I give you a dream
Who we are?
Dimora delle Balze is a 19th-century estate where time seems to have stood still. Nestled in Eastern Sicily on the Iblean plateau, the property stretches across 27 hectares of rolling countryside, most of which are fully cultivable and certified 100% organic. Just a few kilometers from Palazzolo Acreide — a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002— Dimora delle Balze lies in a valley rich with history and timeless beauty. An ancient gate opens into a garden where remnants of old architecture remain, alongside benches shaded by a pergola supported by restored classical columns, overlooking the valley and the Manghisi River.
“I’ll give you a dream…”
Dimora delle Balze is a tribute to Sicilian culture—an ode to the past, present, and future of this extraordinary land. Originally envisioned as a family retreat, the project took on new life in 2009 when the Lops family began restoring the once-noble masseria and its surrounding farmstead. Collaborating with designers Stefano Guidotti and Draga Obradovic, they breathed new life into the estate, peeling away the layers of time to reveal its authentic character—infused with a distinctive touch of contemporary design.
Surrounded by olive groves and the soft hills of the Iblean Valley, Dimora delle Balze was built in 1886 by the noble Don Salvatore Zocco. Located on a wild, verdant expanse known locally as “Il Passo Ladro,” the estate was designed as a fortified complex, with crenellated walls enclosing a central courtyard and a commanding entrance tower. Although primarily used by the Zocco family as a summer residence, the property was built with great care: scented gardens lined with Byzantine columns, vaulted ceilings adorned with frescoes, and striking neoclassical details throughout the façades.
For decades, the surrounding estate was used for agriculture. While the aristocratic family came and went throughout the year, the masseria was continuously inhabited by the farmers who cultivated the land—living and working in the very rooms that today make up most of the property’s residences.