Tenuta Olive Alive - Wellness Hotel a Noto

Lyn Bowkett

2026-07-11

Google

We had very high hopes of Olive Alive, based upon other reviews and the website, but we were so disappointed. We booked the ‘luxury’ room named Cornucopia, because we wanted to end our Sicily holiday on a high note. Sadly the reality definitely did not live up to expectations and I think the best way to show this is by adding photos to this review. I really loved the 3 other places we stayed in Sicily and have reviewed them positively, but this was the worst by a very long way.
We were so disappointed by the reality we experienced, the gardens and pool are lovely but the room was damp, grubby and neglected. Definitely not luxury!! The bathroom in particular was really unpleasant and dirty, there was a dehumidifier running constantly in the bedroom area, there was mould on the walls, the lighting was from weird upright neon tubes which flickered, the outside space was dirty and unswept, the outdoor table and chairs were old and flaking, everything just felt so dirty and unloved. The roof terrace is just an empty space, no chairs or seating and the cushions promised when we arrived were never provided. We saw no sign at all of a yoga studio, and the only reference to anything spa related was an instruction to book a few days ahead so that a therapist could be found. Anything else you see online is misleading.
Dinner on our first night was served in a cold, unwelcoming room which we later realised was where breakfast was also laid out. We had no idea what to make of it all, it was such a let down, but we tried to make the best of it. However the owner absolutely does not cook for you, or host ‘gala’ dinners! He employs a chef and appears only occasionally with his dog, who is lovely but barks a lot. We were woken before 7 by the dog, which was really not good news on holiday. We own dogs and love them, but do not enjoy barking dogs all day when we’re on holiday.
We also experienced so much other noise from the outset. We realised on our last afternoon at Olive Alive that the owner had been preparing for the filming of drone footage, but hadn’t had the courtesy to tell us. So we had 2 days of constant noise from strimmers and brush cutters, then while relaxing by the pool on the 3rd day a team of people arrived with a drone and spent the afternoon filming. It was so disruptive, it ruined our day. The owner was surly and aggressive after we complained, he did not apologise. Please be aware that he is an odd character who behaves as though he is hosting you as a personal favour, when in fact 3 nights here cost us £1200 and was absolutely not worth half of that. Other guests from Germany and the US told us they were also shocked by how ‘rustic’ the rooms are.
We were forced to make an unplanned move to another hotel near Siracusa, luckily this was absolutely lovely and we ended our holiday on a high note, but this was no thanks to Olive Alive.

Giovanna Candarella

2026-07-07

Google

Posto incantevole..una vista su noto unica
Staff gentilissimo
Cucina eccellente
Super consigliato torneremo presto
Grazie a tutto lo staff soprattutto al proprietario Italo attento ad ogni nostra esigenza

Jo

2026-06-23

Google

We stayed for four nights in June. The location is spectacular, the room perfect, the food exceptional, the staff attentive and helpful, the grounds very thoughtfully laid out and the pool has an astonishing view. We were there for a charity fundraising event that the hotel held which was a truly memorable occasion. Special thanks goes to owner Italo who ensured a peaceful, interesting and restful stay.

djtayjames

2026-05-31

Google

We couldn’t have asked for a better experience! The owner Italo was so accommodating and we felt very at home. The view and the food was amazing and we loved sitting by the pool and relaxing. We will definitely recommend! 10/10.

Tommaso Garavaglia

2026-05-24

Google

Beautiful place! From the moment we arrived we felt an incredible sense of peace and serenity in this marvellous estate. Everything was amazing: great care for details, delicious breakfast and stunning views. I wish we could have stayed much longer!

Elisabeth Gruber

2026-05-23

Google

Wer die Ruhe sucht, ist hier richtig!
Sehr aufmerksamer Gastgeber,wir haben uns sehr wohl gefühlt.

gabriella spinelli

2026-05-20

Google

Dopo alcuni anni di assenza, sono tornata per 3 giorni in questo luogo fantastico, letteralmente immerso nella natura. Ideale per rilassarsi, dopo le varie escursioni nelle località della valle, molto affollate dai turisti, approfittando del centro benessere, passeggiando nella tenuta o ai bordi della bella piscina, ammirando dall’alto Noto e il mare, tutto in un piacevole silenzio rotto solo dal frusciare degli alberi. Camere molto confortevoli, ben tenute, pulizia impeccabile e personale sempre gentile e disponibile. Oltre all’ottima colazione ho potuto gustare le prelibatezze dello chef (piatti tipici e internazionali). Grazie al proprietario, Signor Italo, sempre attento agli ospiti, e al suo adorabile cane Clio.

