Mazar, farmhouse with private heated pool*

*The pool, open from April 1 to October 31, is heated in April, May and October by a heat pump whose management costs, usually high, are included in the rates shown thanks to the presence in the house of a photovoltaic system. The prices shown are for the entire farmhouse (CIR 19088009C207837, CIN IT088009C2OI3OUXDS), with exclusive use of the pool (6X4m infinity pool). The pool also has 4 hydromassage stations. The space What is offered is not just a space but an experience, that of living in contact with nature. Guests with a long stay (i.e. lasting more than a week) will be able to experience, if they wish, a certain range of cultural opportunities related to the place (not all available at the same time, as some activities are linked to the particular season): short local Sicilian cooking course, guided tour of the sky above Mazar to discover constellations and planets (with telescope observation), guided participation in events organized in the area, etc. The experiences available for the booked period (e.g. telescope observation) must be explicitly requested upon arrival as they are organized on purpose. The spaces of Mazar are ideal for working in smart working (with wifi internet connection up to 50 mega in download and 5 in upload without extra supplements)- or to live there in order to winter in the mild Sicily (see the already mentioned cultural offers). The farm The Mazar farm is located in the Gilestra district, 528 m above sea level on the Hyblean plateau, in an ideal setting for a relaxing vacation. Quiet reigns supreme. The night skies above Mazar are clear, allowing for the enchanting view of stars and planets. Mazar in summer and winter The outdoor spaces of the farm have been structured in such a way that during the "hot" months guests can particularly enjoy the relaxation offered by the infinity pool with whirlpool and during the other months the cultural opportunities that the layout and location of Mazar allow. The farmhouse is also the ideal place for those who want to stay longer, both to work and to spend a different winter (in a substantially mild climate), full of opportunities and new experiences. Composition The masseria consists of two wings: Alba and Vespero. They can accommodate up to 8 people- max. The two parts are connected through an internal corridor: in this way the two buildings constitute a single large environment. This listing (with published prices) concerns the joint rental of the entire house with a standard presence of 2 people (supplement provided for more than 2 people up to 8). The two parts are always rented to a single family or the same group of people. History of Mazar Mazar can be considered representative of the historical and cultural evolution of the south-eastern area of Sicily: in fact, the rural house, dating back to the 19th century, was at the service of the land granted at the time in emphyteusis to a settler. In one part of the estate, a vineyard had been planted ("u vignale" in dialect and still today you can see the remains of the high walls to protect the vines from the wind); the remainder was cultivated with durum wheat or left to grass for grazing. The farmhouse was built on the "puntara," that is, on outcropping rock (either to save on excavation but above all not to waste good land...) and its life took place around the courtyard (or "baglio" in dialect). At its end was the cistern where all the water collected from the "baglio" flowed through the "miato" (or meatus in English, a duct dug into the surface). Mazar is the nickname given to the concessionaire who took care of the land for the longest time between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries before selling the right to other settlers (since 1958 the farm has been managed by the family that is in charge of it today. Watchtower and "weather station" Right in the space in front of the farm, a watchtower has been rebuilt according to the local style: they were widespread in the Ragusa countryside until the 19th century. From its summit, accessible via a stone staircase according to local custom, it is now possible to admire magnificent sunsets against the backdrop of the Gulf of Gela, which can be glimpsed in the distance, and the enchanting starry sky at night. Next to this rural "observatory" in 2023, both the "weather station" - including a fully functional sundial, a weather vane and the compass rose - and "The Star Shelter" were finally completed. "The Star Refuge" The latter is nothing more than the reconstruction of the "pagghiaru", a shelter masterfully self-built until at least the 1940s by local shepherds who used the stones of the surrounding fields to set up some protection from the rain when they looked after the flocks. The mastery consisted not so much in raising the retaining walls, but precisely in the construction of the terminal cover. It was, in fact, a "tholos," that is, a false dome with concentric circles of overlapping stones (similar to the Apulian "trullo"). The "pagghiaru" was therefore not used as a straw store, although the term may suggest the haystack. The "rifugio della stella" in Mazar (there are no longer shepherds in our countryside!) is only used to observe the North Star in the darkest possible conditions, which can be identified by placing the eye on the orifice of a stone suitably placed at the base of the false dome. The North Star, as we know, is the pivot of the world, the ideal extension of the Earth's axis of rotation. Therefore, it has a special, indeed vital, importance in culture (think of sailors!). In conclusion, the perspective we have given ourselves is to make guests live better, almost experience the natural surroundings and the local traditions that have developed around it. Mazar and respect for the environment To reduce pollution, a 4.5 KW photovoltaic system has been installed to serve the house, which uses high-efficiency heat pumps for heating/cooling all its rooms (through thermostats and fan heaters in each room) and two induction cooktops. The production of domestic hot water is supported by a solar system. Mazar and hygiene Mazar has been furnished with inspiration from criteria of elegant simplicity aimed at promoting the cleaning and sanitization of the premises (which in these times, but not only, are particularly important!). The visible elements greatly favor the elimination of recesses that collect and hide dust and allow the tenant to control. During the Covid period, which has not yet been completely eradicated, particular care is taken to sanitize the premises before the arrival of new guests, applying strict cleaning and disinfection protocols. Check-in operations are simplified to the maximum by sending the most important information for managing the house and swimming pool (as well as activities and opportunities in the area) via email a few days before the start of the stay. The check-in process is thus completed in a few minutes with the last communications to be given on the spot and with the delivery of the keys. From the year 2025, self check-in is no longer possible in Italy by law. Guest access All the spaces around Mazar (the "baglio" or courtyard, the veranda - solarium facing the pool and the pool itself) are for the free and exclusive use of the guests of the masseria. No part of the building is shared with people other than those who book. This also applies to the pool. Other things to note Tourism tax A recent provision of the Municipality of Ragusa obliges homeowners to demand the tourist tax on behalf of the Entity and upon issuance of a receipt. It was established for 2025 in the amount of one euro and 50 cents per person per night (up to a maximum of 15 nights). Children under 13 are exempt. The aforementioned tax will be collected on site before guests leave. More details can be found on the Municipality of Ragusa's website. The story of Mazar Mazar has been one of the centers of family activities (cultivation of the land and breeding of animals) since 1958, the year of its acquisition as mentioned above: as always, starting from the first half of the nineteenth century (when the buildings were built), at the service of the fund and in direct contact with the "chiuse" and "vignali" that surrounded it. The farm was intensely lived in for 50 years, before the passage of time left its mark, as well as on the people (some of whom passed away), on the farms, degrading them and making them difficult to use. Mazar, however, has always been particularly dear to the family member who now manages it, as a place of his first practices of country work and, above all, as a formative approach to the cycles and seasonality of nature. Hence the decision to bring it back to life, restoring it and returning it, if not to agricultural activities (now carried out in another way), to the enjoyment of those who want to get closer to the rhythms, scents, and emotions of the countryside. Fortunately, the surroundings of Mazar are to some extent intact, while the indiscriminate use of the land has unfortunately led to the degradation of many parts of Sicily. Mazar is not aimed at tourist "consumption" as such, but at those who want to experience ways of life now unknown in the cities: it aims to stimulate that immersion in the surrounding environment that allows you to look up at the sky and look at the stars in the dark of night, perhaps recognizing some constellations; or to listen to the song of the birds, trying to identify the species from the variety of their notes. To live nature is to live oneself. Registration Details IT088009C2OI3OUXDS