. The larger one, a secluded sun-kissed spot, lends itself to morning coffees while gazing out to sea, yoga work-outs, and aperitivi. The second, with its shaded hanging cocoon chair, is perfect for lazy, carefree moments and taking in the awe-inspiring view of Noto basking in the roseate glow of the setting sun.

The main entrance to the property is accessed from a delightful walled courtyard with a central fountain with a ceramic surround, and a collection of cacti and other plants.

Where the terraces end, the fields of olive, carob and fruit trees begins, and it’s a pleasure to stroll around them, especially at dawn, when the sun rises from the silvery Ionian Sea.

The estate surrounding Ruffiana is home to another of our villas, Agata, which is located around 100m away. Owned by the same family, the villas share part of the access road but each enjoys total privacy. If you're travelling in a large group or with another family, why not take both of them.

The pool has a single depth of 1.4m.

The discreet caretakers occupy an independent apartment on the property, which is accessed from the courtyard at the entrance to Ruffiana.