LeslieinParis

2026-05-15

Google

Just got back from 5 magical days at Tenuta Olive Alive. It is our second stay in this beautiful hotel in the hills near Noto. Wonderful to wake up and have a delicious breakfast on the terrace looking out on the olive grove. Our host, Italo, always smiling, always full of great suggestions for places to visit and restaurants to try, there to greet us every morning. Highly recommend staying here for a relaxing stay, not to mention the delicious meals prepared by Italo and his chef, as a jumping off point for visiting this beautiful part of Sicily. Don't forget to taste his wonderful olive oil.

GIUSEPPE MANDALARI

2026-05-07

Google

Elegante struttura situata sopra Noto, con annessa Spa, piscina, centro yoga, area fitness. Lontano dal centro abitato con una splendida visuale sulla vallata che conduce alle più belle spiagge della riserva di Vendicari. Ideale per u a vacanza di relax, immersi nella natura, lontano dal caos cittadino e con il confort di una struttura Luxury.

Lauren Patriarca

2026-03-26

Google

italo was an amazing host, great chef and overall genuine kind person. it was a pleasure to stay at olive alive. we stayed in may 2025 and we often reminisce about our stay as it was so peaceful and special.

Federico Mazzanti

2026-01-07

Google

I soggiorni che ti rimangono nel cuore. Abbiamo trascorso 4 notti, l'ultima quella di Capodanno 2025. La struttura è magnifica, curata nel minimo dettaglio come il grande parco che circonda la villa. Per curata nel minimo dettaglio intendo che non ho trovato una foglia fuori posto in 4 giorni salvo dopo una giornata di "tempesta". Il Signor Italo, l'host, è una persona speciale che ha riversato una tangibile passione e una grande cultura nella sua magnifica "creatura". E ciò si percepisce dal primo momento. Suggeritissimo.

Ewelina Posłuszny

2025-11-21

Google

We had the most wonderful experience staying at Tenuta Olive Alive last weekend!
My partner and I wanted to get away from city life and could not have chosen a better place to do so. It was incredibly peaceful and quiet, exactly what we were looking for. We booked our stay outside of season in November and were lucky to be the only guests in the villa which made the experience even more unique. The villa overlooks the beautiful city of Noto and the views are breathtaking.
Italo was the best host that we could have asked for! He made us feel so welcome and made sure our stay was unforgettable. On Friday and Sunday, we had a private dinner at the property where Italo cooked seafood and traditional Sicilian dishes for us with vegetables from his garden. It felt very intimate like having a private chef cooking just for us. This was an incredible experience, every meal was made with such care and love. The breakfast we had every day was also amazing with a lot of sweet and savoury choices. The highlight for me was the freshly squeezed juice from blood oranges - I have a soft spot for freshly squeezed juices.
On Sunday we used the SPA and had a massage by Sorin. He was very professional and he is also such a nice person easy to talk to. We relaxed fully on our last day. Even though it was November, I still managed to have a dip in the pool with beautiful views and catch the last bits of sun.
I am a big animal lover so I was in heaven, surrounded by Clio the dog and the cats. Paulina the cat especially stole both our hearts! She hung out with us the whole stay there and was so extremely adorable!!
Our room, Noto, was very spacious, sunny and clean. There was everything we needed inside as well as fridge with cold drinks. The room was cleaned daily by a very lovely lady. I have never experienced such thorough and detailed housekeeping before. The lovely housekeeping lady made sure that the room looked like we just arrived and also aired it out daily. It was one of the best housekeeping experiences I’ve ever had.
The distance from the property to Noto town is not walkable and requires a car, but there are taxis available and it’s only an 8-minute drive.
Overall our stay was better than we could imagine. The property was so beautiful and well taken care of with breathtaking views from every part. We will definitely be back when we come back to Sicily even just to have a chat with Italo, he is such a lovely and warm person.