We had a wonderful two-week stay at Corrada and Salvatore's holiday home. We were a little apprehensive at first about staying at a property where the owners were present at the same time, but they were very careful to give us our space and at the same time helpful if we needed anything. They also treated us to local pastries and fresh produce from their garden. They were very kind to our two children and even invited us to join in the almond harvest, which was a great experience.

The property is 10 minutes from the stunning town of Noto, which has slightly more upmarket restaurants and bars than more touristy places in Sicily, and 5 minutes by car from Lido di Noto beach. We preferred to drive a little further to Eloro beach to experience the less crowded Vendicari National Park. The location is a great base for exploring the baroque south-east of the island.

The house and its facilities are simple but well thought out, and it was generously stocked with the necessary basics (oil, vinegar, salt, pasta, toilet/kitchen paper etc) and even a welcome bottle of wine. The pool surrounded by olive, almond, fig and citrus trees was a lovely spot that the children really enjoyed. The area around the house is a mixture of plantations and house plots. Unfortunately there is some rubbish dumping in the area which detracts a little from the beauty of the natural surroundings.

Our only 'pièce de résistance' was the bed in the parents' room with a very hard spring mattress. Corrada and Salvatore responded immediately when they heard about our poor sleep and provided us with a mattress topper which helped a little, but we still woke up with back pain so we ended up swapping beds with our children. An updated bed and mattress would make this place a 100% impeccable agriturismo experience.