The buzz word at this resort has to be ‘relaxation’. La Foresteria is a place now close to my heart. It was the destination of choice for one of two places we visited on our minimoon in Sicily in early July 2023.

This is a place where you go to completely relax. You are expected to do very little here. So we switched off, took a breath, lived in the moment and enjoyed the stunning surroundings within the Menfi estate.

After a short flight from Pisa to Palermo, the temperature change was dramatic. Expect a desert style heat when you’re down in the South of Italy in the height of summer.

From memory, this was a stress free car journey. I think we were both on our best behaviour as nobody wanted to be responsible for starting the first argument!

We pulled up to the hotel late at night, after a car hire disaster which we won’t go into. I vaguely remember it was to do with the boot space and my oversized luggage for a 5 day trip.

It was quite hard to see the hotel from the road. It’s slightly uphill and behind the main road. We turned a sharp left and found ourselves at the gated entrance. After ringing the buzzer, waiting a while, eventually gates opened.

It was difficult to get our bearings . It was very dark, with very little light pollution around. We were welcomed at our car and taken into the large reception area to do the check-in.

The smell was divine. I think the smell alone was a great sign of the type of experience we were in for. Isn’t that weird, how smells can evoke, memories, increase expectations and ooze luxury?!

We were shown to our room which was more Mexican hacienda , Moroccan riad style than Sicilian. It was very tastefully decorated with vibrant coloured blankets and cushions,. A few geometric rugs and lots of little artisinal crafts dotted around the room.

The bathroom style was similar. Quite minimalistic with their own products containing extra virgin olive oil. They were created with the oil pressed from olives that came from the olive groves dotted around the estate. I would imagine if you wanted to you could purchase them.

Our terrace was actually a herb garden. Oozing the most aromatic smells when we sat out early evening having our aperitivi and watching the sunset.

We stayed for 5 nights and for 3 of those we ate at the hotel restaurant. Their hospitality was consistently good. Everyone we met was charming, and so happy to share the story of the estate and the ethos behind it.

The dishes were so creative, using their own family recipes and following Sicilian traditions, made with all local products. It really was a true gastronomic experience and every night we tried something different.

We spent a few afternoons by the pool. Although very quiet, a perfect spot to wind down after the hectic wedding planning!

The rest of our time we spent at the hotel’s Insula Beach Club. This was our favourite space to relax. A short 5 minute drive from the hotel, The beach was hidden behind a mini forest. The winding path from the car, with giant pale blue plant pots dotted around, led to another oasis of calm.

Again with a Moroccan feel and furnishings mixed with Italian design. There’s lots of hidden areas here, to sit, lie or swing. A central bar and restaurant with visible kitchen area with large a wooden countertop. The seating area is under the shade of the pine trees with large wooden tables. We enjoyed so many fresh dishes from the sea, land and local area.

We spent most of our days here. Returning to the hotel early evening to what felt like our own secret space. Here all we had to do was get ready to do it all again the next day.

The resort is part of a large wine estate throughout Sicily. One afternoon we were offered a wine tasting at one of their nearby vineyards. I had wild hair but didn’t care! It was a private tasting, starting with a bottle of prosecco, followed by a red, a white and a rose. Of course, by the end of the tasting we ordered a case of each. They even gifted us a bottle of their prosecco to take home.

Having that wine with us back home worked out well. It was a way to try and encapsulate the feelings, emotions and memories that kept so well entertained on our little Sicilian minimoon!

We stayed: La Foresteria, Planeta Estate

We ate: Insula Beach Club