Venue Spotlight · Noto, Syracuse
Dimora delle BalzeA Boutique Estate Wedding Venue near Noto, Sicily
A restored 19th-century estate in a quiet organic valley of the Val di Noto: courtyards and gardens for your ceremony and dinner, a saltwater pool, a restaurant cooking with produce from its own farm, and rooms for those closest to you.
Plan your wedding at Dimora delle Balze with usIndependent Venue Spotlight
An independent Venue Spotlight by Marry Me in Sicily. We’re wedding planners, not the venue: we don’t own, run or represent Dimora delle Balze, and this isn’t its official website. We’re simply sharing a place we love and helping couples plan their day there.
Where
Near Noto, Val di Noto
Setting
A 27-hectare organic valley
Stay
11 rooms on the estate
Ceremony
Courtyards & gardens on site
The essentials for planning your wedding
Dimora delle Balze at a Glance
- Location
- In the countryside of the Val di Noto, municipality of Noto (province of Syracuse), a few minutes from Palazzolo Acreide
- Nearest airports
- Catania (about 1 hour's drive) and Comiso (about 1 hour 20 minutes)
- Nearest stations
- Noto and Syracuse
- The estate
- A restored 19th-century fortified masseria in a 27-hectare valley, mostly farmed organically
- Wedding spaces
- The main courtyard, the covered Winter Garden (about 400 m²), the panoramic Manor Garden, the Lumìa Lounge and saltwater pool, the Viale dei Carrubi, the citrus grove and the Passo Ladro fields
- Stay
- 11 individually designed rooms and suites, from 25 to 45 m²
- Food
- All in-house, by Lumìa Restaurant and Chef Gabriele Camiolo
- Wet-weather Plan B
- The restaurant, seating up to 70, or a marquee
- Minimum stay
- 2 nights
- Guest numbers
- From 100 guests, and smaller weddings are welcome too
- Rates
- Contact us for current rates and availability
Sicily Wedding Venues We Love
A Boutique Estate Wedding in the Val di Noto
Dimora delle Balze is a 19th-century estate on the Hyblaean plateau in south-eastern Sicily, set in a 27-hectare valley that is farmed organically. You enter through an ancient wooden door into a garden of architectural ruins, restored columns and a pergola looking out over the Val di Noto and the Manghisi River.
For a wedding, it is like having a whole Sicilian estate to yourselves: welcome drinks in the courtyard, vows among neoclassical columns, dinner under the stars and a pool to wake up to the next morning. It is one of the most beautiful luxury wedding venues in Sicily we know, and the team there are a joy to work with.
Where Is Dimora delle Balze?
A Countryside Wedding Venue between Noto and Syracuse
The estate sits in the countryside of the Val di Noto, in the municipality of Noto in the province of Syracuse, just a few minutes from Palazzolo Acreide, one of the baroque towns of the Val di Noto listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Most guests fly into Catania airport, about an hour’s drive away, or Comiso airport, about an hour and twenty minutes. The nearest railway stations are Noto and Syracuse. It is a lovely base for a destination wedding near Syracuse, and our La Chiusa Country House spotlight covers another favourite in the Noto countryside.
The Story of the Estate
A 19th-Century Masseria, Lovingly Restored
The estate was built as a fortified farmhouse in an area known as Passo Ladro, and you can still see it in the high walls, the central courtyard and the tower. Over the years it was both a summer retreat for the owning family and a working farm, lived in all year round by farmers, whose quarters now make up much of the estate.
A careful restoration began in 2009, led by the Lops family with designers Stefano Guidotti and Draga Obradovic. Original features such as frescoed ceilings, Byzantine columns in the gardens and the old stone manger sit alongside contemporary design, art and Sicilian craftsmanship.
Photos: Dimora delle Balze
Wedding Spaces
Courtyards, Gardens & a Valley View
The estate is arranged around its courtyards, with gardens, terraces and salons flowing into one another, so each part of the day can have its own setting.
The Manor Garden
The most open and panoramic space: neoclassical columns and furnished terraces overlooking the valley and the Manghisi River, for ceremonies, aperitivo and dinner outdoors.
Lumìa Lounge & Pool
A saltwater pool and an outdoor lounge surrounded by aromatic plants and jasmine, with views over the valley: perfect for sunset drinks, a pool party or the day after.
The Main Courtyard
The first space guests see, large and regular and framed by the estate’s residences: ideal for welcome drinks, aperitivo and the start of the celebrations.
The Winter Garden
A covered space that keeps the ancient stone manger and looks out over the Val di Noto, used for ceremonies and dinners, and a beautiful wet-weather option.
Viale dei Carrubi
An avenue of centuries-old carob trees forming a natural gallery, a romantic setting for a long candlelit table.
The Citrus Grove
Lemon and orange trees a few steps from the estate, for a relaxed lunch, a picnic or a welcome gathering among the scent of citrus blossom.
