Southern Italy, Perfected: Discovering Puglia & Sicily with Y Travel’s Dana and Rocco Forte Hotels
“Rocco Forte’s personalised service was extraordinary. You could feel that family touch in every interaction, from the warm welcomes at each property, to the beautiful Irene Forte spa gifts on our pillows every evening. It’s this consistency in quality and design, combined with genuine local character, that makes them such a perfect fit for our discerning clients.”
Dana Michael
There’s an unmatched charm in discovering Italy through a brand that defines modern heritage. For Y Travel’s Senior Advisor Dana, a recent journey through Puglia and Sicily with Rocco Forte Hotels offered a masterclass in southern Italian hospitality, one steeped in family legacy, artistry, and place.
Founded by Sir Rocco Forte and his sister Olga Polizzi, the collection is celebrated for transforming landmark buildings into icons of contemporary elegance. Each property carries the unmistakable Forte family imprint, timeless design, culinary excellence, and an intuitive warmth that feels deeply personal.
Puglia - Where Rustic Meets Refined
In the heart of Puglia’s sunlit countryside, Masseria Torre Maizza sits among centuries-old olive groves, a 16th-century farmhouse reimagined into a haven of understated luxury. “I was genuinely surprised by how flat and accessible Puglia is,” Dana recalls. “The countryside is carpeted with olive trees, it’s mesmerising to drive through.”
Each experience was crafted to reflect the region’s soul. At a local cheese farm, the group watched artisans shape mozzarella and burrata by hand before tasting them still warm, a moment of simple perfection. Excursions to the Trulli houses of Alberobello and the seaside village of Polignano a Mare revealed Puglia’s living history, while evenings unfolded over orecchiette, focaccia Barese, and wines that tasted of the earth itself.
“These are the experiences our clients crave,” Dana says. “Every flavour and encounter feels deeply connected to the land, authentic, unfiltered, and unforgettable.”
Sicily - Grandeur on the Mediterranean
From the Adriatic coast to the sparkling Mediterranean, in Sicily, Villa Igiea rises gracefully above the Bay of Palermo, a Belle Époque masterpiece restored to its former splendour. “The setting takes your breath away,” Dana shares. “You step onto the terrace and the view across the Mediterranean feels cinematic.”
Days unfolded in true Sicilian style, with optional experiences ranging from admiring the golden mosaics of Monreale Cathedral, sailing to the crystalline coves of Favignana, to witnessing the artistry of traditional cooking on an organic farm, where recipes and stories have been passed down through generations. Dana’s final two nights in Sicily were spent at Rocco Forte’s Verdura Golf Resort & Spa, 230 sun-kissed hectares of beach, activities and wellness options on the island’s south-west coast was the perfect ending to an authentic week-long taste of southern Italian ‘la dolce vita’. “Our time in Sicily reminded me why we travel – to connect through culture, taste, and the warmth of human interaction, no matter the language spoken.” Dana reflects.
This journey exemplified Y Travel’s Y Factors: Artistry in Palermo’s baroque façades, Culture & Community in conversations with local artisans, Taste in every regional dish, and The Unexpected, from discovering Ostuni in a vintage Ape car to finding hidden grottoes only reachable by boat.
Rocco Forte’s Expanding Italian Legacy
Rocco Forte’s ambitious growth across Italy marks an exciting new chapter for the brand, and for luxury travellers seeking the essence of contemporary Italian elegance.
The recently opened Rocco Forte House Milan, on Via Manzoni, offers eleven exquisite private apartments in the heart of the fashion district, each a study in refined Italian design with original frescoes and bespoke furnishings. The Carlton Milan will debut as the group’s second property in the city next month, bringing Rocco Forte’s distinctive warmth and sophistication to one of Europe’s most dynamic capitals of style.
Beyond the mainland, the new Costa Smeralda property in Sardinia promises to capture the spirit of Mediterranean glamour, set along one of the world’s most exclusive coastlines. Palazzo Sirignano in Naples, a 19th-century masterpiece on the Riviera di Chiaia, will unveil forty-six stunning suites crowned by a rooftop pool overlooking the Bay of Naples. And most anticipated of all, Palazzo Castelluccio in Noto, Sicily, opening in 2026, will transform one of the island’s most beautiful baroque palaces into a sanctuary of art, history, and contemporary Italian living.
For Y Travel’s discerning clients, these openings represent an extraordinary evolution, a collection that continues to honour heritage while redefining the future of Italian luxury.
A Journey to Remember
Reflecting on her Southern Italian journey, Dana smiles: “It sounds clichéd, but I loved absolutely everything, the people, the flavours, the architecture. And that incredible sense of being so warmly looked after, everywhere we went.”
To experience southern Italy through the eyes of Rocco Forte, speak with your Y Travel advisor. We’ll craft a bespoke journey that captures the essence of Italian artistry, culture, and connection, because some places are best experienced the Y Travel way.