Dimora Italia Blu Calypso Ortigia

NEW LISTING!



‘To see Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything’ – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 – 1832)





We really couldn’t agree more with these words by the writer Goethe

And so we’re thrilled to announce our debut in Sicily’s Ortigia!





Etched in the hearts and souls of many an Italian and Italy buff, this ancient sea-encircled island – the historic heart of Syracuse – needs little introduction or further endorsement from us!



A magical, almost mythical place on Sicily’s south-eastern shores where sun-bleached limestone the colour of blanched Sicilian almonds dazzles the eyes and dips its sun-tanned toes in the cyan-blue waters of the warm Ionian sea, while its labyrinthine lantern-lit tapestry of half-shaded streets, alleyways, elegant little piazzas and grand Baroque palazzi are stitched together with the traditional hallmarks of Sicilian daily living – from succulent-and-jasmine-potted balconies, gently swaying palms, cafe parasols and prickly pear, to parked-up Vespa scooters, flowering oleander and lines of laundry just washed by nonna – each corner drawing one like a magnet as if whispering ‘come closer’. And its famous sunsets? Spellbinding.



Time stands still here...



Weather-beaten walls echo with the silent conversations of centuries past – from as far back as the 8th century BC, the Ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and Spanish have all made their homes here, each civilisation leaving its calling card like the layers of a Sicilian Pasta ‘Ncasciata, while the salt air hangs heavy with the intoxicating scents of springtime zagara blossom, sun-parched stone, espresso and fresh cannoli.





And amidst this sensory overload sit our 2 genteel new properties (bookable separately): the extraordinary Blu Calypso (sleeping 8) and chic Bianca Arethusa (sleeping 4).



Enviably positioned along the tucked-away Ronco I alla Fontana in the heart of Ortigia, only steps away from the legendary Arethusa Fountain, the Lungomare Alfeo shoreline promenade, not forgetting an excellent variety of well-regarded restaurants, bars and cafes (just think… granita and brioche col tuppo for breakfast!), the 2 apartments host 12 guests when reserved together for exclusive use in accommodation that can best be described as ‘jaw-dropping’.



Perfectly arranged for chilling out come un vero Siciliano, wonderfully equipped throughout – you’ll want for nothing! – and each more than spacious enough to accommodate your party in some considerable style and comfort, the fully air-conditioned properties (with WiFi) are spread over the 1st and 2nd / 3rd floors of the residence and showcase interiors conceived by ArchFlorence to retain a distinctly Sicilian aesthetic. Oh, and naturally your complimentary toiletries are by ‘Ortigia Sicilia’, the luxury Italian soap and fragrance company loved by so many!



Stepping inside each apartment (for full details of apartment Bianca Arethusa please see its dedicated listing page)...







BLU CALYPSO with terrace



Sleeps 8



(4 bedrooms / 4 en suite bathrooms)



For once we’re almost speechless! A staggeringly beautiful apartment (the larger of the two at 230sqm) showcasing decor as effervescent and dramatic as the famous Latin temperament itself…



Supremely elegant yet warmly welcoming and featuring a kaleidoscope of intense colour alongside a host of striking traditional architectural features, Blu Calypso is situated on the 2nd / 3rd floors of the building reached by stairs (no lift) in accommodation comprising:



A fabulously decadent main sitting room brimming with passion and personality thanks in part to its vibrant and instantly captivating frescoed volta a schifo curved ceiling – a style often seen in Sicilian Baroque villas



Enjoying a wonderful clarity of natural light by day and the romance of a glittering central crystal chandelier by night, this remarkable room is sumptuously dressed in rich, plush textiles and furnished with ample comfortable seating and an amazingly retro (and very glam!) brass palm tree floor lamp in the style of influential design co. Maison Jansen from the 1970s. The elaborate pattern of the room’s floor covering echoes that of traditional Sicilian tiling, while its pair of half-glazed doors open onto outside spaces – one to a slim, south-facing balcony at the room’s farthest end and the other onto a large west-facing furnished terrace nestled amongst neighbouring rooftops offering a tantalising glimpse of the ocean just beyond. A set of double wooden doors leads to….



A dining room with balcony / well-equipped kitchen that certainly makes a bold statement! Coming into its own particularly on warm and sultry Sicilian nights when the aroma of your lovingly made – or private-chef-made!* – Arancini, Caponata or Sarde a Beccafico fills the air, and you’re toasting your friends and family around the expansive dining suite seating eight… take a moment or so to gaze up at the spectacular golden coved ceiling – palatial! – or down at the marvellous tiling, all the while being embraced by mirrored walls of sea blue marmorino!