A walk around the estate
Dimora delle Balze in Pictures
From the aerial view of the masseria in its valley to candlelit dinners beneath the tower, here is a closer look at the spaces where your day could unfold.
Photos: Dimora delle Balze
Which space for which moment
The Spaces in Detail
Every event at Dimora delle Balze is designed from scratch: there are no set packages, and the estate's own creative team works with us on installations, materials and set-ups, so the spaces take on the shape of your day.
- Arrival and welcome drinks: the main courtyard. Large and regular, framed by seven of the estate's residences, it is the first space your guests see.
- The ceremony: the Manor Garden, the Winter Garden or the manor door. Neoclassical columns and terraces looking over the Manghisi valley, a covered garden that keeps the old stone manger, or the old arched door of the manor house.
- Aperitivo: the Manor Garden or the Lumìa Lounge. Sunset drinks on the terraces, or by the saltwater pool among more than 150 varieties of aromatic plants.
- Dinner: wherever suits your style. A long table in the Passo Ladro fields, beneath the centuries-old carob trees of the Viale dei Carrubi, among the columns of the Manor Garden, or in the more intimate Winter Garden, which is covered and around 400 m².
- The day before or after: the citrus grove and the pool. A relaxed lunch or picnic among lemon and orange trees, where guests can pick and taste the fruit, and a pool party to round off the weekend.
Gallery
Moments at Dimora delle Balze
Photos: Dimora delle Balze
An Estate Wedding
Stay Together on the Estate
Dimora delle Balze has 11 rooms, each with its own colours, materials and character, and names that pay homage to Sicilian cinema, art, poetry and music. Seven rooms overlook the main courtyard with private terraces, one is in the tower with views from the Viale dei Carrubi to the valley, and two in the main manor keep their original ceilings.
That means you and your closest family and friends can stay right where you celebrate, with the whole estate yours for the weekend. We will help you plan the rooms and arrange nearby accommodation and transfers for the rest of your guests.
Beyond the Wedding Day
The Val di Noto on Your Doorstep
The estate is a wonderful base for a wedding week. Your guests can explore the baroque towns of the Val di Noto, from Palazzolo Acreide and Noto itself to Syracuse and Ortigia, then come back to the pool and the gardens in the evening.
On the estate there is the 6.3 Senses Spa, the citrus grove and the fields of the Passo Ladro farm, where guests can see where the restaurant’s ingredients are grown. We can help with welcome drinks, excursions and transfers, so the whole trip is looked after.
11 rooms, each with its own story
The Rooms
The rooms range from 25 to 45 m² and are named after Sicilian artists, writers, painters and film-makers. Artisanal cement tiles inspired by the Mediterranean, original frescoed ceilings and stone walls, local ceramics and pieces by contemporary designers make each one different. Among them:
- Annunciata, a junior suite in the historic manor house, with a deep red vaulted ceiling and a sculptural bathtub
- Clandestini, in the old defensive turret, with views over the Viale dei Carrubi, the pool and the Val di Noto
- Proibito, a suite in the original manor wing, with double-height ceilings and a mezzanine daybed, and La Sconosciuta, a sunlit suite in the old manor house with one of the finest views on the estate
- Peppenino, a suite on two levels in the old domestic wing, sleeping up to four
- Eva, once the farm's chicken coop, now a romantic room beneath a vaulted ceiling
- Poesie, Punto e Virgola, Coro Spezzato and Autoritratto, in the former farmworkers' quarters, several with their own terrace
Rooms sleep two to four guests, and extra beds can be added in some rooms. We will help you plan who sleeps where, and arrange nearby accommodation and transfers for the rest of your guests.
Ceremonies
Say “I Do” in the Gardens
Ceremonies at Dimora delle Balze can take place among the neoclassical columns of the Manor Garden, looking out over the valley, in the covered Winter Garden, or in front of the old manor door, so you can marry and celebrate without leaving the estate.
Many couples choose a symbolic ceremony here, and we will tell you what is possible for a legal ceremony for your date. We guide you through the paperwork: our legal documents guide explains the basics, and our blog compares a civil and a religious wedding in Sicily.
Food & Wine
Lumìa Restaurant & Passo Ladro
The estate’s own Lumìa Restaurant, led by Chef Gabriele Camiolo, creates menus around your wedding and the season, with a contemporary take on Sicilian tradition and organic ingredients, many from the estate’s own farm, Passo Ladro. Tables can be set wherever suits the moment: a long table in the Passo Ladro fields, beneath the carob trees of the Viale dei Carrubi, among the columns of the Manor Garden or in the more intimate Winter Garden. We will help you shape the menu, the wines and every moment around them.
Guest numbers, minimum stay and Plan B
Planning Essentials
Guest numbers
Weddings at Dimora delle Balze usually start from 100 guests. Smaller weddings are welcome too: tell us your numbers and we will explain the options for your date.
