'colle degli agrumi' holds blooming pergola evoking citrus groves

‘Colle degli Agrumi’: a getaway in the sicilian province

In the Sicilian hills of Piedimonte Etneo lies ‘Colle degli Agrumi – Citrus Hill’, a charming and tranquil getaway for slow tourism. Proposed by Matteo Cainer Architecture (MCA), the retreat uncovers restored farmhouse ruins that poetically intertwine Sicilian history, culture, wellness, and art — a place where guests can get lost among citrus groves while enjoying framed views of Mount Etna and the Mediterranean Sea. ‘The project is born from a profound reflection on the Mediterranean and the subsequent desire to bring back to life a piece of ‘invisible’ Sicily,’ explains MCA.

To that end, ‘Colle degli Agrumi’ gives center stage to the citrus groves by creating an immersive and biophilic ambience amid the Italian countryside. It does not impose itself on the landscape, but rather grows and nestles into it. MCA elevated that vision by adopting a design language referencing Sicilian farmhouses — ‘Masserie’ and ‘Bagli Fortificati’ — and their typical fortified, introspective layout. The traditional architecture is then activated by locating and curating a site-specific program of events anchored on Sicily itself. ‘By sowing multiple functions and different activities such as grape harvest, olive picking, or simply the recognition of different fruits and aromas throughout the site, together with cultural moments and wellness ones, will allow the visitor to slowly discover and experience the typical smells, flavors, and melodies of the land,’ continues the practice.

‘Colle degli Agrumi’ looks over the Sicilian landscape | all renderings by MCA and Liraat

gentle restorations envisioned by matteo cainer architecture

Furthermore, the new site plan by MCA emphasizes the historic traces by reviling hidden, isolated, and unique details and natural paths and void spaces within the groves. With the addition of new functions and the restoration of existing walls and buildings, and by rethinking the existing stairway, the architects were able to reconnect the entire site through a synergy of moments and sensations, leaving space for memories, time, and a renewed inner peace.

Each existing building has been minimally restored and refurbished to maintain its original form and assigned a function that best fits its location and morphology. Starting from the Palmento (once the place to make wine) — now envisioned as a laboratory for citrus-based creams, oils, and other products — to the adjacent dilapidated structures that offer a space for respite during the day and a setting for open-air cinema dedicated to films in the evening. Moving up the stairs and along the citrus groves, guests arrive at a holistic therapy area before reaching a wine cellar carved out of volcanic rock with a dedicated terrace for tasting and enjoying the wine under dappled light from medlar trees. Just above sits the main building transformed into a lounge/restaurant with a spacious terrace shaded by a bougainvillea-covered pergola while opening views to Taormina and the Mediterranean Sea.

a blooming pergola design echoing the agricultural context

MCA proceeded to restore various scattered storage spaces, converting them into small guest rooms with earthy tones and views of the landscape. Finally, the team rebuilt an ancient tower, once a deposit of citrus fruits, re-establishing its storage function and transforming the first floor into a Sicilian music and academic library with, at the top, a charming belvedere terrace overlooking Mount Etna. The new additional functions include the natural pool and the surrounding area where one can enjoy the shade under the olive trees during the day; in the evening, with a simple system, the pool becomes an amphitheater for convivial moments of literature, theatre, and music. ‘We have also carved out paths and hidden spaces in the voids of vegetation where one can discover the scents of orange blossoms, read or relax and practice meditation peacefully within nature, or center one’s mind and body for the practice of yoga,’ concludes the practice.

‘Colle degli Agrumi’ was proposed on the occasion of La Biennale Dello Stretto, organized by Mediterranei Invisibili between September 30 and October 4, 2022.