And just beyond, at the centre of the apartment, sits…







A cosy and relaxing TV room / snug, furnished with a sofa and dressed to impress from top to toe in Cole & Son’s exquisitely patterned Matrinah wallpaper from their Ardmore collection



Sleep long and lazy and wake reinvigorated in one of Blu Calypso’s 3 bedrooms on this floor (all with slim balconies and their own en suite bathrooms – heaven!)



A gorgeous and very spacious principal bedroom in gentle turquoise and buttermilk with Frappato-red accents, a beautifully dressed double bed, rattan furnishings in keeping with the ocean vibe, a striking pair of Sicilian ceramic Teste di Moro (Moors’ heads) – traditional icons of Sicily! – casually keeping watch, and a wardrobe area just beyond leading to its own pristine en suite bathroom with shower in black marble (this bedroom has not one, but two, slim balconies overlooking the ronco to the side)



A charming 2nd double bedroom in deep red and sandy colours with pretty wall prints illustrating the papyrus plant which thrives so readily nearby, twin beds (which can be made into a double upon request), a wardrobe hanging space just to the side and a sparkling en suite bathroom in sea glass green with shower



A tranquil and very restful 3rd bedroom in blue and juicy tangerine with floor tiling in the local vernacular style, a well-attired double bed, a wardrobe area at its entrance and a spacious en suite bathroom with shower and pretty fish-scale tiling



Passing through an internal corridor we reach a utility area with a washing machine and separate tumble dryer (handy for longer stays) before reaching a short staircase rising up to the…



3rd Floor, where we find Blu Calypso’s…



Truly delightful 4th bedroom offering slender glimpses of the ocean – a private and incredibly sweet top-of-the-house haven with sloping whitewashed beams, a double bed with red and blue accents, a smart compact en suite bathroom with shower and, the icing on the cake, a little furnished balcony for two surrounded by rooftops and just about the best reward possible after climbing the extra stairs!







OUR COMMENT



Sheer opulence in Ortigia!



A fabulous find for groups of friends and larger parties who appreciate the finer things in life, and ideally placed for exploring the captivating and eminently walkable island of Ortigia, the city of Syracuse (to which it’s joined by the Ponte Umbertino and Ponte Santa Lucia bridges) along with the cities of the Val di Noto and countryside beyond!



Within a stone’s throw of the famous Fonte Aretusa – the legendary fountain associated with the Greek mythological nymph Arethusa, Artemis (goddess of hunting, wild animals, childbirth and the moon) and the River God Alpheus, and one of the few places in Europe where papyrus plants thrive – and within a gentle stroll of Ortigia’s must-see sights including the remarkable Fountain of Diana, the Temple of Apollo, the 7th-century Syracuse Cathedral and the Palazzo Bellomo medieval and modern art museum.



Immersed in a much sought-after area of artisan workshops, characterful courtyards and a variety of excellent restaurants, cafes and bars including (but not only!) Oz Ortigia, Pindaro, Anchovies Ortigia, Colapesce, Lemon Tapas & Cocktails, Yacht-Restaurant Ortigia, Pasticceria Artale and Amandorla Marciante… (I could go on!) and within a short walk of the Supermercato

inCoop along with the buzzing Ortigia Street Market and Syracuse Food Market to satisfy all your Sicilian food cravings and self-catering needs!



Explore the area by hire car or with a professional private driver at the wheel (feel free to ask for details) – in springtime the countryside is carpeted in a riot of colourful flowers, while the dreamy (UNESCO World Heritage) late-Baroque towns of Noto, Modica (chocolate!), Scicli (hidden gem) and Ragusa Ibla – made all the more famous by Inspector Montalbano on TV! – are all within easy reach, not forgetting the picture-perfect fishing village of Marzamemi, a personal favourite of VOV / Dimora Italia’s CEO Filippo!



Or if relaxing in the ocean or lounging in the sunshine** is more your thing, then we’d be delighted to provide details of Ortigia’s lidos (public and private swimming platforms and solariums) that you’ll see along the island’s craggy yet stunning shoreline!







*Celebrating a special occasion or taking a well-earned break from the kitchen? Do feel free to enquire for further details of a private chef!



**Recommended holiday reading: The Leopard (a revered Italian literary classic set in Sicily) by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa and The Inspector Montalbano crime novels by Andrea Camilleri







Beds will be arranged as either doubles or twins as shown in the photos. The possibility of turning a double bed into twins or vice versa can be found in the description and must be requested at least 7 days before arrival