Sikelia Pantelleria Luxury Hotel ***** , Pantelleria-Sicily / Italy

Via Monastero - Pantelleria (TP) - Italy - Italian , Trapani, Italy

Hotel Location

Pantelleria

A wild and peaceful land at the heart of the Mediterranean, offering African-hued sunsets and unforgettable starlit nights: welcome to Pantelleria, a beautiful and intriguing place, born around 300,000 years ago, whose volcanic origins are reflected still today in its colours and its secrets.

Pantelleria is part of Sicily, but the island actually lies much closer to Africa than Italy.

It is precisely this privileged position (Homer called it "the navel of the Mediterranean") which gives the island its look and its culture rich in contrasts, a place of Arabic forms and typical scents of Southern Italy.

The island stands out, amongst other things, for its rugged coastline and the green countryside overhanging the sea. This isn’t a place of sandy beaches, but rather one of small coves with crystal clear waters, spectacular and mysterious caves and a descent to the sea over smooth rocks.

Pantelleria’s volcanic origins are also to thank for its authentic open air spa facilities: from the hot springs of Gadir and the Benikulà Cave natural sauna to the mud of the Lago di Venere, every corner of Pantelleria offers regeneration for the senses and reconciliation with nature.

The architecture too is unique, reflective of the fact that man has had to bend to the will of nature, which here reigns supreme: from the unusual Pantelleria gardens created to protect the citrus trees from the wind, to the typical dry stone walls which weave between the curves of the white dammusi dwellings, and the green and black landscape sloping down to the sea through ingenious terracing.

Pantelleria is an island which you will only discover by abandoning yourself completely to its will.

How to reach Pantelleria

Direct flights - operated by:

• Palermo – Alitalia, Mistral Air
• Trapani - Alitalia, Mistral Air
• Rome – Alitalia, Blue Panorama
• Milan – Alitalia for Linate, Blu Halkin for Malpensa
• Bergamo – Blue Panorama
• Venice - Volotea
• Bergamo – Volotea

• Turin – Volotea
• Bologna – Blu Halkin

National flights via Palermo - operated by:

• Amsterdam - Transavia
• Athens - Germanwings
• Berlin - Easyjet
• Brusselles - Lufthansa
• Colonia - Germanwings
• Dublin - Easyjet
• Dusseldorf - Easyjet
• Frankfurt - Lufthansa
• Geneva – Easyjet
• London - Easyjet per Gatwick, British Airways per Heathrow, Ryanair per Stanstead
• Madrid - Easyjet
• Monaco – Lufthansa, Transavia
• New York - Meridiana
• Paris - Transavia
• Zurich - Lufthansa

International flights via Palermo - operated by:

• Ancona – Ryanair
• Bergamo – Ryanair
• Bologna – Ryanair
• Cagliari – Ryanair
• Cuneo – Ryanair
• Genova – Ryanair
• Parma – Ryanair
• Perugia – Ryanair
• Pisa – Ryanair
• Rome – Ryanair
• Trieste – Ryanair
• Pantelleria – Alitalia

International flights via Trapani - tratte aeree operate da:

• Bratislava – Ryanair
• Brusselles – Ryanair
• Baden Baden – Ryanair
• Krakow – Ryanair
• Eindhoven – Ryanair
• Frankfurt – Ryanair
• Girona – Ryanair
• Kaunas – Ryanair
• Malta – Ryanair
• Prague – Ryanair
• Varsavia – Ryanair

National flighs via Trapani - operated by:

• Ancona – Ryanair
• Bergamo – Ryanair
• Bologna – Ryanair
• Cagliari – Ryanair
• Cuneo – Ryanair
• Genova – Ryanair
• Parma – Ryanair
• Perugia – Ryanair
• Pisa – Ryanair
• Rome – Ryanair
• Trieste – Ryanair
• Pantelleria – Alitalia

Rooms

Picture of room Pantesche Suite , with breakfast included

Pantesche Suite , with breakfast included

Guaranteed: per room night Non-Guaranteed: per room night

Mystic meditation

Experience the true atmosphere of traditional Dammusi. Finely furnished niches and alcoves with elegant details will transport you through an archaic experience.

Our suites, built within an ancient dammusi structure, are all different in conformation, but share the same stylish design and meticulous attention to detail.

Because of the peculiar nature of the hotel, and the need to guarantee our guests the utmost tranquility, Sikelia is not suitable for children.

