RELAIS SAN GIULIANO:
THE BOUTIQUE HOTEL'S ANCIENT PALMENTO
A 16TH-CENTURY PALMENTO, TODAY A PLACE FOR GOOD FOOD AND GOOD WINE
Our 16th-century palmento carries its agricultural past with it: stories of country life, of harvests, of celebration.
Massive lava-stone walls surround a majestic chestnut-wood press, one of the best preserved in southern Italy. It’s a symbol of solidity and tradition, reinventing itself in every era. Step inside, and you can almost catch the scent of must and seasoned wood, almost hear the rhythmic sound of barrels being filled by hands that knew their craft.
For Relais San Giuliano, Palmento del Serra is a lovely example of restoration done right: it honours memory, materials and context, with a coherent, thoughtful aesthetic. It even won the CarlottaXArchitettura 2021 award, recognised for respecting the site and its careful use of iron, wood and glass.
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Discover the pleasure of a Sicilian relais, with SPA, restaurant and pool
THE ART OF WINEMAKING
Every detail here speaks to winemaking. Grapes were once pressed by bare feet, a ritual that brought generations together and tied them to the land. The must rested in vats, fermenting slowly into wine.
RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE BAR
Once the hub of wine production, the palmento now houses the iPalici restaurant and the Palmento del Serra lounge bar. The restoration kept the old press and fermentation vats just as they were, so good food and good drink still live here, in a warm spirit of togetherness.
A lovely dinner in this memory-filled place becomes something more: a journey into the estate’s history and into Sicily’s past.
A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME AND THE FLAVOURS OF EASTERN SICILY
Centuries of history, renewed splendour: the palmento blends past and present into a journey through time and flavour, set in a landscape of rare natural and cultural beauty.
Time-worn farm tools rest quietly in the corners, after years of daily use. Wrought-iron details catch the warm, soft light. High ceilings with exposed beams make the whole space feel cosy and welcoming.
