We spent eight glorious days at Palazzetto Polara and the consensus opinion of our group is that there simply aren't enough superlatives to describe this Baroque beauty or its owner, Rosalie.
My husband and I have stayed with friends in vacation rental properties throughout Europe and the United States, and we consider Palazzetto Polara to be in class by itself. Walking into this historic treasure, the four of us were immediately impressed by the sensitive approach to its renovation, as it lacked neither in character and charm nor in modern comforts and conveniences.
The inviting kitchen was extremely spacious and the pantry, drawers and cabinets were brimming with lovely dishes, glassware, utensils, serving pieces, etc. With such a well-equipped kitchen, we were inspired to prepare our own meals, dining al fresco in the courtyard and taking morning coffee and evening cocktails on the terrace.
The bedrooms are lovely, light-filled and well-furnished, and we found the beds to be extremely comfortable, owing in part to the soft and sumptuous bed linens--one of the many little luxuries we noted throughout the Palazzetto. We appreciated that each bedroom had its own entrance to the terrace, which allowed us to come and go without disturbing each other. The bedrooms are also equipped with HVAC units, but the weather was such that we never had need of them.
Both bathrooms in the Palazzetto are modern and elegant in their design and functioned flawlessly during our stay. And Rosalie kindly provided small heaters for the bathrooms in case the temperature dropped and the tiles became too cold underfoot. (An example of her desire to attend to her guests' every need, which is also why she engages a local concierge.)
With its frescoed ceiling, exquisite furnishings, and balcony overlooking the Duomo of San Giorgio, the salon is the crown in the jewel that is Palazzetto Polara. We idled away many happy hours in this room, listening to the church bells and other vibrant sounds from the streets below and being covert audience to gatherings and celebrations, including a baptism, wedding and the state visit of Prince Albert II. The salon is also where we planned day trips to other parts of Ragusa aided by the library of excellent guidebooks Rosalie collected for her guests. And while we did venture out of Modica, we always looked forward to returning to our Little Palace.
Thank you, Rosalie, for an unforgettable stay!