Facilities and Accessories

Free Wi-Fi

Air conditioning

Satellite TV

iPod & Docking Station

Direct dial telephone

Safe for laptop

Mini Bar

Morettino coffee machine

Hairdryer

Bathrobe, slippers and other home comforts

Butler on request

Maid service twice a day

Room service

Our Suites Pantesche are 40 m2 and comprise:

Bedroom, lounge and bathroom with waterfall shower.

Picture of room  Executive Suite , with breakfast included

Executive Suite , with breakfast included

Guaranteed: per room night Non-Guaranteed: per room night

Volumes of light

These beautiful, spacious suites are designed with relaxation in mind, and their unique views are ideal for enjoying the surrounding countryside.

Our suites, built within an ancient dammusi structure, are all different in conformation, but share the same stylish design and meticulous attention to detail.

Because of the peculiar nature of the hotel, and the need to guarantee our guests the utmost tranquility, Sikelia is not suitable for children.

Facilities and Accessories

Free Wi-Fi

Air conditioning

Satellite TV

iPod & Docking Station

Direct dial telephone

Safe for laptop

Mini Bar

Morettino coffee machine

Hairdryer

Bathrobe, slippers and other home comforts

Butler on request

Maid service twice a day

Room service

Executive Suite plan:

Our Executive Suites are between 40 and 45 m2 and each comprise:

Bedroom, lounge and bathroom with waterfall shower. Some have a sea view while others have quaint and petite private open spaces. 

  

Picture of room Master Suite , with breakfast included

Master Suite , with breakfast included

Guaranteed: per room night Non-Guaranteed: per room night

African Emotions

The cosy feel of our Master Suites is the result of skilled design and attention to detail. Private terraces offer intimacy and unique views of the intense landscape of this rugged island.

Our suites, built within an ancient dammusi structure, are all different in conformation, but share the same stylish design and meticulous attention to detail.

Because of the peculiar nature of the hotel, and the need to guarantee our guests the utmost tranquility, Sikelia is not suitable for children.

Facilities and Accessories

Free Wi-Fi

Air conditioning

Satellite TV

iPod & Docking Station

Direct dial telephone

Safe for laptop

Mini Bar

Morettino coffee machine

Hairdryer

Bathrobe, slippers and other home comforts

Butler on request

Maid service twice a day

Room service

Master Suite plan:

Our Master Suites are between 45 and 50 m2 and each comprise:

Bedroom, lounge, bathroom with shower, a private terrace or outdoor dining area.

 

 

Picture of room Iconic Suite, La stanza sui tetti - with Breakfast included

Iconic Suite, La stanza sui tetti - with Breakfast included

Guaranteed: per room night Non-Guaranteed: per room night

This is Sikelia’s Penthouse, an extremely spacious apartment offering refined detailing and contemporary elegance. A towering structure, with stunning views and private access to the white domed roofs, this is a private and intimate space in which to indulge in incredible sunsets.

Facilities and Accessories

Free Wi-Fi

Air conditioning

Satellite TV

iPod & Docking Station

Direct dial telephone

Safe for laptop

Mini Bar

Morettino coffee machine

Hairdryer

Bathrobe, slippers and other home comforts

Butler on request

Maid service twice a day

Room service

Stanza sui Tetti plan:

La Stanza sui Tetti is 48 m2 and comprises:

Bedroom, lounge, bathroom with shower, private sea view terrace with an outdoor dining area, private access to Sikelia's dammusi rooftops with a 360° view.

Picture of room Iconic Suite, La stanza del gelso - with breakfast include

Iconic Suite, La stanza del gelso - with breakfast include

Guaranteed: per room night Non-Guaranteed: per room night

Suite characterized by great elegance and soft colours. Two big boiseries protect the bed placed in the middle of the room, facing the white candid rooftops of the countrysides' dammusi. 

Rest and regain your strangth on your ducchena after a long typical day in Pantelleria. 

Facilities and Accessories

Free Wi-Fi

Air conditioning

Satellite TV

iPod & Docking Station

Direct dial telephone

Safe for laptop

Mini Bar

Morettino coffee machine

Hairdryer

Bathrobe, slippers and other home comforts

Butler on request

Maid service twice a day

Room service

Stanza del Gelso plan:

La Stanza del Gelso is 45 m2 and comprises a bedroom, lounge, bathroom with shower, private terrace with views of the sorrounding countryside and a large typical ducchena.

Picture of room Iconic Suite, La stanza del Vento - with breakfast included

Iconic Suite, La stanza del Vento - with breakfast included

Guaranteed: per room night Non-Guaranteed: per room night

Let the music of the wind keep you company in the tranquillity of this suite with velvet fabrics and earth tone colours as you abandon yourself to good book.

