Masseria Rocca di Gonato

I was sorry to be so disappointed by a property in such a beautiful location. It could have been a wonderful farmhouse, but instead I had a stay that was a series of unfortunate events. Starting with the fact that the management difficulties are evident. As for the rooms: in the middle of July with 96.8°F, we had neither air conditioning nor a fan. Or rather, they do have fans, but evidently not for all the rooms because they don't put them in, so you have to request them beforehand or you risk going without. After I requested the fan, I had to carry the fan up the stairs. In a room for two people, they literally left two small packets of body soap that were barely enough for our arms (for a two-night stay). The food is good, if it weren't for the repetitiveness of the recipes, which, even if in different forms, always contained the same ingredients in the end. But the most unpleasant thing was the clouds of flies that we found on the breakfast buffet, even inside the glasses and on the plates. People who were gluten and lactose intolerant were also staying with us at the property; obviously, we had promptly notified the property days, if not weeks, in advance, but it's a shame that when we asked for breakfast for the gluten-intolerant person, they presented us with a bag of supermarket cookies without milk and without eggs (containing gluten), and people who were lactose intolerant ended up eating things with cheese inside due to various misunderstandings among the staff. When we arrived, the pool that they had described as "usable" over the phone was empty with a bottom that was not only dirty but full of algae and insects, an ecosystem in every respect, which they promptly tried to resolve by adding water to it. With the result, obviously, that the water was so cloudy that the bottom could not be seen (obviously without algaecide and without the pool pump turned on). I asked for a hair dryer to dry my hair and they gave me a hair dryer with cracks on the casing and poorly maintained seals, with the fans exposed without protection either in front or behind, with the risk of getting an electric shock. The bathrooms near the dining room were full of insects on the ceiling. When everyone who represented the various groups at the property at that time spoke with the owner to point out all the critical issues that caused us discomfort (with far too much calm), he told us that it was our fault for not having notified them in time of all these negative aspects to allow them to remedy them (as if these were not things that should be guaranteed in the catering industry) and he told us that since we were in the countryside we should have expected it (too bad that in Sicily there are many farmhouses that do not have this type of problem). Unlike the owner, at least the staff was kind. Basically, all the merits of the property depend on the nature that surrounds the place. It is a real shame because they could have made this property a beautiful farmhouse if it had been taken care of as it deserved.

Nice place surrounded by greenery in the mountains of Castelbuono. Kind and friendly staff. The rooms are basic but clean, the only problem was that the one they assigned us in the attic had no air conditioning and with the 104 degrees this week it was like being inside an oven, night included. Simple but good food. Cell phones don't get reception and the Wi-Fi was broken In the evening you can see the Milky Way. It could have gone better, but despite everything I don't feel like rejecting the facility.

I stayed at this farmhouse with friends, a terrible experience! The property is very neglected. The exterior needs major maintenance and should be cleaned up; it is in pitiful sanitary conditions, as animals leave excrement in front of the property and the space in front is infested with insects and flies that then pour into the restaurant. Having lunch and dinner with food and tables swarming with flies is truly unpleasant and unhygienic. We opted for the fixed menu. Poor quality, poor quantity, I feel sorry for the chef, but I really do not think he has any competence in the kitchen. Appetizer of terrible quality, a first course with potato cream, and breaded fried pork chops with 4 big chunks of roasted mushrooms thrown on the plate, €30. A rip-off. But what was truly unacceptable: having to eat dinner while shooing flies away from the plate and glasses. I wanted to run away! The bathroom, with no light in the room, only one lamp in the anteroom. Walls with dampness and no water in the toilets. Staff acted completely oblivious. Pool with putrid water. But do ASL/NAS inspections not exist in these mountain areas? I do not recommend this location.