Our Philosophy

It all begins with a gift. In the 1600s, nestled among the lava folds of Mount Etna, the Archbishop of Catania, Riggio, chose Pisano Etnea — now part of Zafferana — as his personal refuge, a sanctuary of peace and beauty. He called it “Esperide di mia novizia” and entrusted it to the Discalced Augustinian Monks of Valverde. They were the first to carve out the terraced slopes with dry-stone walls and plant vines: the roots of Etna’s winemaking tradition were born here.

Over the decades, the estate passed into the hands of the Patti family, who built a noble countryside residence — a stately home nestled among olive groves and vineyards, with a view that stretches out to the sea. It became a place for pause and reflection, inhabited by a nobility deeply connected to the land. Later, the Leotta family would preserve its spirit for three generations — until the story seemed ready to fade.

But destiny had other plans. In 2007, Guido Coffa — a former automotive entrepreneur living in the US — returned to Sicily with a simple dream: to grow a garden. Instead, he found Monaci — and sensed something extraordinary could be born here. Not a commercial venture, but a vision: a place to live, and to share, a different idea of beauty, of hospitality, of luxury.

Guido restored the first farmhouse and opened with just six rooms, no pool, and a mortgage. This was the beginning of Monaci delle Terre Nere — not a hotel, but an experience built around the soul of the land. In no time, Monaci was named one of the “20 Coolest Hotels in the World.” And everything changed.

Expansion began. Pools, new suites, and centuries-old farmhouses were restored following the principles of bio-architecture. Monaci joined Relais & Châteaux, embraced the Slow Food movement, and received international recognition from Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure. Yet its essence remained untouched: this is still the authentic Sicily — with organic wines, thriving gardens, elegant henhouses, and true farm-to-table cuisine.

Today, Monaci is a globally recognized Eco-Bio Luxury Retreat, with 27 villas and suites set across 25 hectares of protected biodiversity. It’s a scattered hotel made of restored 18th-century farmhouses, an active organic farm cultivating over 150 fruit varieties, and a winery preserving ancient pre-phylloxera vines. It’s a place where time slows down, where no two rooms are alike, and where luxury lives in every carefully considered detail.

Guido doesn’t see himself as an owner — but a guardian. The dream continues, fueled by the passion of a team that lives and breathes Monaci. The future is rooted in sustainability, research, and innovation. Monaci strives to be a beacon for those seeking a kind of luxury that doesn’t shout but resonates. That doesn’t show off — but welcomes.

A rare experience, timeless and truly one of a kind.