Cefalu, Italy
Insulae Resort
Bioclimatic coastal lodges
Bioclimatic coastal lodges
Solar-powered timber pavilions are scattered across coastal gardens, designed for open-air living along the Tyrrhenian shore.
What it’s good at
Notable
Nine solar-powered bioclimatic lodges open onto Mediterranean gardens under wooden pergolas.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Insulae is a resort set within 4,500 square meters of tropical and Mediterranean gardens: tall palms, fig trees, succulents, and a 120-square-meter infinity pool.
Somewhere quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Mazzaforno's quiet shoreline surrounds the grounds, while Cefalù's historic Arab-Norman old town is three kilometres away.
The rooms
Minimalist interiors open onto timber-shaded living terraces, while select lodges add private heated whirlpools facing the sea.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The swimming pool is sanitized with local sea salt and lit warmly at night among the palms.
The spa
Treatments take place in bamboo-screened garden cabanas. Inside, the spa has a Finnish sauna and Turkish bath.
Zayt Restaurant
Chef Ignazio Morgante reinterprets Sicilian recipes inside a glass pavilion that looks onto an illuminated olive tree.
At the table
The poolside bar serves light lunches by day and mixes aperitifs with citrus picked from the garden.
How it began
Architect Mario Farinella, from a third-generation Sicilian hotelier family, designed the property with solar power and sustainable timber.
Cefalu
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.