Facilities and Accessories

Free Wi-Fi

Air conditioning

Satellite TV

iPod & Docking Station

Direct dial telephone

Safe for laptop

Mini Bar

Morettino coffee machine

Hairdryer

Bathrobe, slippers and other home comforts

Butler on request

Maid service twice a day

Room service

Stanza del Vento plan:

La Stanza del Vento is 45 m2 and comprises:

Bedroom, lounge, bathroom with shower, private sea view terrace with a typical ducchena.

Picture of room Iconic Suite, La stanza dell'unica volta - with breakfast included

Iconic Suite, La stanza dell'unica volta - with breakfast included

Guaranteed: per room night Non-Guaranteed: per room night

A space of great charm, under an enveloping high vault. Pristine white linen sofas and gauze curtains caress you at the end of those sunny days. The spacious “ducchena” stone seat on the terrace is the ideal spot to enjoy the slow pace of Sicilian life.

Facilities and Accessories

Free Wi-Fi

Air conditioning

Satellite TV

iPod & Docking Station

Direct dial telephone

Safe for laptop

Mini Bar

Morettino coffee machine

Hairdryer

Bathrobe, slippers and other home comforts

Butler on request

Maid service twice a day

Room service

Stanza dell'Unica Volta plan:

Stanza dell'Unica Volta is 40 m2 and comprises a bedroom, lounge, bathroom with shower, private terrace with sea views and outdoor dining area.

Picture of room Iconic Suite, Stanza del portico

Iconic Suite, Stanza del portico

Guaranteed: per room night Non-Guaranteed: per room night

A room resplendent with art and comfortable sofas from which to enjoy the views framed by the arches of white private veranda. Enjoy luxurious long breakfasts lounging on the typical ducchena, a traditional Pantelleria stone seat on the terrace, and let the time pass you by as you soak up the wonderful sea views.

Facilities and Accessories

Free Wi-Fi

Air conditioning

Satellite TV

iPod & Docking Station

Direct dial telephone

Safe for laptop

Mini Bar

Morettino coffee machine

Hairdryer

Bathrobe, slippers and other home comforts

Butler on request

Maid service twice a day

Room service

Stanza del Portico plan:

Stanza del Portico is 47 m2 and comprises:

Bedroom, lounge, bathroom with shower, private sea view terrace with a very large ducchena.

Restaurants

Picture of Wine & Food

Wine & Food

Emotional cuisine to nourish the soul, showcasing all the flavours and aromas of this land at the heart of the Mediterranean, accompanied by wines closely cultivated by the wind and the sea.

A palm grove framed by the white cupola of our dammusi, in which you can share the pleasures of the table under magical starry skies, in a silence so profound and sincere that only an island so close to Africa can offer. This is Gagini Restaurant, the essence of Sikelia taste.

Picture of Gagini Restaurant and Lounge

Gagini Restaurant and Lounge

Africa and Sicily come together in the flavours and scents of this land sculpted by the wind and the sun.

It is hard not to fall under the spell of the simple but bold flavours on offer at Themà, prepared by the expert hands of our chefs Diego Battaglia e Gioacchino Gaglio, who skilfully combine Sicilian traditional recepies with an Arab and African twist. Fresh ingredients and innovatve ideas combined create new tastes that make every single encounter with the flavours of this land truly unique. After an intense day in Pantelleria we wait for the sun to set while 'sipping stories' told by bartender Gianluca di Giorgio. A study of local flavours and scents playfully balanced to create an experience designed to involve all senses. 

Picture of Wine

Wine

We like high quality and attention to detail.

This is why we chose Coste Ghirlanda as our wine partner on the island, cultivator of vines, olive trees, capers and fruit trees. Zibibbo grapes grown from saplings, part of Unesco’s World Heritage, produce the perfect wine for those evenings when our senses are dominated by silent nature and the scents of fruits ripened under the intense African sun. Protected by the typical dry stone walls of Arabic origin, shaped by the wind and cultivated in keeping with ancient tradition, Pantelleria’s vines yield incredibly aromatic grapes, expertly transformed into wines with unique organoleptic properties. The strength of the wind, the heat of the sun, the rare rainfall and the lava soil mean that all our crops differ a little from year to year. This is why no two wines are the same, and each vintage brings new fragrances, new flavours and new emotions in every single glass of red, white or Passito.

Picture of Oil

Oil

From age old olive trees and ancient tradition comes Coste Ghirlande olive oil, with its slightly bitter taste and hint of spice.

