Casa Isabella - a cook's and garden lovers paradise - perfect for winter rental

Spectacularly gorgeous and just as advertised. The views, the olive and almond trees, the stunning garden, the multiple terraces(!), great air conditioning inside, and a comfy bed. And the cats! We really enjoyed having some furry friends around to pamper and talk to. One of the cats had kittens while we were there, which was pretty exciting. This property is nestled in a grove of olive and almond trees. We bought a nutcracker to see if we could eat some almonds (yes, although a bit past their prime). The owners have created a spectacular desert garden and we enjoyed identifying plants that we hadn't seen in Canada. We had a rental car (which is a must) and explored the surrounding areas - we highly recommend Noto (baroque architecture), which you can see from the property. The kitchen at the house is definitely made for cooks - there wasn't a single thing missing from the cupboards and drawers. We cooked some great meals and ate them on the upper terrace, while enjoying the scenery and sunset. The stars at night were impressive. The hosts were very responsive and helpful and we enjoyed chatting with them. HIGHLY recommend this peaceful and restorative location. The kiddie pool was perfect plunging, and also has a great view. Hurry up and reserve your dates before it's all booked up!

As we first arrived, a very friendly Emi was there to greet us having cooked us a lovely meal, with the chairs, table and loungers all set out overlooking the peaceful valley towards Noto. The gardens, clearly the result of lots of work, are beautiful. The house, on two levels, is secluded, comfortable, well-equipped and clean with lovely outdoor seating areas, just the job for a relaxing break for two...several evenngs were spent sipping wine and enjoying the sunset. We went to lots of the places on the 'things to do/places to go' list...the beautiful Cava Grande (on a nice day, take your swimmers!...the pools are amazing), Syracuse/Ortigia and Marzemi to mention but a few. Noto is a lovely place to eat in the evening, car park easy to find, great ambience. Whenever we needed to contact either Sue or Richard, they were very prompt with their responses....all in all, a great retreat, highly recommended. Thank you Sue and Richard!

My husband and I stayed at Casa Isabella for almost 5 weeks as we took some time off of work since we were in need of some peace and rest. And that is exactly what we found at Casa Isabella. The house is very cozy and the surroundings are just like paradise. When I think back to our time there, I’m very sad we had to leave but at the same time very greatful that we found such a nice place. It was exactly what we were looking for. The house offers everything you could ask for: very comfortable bed, a nice shower, very well equipped kitchen and a stove to make fire during the colder months. On the first day we didn’t even realize how big the garden was and how much it has to offer. So it was a huge surprise when we found the orange and lemon trees, grapefruits, pomegranate, fig trees and the list goes on. It really is like paradise there! The view from the big terrace is just so beautiful and calming that most of the days we were just sitting there for hours enjoying the view, drinking coffee and doing nothing! (I cannot tell how much I miss those times). The terrace was also the best place for my daily yoga practice - highly recommended! We also very much fell in love with one of the cats who will usually greet you in the morning - Fabrizia - she always joined us when we were sitting outside relaxing and enjoying the view. She is just the cutest cat in the world and we still miss her so much. I also want to mention that Richard is the worlds best host. I have never rented a house with such a nice and caring host. He will try to help you with everything and anything, he answered all my questions, also about living or working in Sicily which was very interesting for us. Richard will also provide a very good map on google with all the places he can recommend (where to go, where to eat....) which made our stay even better as we went to places we would not have found on our own. We for example went to a friend of Richards for ricotta making which was such a beautiful experience! Richard, thank you so much for everything, we still talk a lot about our stay at Casa Isabella and have so many good memories. To everyone who is considering renting this house: DO IT! You will not regret it. A cozy house with great surroundings, close to beautiful Noto and the best host you can image - what more do you want?

This was our third visit to Casa Isabella. It is located only a short distance from Noto, but offers peace and tranquillity from the hustle and bustle of the town but with all the attractions being only a short drive away. It is a great base to explore this part of Sicily. We love the feel of the property and it’s privacy. Casa Isabella is ideal for two, well equipped - particularly the kitchen with a multitude of pots, pans and utensils. It’s so easy to buy local produce and make a fantastic meal and sit back on the terrace and eat whilst watching the star’s. Alternatively, there are many restaurants within a short drive. The availability of the owner to answer questions is another bonus and nothing seems too much trouble. Another highlight is the option to have a meal prepared for your arrival which is superb and allows you to chill out as soon as you arrive. We rarely visit anywhere a second time, let alone a third but this little villa ticks so many boxes that it is a ‘must’ return location. We soaked up the late summer sun, relaxed and enjoyed the privacy and tranquility so much. It’s very well managed, superbly equipped and in a great location.