Minimum stay
The estate asks for a minimum stay of two nights, which makes a lovely wedding weekend: welcome drinks on the first evening, the wedding the next day, and a lazy morning by the pool before you leave.
If the weather turns
Sicilian weather is kind for most of the year, but we always plan a Plan B. At Dimora delle Balze the restaurant seats up to 70 guests and the Winter Garden is covered; otherwise a marquee can be put up.
Menus
All catering is in-house. Lumìa Restaurant creates a tailor-made menu for your wedding around the season and the style of your day, rooted in Sicilian tradition and made with organic ingredients, many from the estate's own Passo Ladro farm. Passo Ladro, founded in 2020 on long-abandoned land once known as a refuge for bandits, also has its own laboratory and a gourmet organic product line, and guests can walk the fields to see where their dinner was grown.
Contact us for current rates and availability.
Why We Love It
Authentic, Elegant and Deeply Sicilian
That Valley
Gardens and terraces looking out over the Val di Noto and the Manghisi River, in a quiet organic valley.
Your Own Estate
11 rooms around the courtyards, so your closest family and friends can stay where you celebrate.
Real Farm-to-Table Food
Lumìa Restaurant cooks with organic produce from the estate’s own Passo Ladro farm.
History with Style
A 19th-century masseria with a tower, frescoes and Byzantine columns, restored with a contemporary eye.
Destination Weddings from the UK
Your Dimora delle Balze Wedding, Planned from Start to Finish
We have been planning weddings in Sicily since 2010. Lina looks after you in English from the UK, while our colleague Sabina is on the ground in Sicily, so every detail is checked in person.
We take care of everything, from the legal paperwork and the ceremony to suppliers, flowers, music, photography, guest rooms and transfers, right through to coordinating the day itself. Read our guide to guest accommodation and travel in Sicily and browse Our Weddings.
Common Questions
Dimora delle Balze FAQs
Dimora delle Balze is in the countryside of the Val di Noto, in the municipality of Noto in the province of Syracuse, south-eastern Sicily, just a few minutes from Palazzolo Acreide. Catania airport is about an hour’s drive away and Comiso airport about an hour and twenty minutes.
It is a boutique estate with 11 rooms rather than a large hotel, so a wedding there is like having a private Sicilian villa to yourselves. We will confirm the exclusive-use arrangements for your dates with the estate.
Yes. Ceremonies can take place in the Manor Garden among neoclassical columns, in the covered Winter Garden or in front of the old manor door. Many couples choose a symbolic ceremony, and we will tell you what is possible for a legal ceremony for your date. Our legal documents guide explains the basics.
Yes. The estate has 11 rooms, each with its own character, so you and your closest family and friends can stay where you celebrate. We can arrange nearby accommodation and transfers for your other guests.
Receptions can take place in the main courtyard, the panoramic Manor Garden, beneath the carob trees of the Viale dei Carrubi, in the fields of Passo Ladro or by the saltwater pool and Lumìa Lounge. The covered Winter Garden is a beautiful option if the weather turns.
The in-house Lumìa Restaurant, led by Chef Gabriele Camiolo, creates tailor-made menus rooted in Sicilian tradition, using organic ingredients, many grown on the estate’s own Passo Ladro farm.
Yes, if you want a historic countryside estate with real character, beautiful gardens and organic food, within easy reach of Noto, Syracuse and the baroque towns of the Val di Noto. It is one of our favourite boutique estate wedding venues in Sicily.
Simply get in touch with your preferred dates and guest numbers. Contact us for current rates and availability; we will check dates with the estate for you and plan every detail with you from there.
Yes. The estate asks for a minimum stay of two nights, so most couples plan a wedding weekend with welcome drinks, the wedding and a relaxed day after.
Weddings here usually start from 100 guests, and smaller weddings are welcome too. Tell us your numbers and we will check the options for your date with the estate.
The restaurant seats up to 70 guests and the Winter Garden is covered. A marquee can also be put up, and we plan the Plan B with you from the start.
There are 11 rooms, from 25 to 45 m², sleeping two to four guests each, and extra beds can be added in some rooms. We arrange nearby accommodation and transfers for everyone else.
Explore More
Discover more wedding venues in Sicily we love, including La Chiusa Country House near Noto, Borgo del Carato near Siracusa, Casale degli Aranci near Castellammare del Golfo and the Excelsior Palace in Taormina, read about the best time to get married in Sicily or browse Our Weddings.
Plan Your Wedding at Dimora delle Balze with Us
Tell us your dates and guest numbers, and we will come back to you with current rates and availability and help you plan every detail.
Plan your wedding at Dimora delle Balze with usAbout this page: this Venue Spotlight is an independent feature by Marry Me in Sicily, a wedding planning company. We don’t own, run or represent Dimora delle Balze, and this is not the venue’s official website. For the venue’s own information, visit dimoradellebalze.com.