This is a truly special olive oil, the product of wild terrain and "heroic" agriculture – cultivated entirely by hand. Biancolilla olives grown under an intense sun, hand-picked and processed on the same day in the estate’s own olive press ensure a superior quality product. The scents of Mediterranean shrubland and the delicate, slightly spicy taste make this the ideal accompaniment for flavoured breads, raw or grilled fish and fresh salads.

Picture of The Wine Laboratory

The Wine Laboratory

The Heart of Coste Ghirlanda

Magical evenings immersed in the silence of the Pantelleria nights and the scents of the vines before the harvest: this is the Coste Ghirlanda Wine Laboratory, an enchanting place, perfect for relaxing moments sipping a glass of wine at sunset or a passito later in the evening. A unique corner of Pantelleria, where you can enjoy the authentic flavours of the island’s delicious and evocative cuisine in total tranquillity, and discover the best combinations of Coste wines and local produce.

Promotions

Picture of Sikelia special 7 night stay offer with round trip direct flight to Pantelleria

Sikelia special 7 night stay offer with round trip direct flight to Pantelleria

Book your seven night stay at Sikelia from Saturday to Saturday. You will be able to reach Pantelleria from some of the main national airports in Italy at a very convenient price: round trip direct flights starting from €260 per person

Sikelia offers an exclusive dream holiday in Pantelleria, immersed deep in the pristine heart of the Mediterranean.
With a minimum stay of 7 nights you can book seats on direct flights that fly every Saturday from Pantelleria to Milan Malpensa, Bergamo, Venice, Bologna and Rome (and viceversa) at a special rate.
Rates start from 260 Euros per passenger for a round trip!
To check for availability of the flight itinerary please fill out the form below. We will contact you for a customized quotation.
The service can be booked for all Saturdays over the summer season from the 27th of May until the 14th of October 2017.
Please note that you may choose to fly out to a different airport than the one listed for departure.
The offer may be subject to limitations according to the remaining availability on the flight, therefore we recommend early bookings for your flights and Suite.

For more information regarding flights or arrangement please contact us via congierge@above-5.com or Chat with us 

Hotel Description

Giulia tells

Pantelleria isn’t just any island – everyone says “either you love it or you hate it” – for me it has been a love

affair since the first moment I set foot here some 15 years ago.

I was 40 years old when I first set foot on “the pearl of the Mediterranean”. At that time I was in the world

of finance and real estate and constantly travelling for work… but soon I began to “escape” to Pantelleria every

chance I got… even though rarely for more than two or three days at a time.

But even those short visits were enough to allow me to relax, disconnect from my habitual frenetic pace and

recharge my batteries.

I love Pantelleria’s silence, the perfume of the Mediterranean undergrowth, the expanses of Zibibbo grape vines,

and the olive trees shaped by the wind and the hands of man.

The contrasting colours are incredible: the white roofs of the dammusi, the yellow blossoms of the Scotch broom in

the Spring, the intense blue of the sea, and the African sunsets that colour the sky uniquely every evening…

The island has a special energy all its own, a legacy of its now-dormant volcano that I feel connected to in a

singular way… perhaps this is what that leads my Brazilian friends to think I might be part “bruxa” – a witch,

in a sort of way. Energy is the profound secret of this island… It is an energy that gives a sense of peace and

serenity, in a deep bond with the prevailing nature… It is an energy that pervades the entire island, in the

“favare”, in the natural saunas of the “bagno asciutto”, in the warm water pools that dot the island, and in the

deep blue of the surrounding sea.

And then one day… exploring the island I came in contact with a wonderous unspoiled place… still dedicated

exclusively to traditional cultivation of our marvellous Zibibbo grape vines.

And so my adventure in the world of wine began, and Coste Ghirlanda was born.

On Pantelleria everything is a struggle – even cultivating grapes or olives is a constant “fight” with Mother

Nature – but I was ready, drawing on my past life as a professional basketball player, when I learned to

constantly search for and confront new challenges.

Over the years, Coste Ghirlanda has developed little by little… dare I say, stone by stone… and today it is an

incredible place, with its vast dry wall terraces hand built by the locals to protect the vineyards from the loud music

of the wind.

Coste Ghirlanda offers a unique experience, where you can stroll through the Zibibbo, still cultivated in

the old way… the hard way… a heroic struggle that respects our roots and the traditions of our percursors. The

only agricultural practice recognized as a part of UNESCO’s World Heritage.

www.sikeliapantelleria.com www.costeghirlanda.it

info@sikeliapantellria.com info@costeghirlanda.it

But even the challenge of Coste Ghirlanda was not enough for me… I needed to take up a new challenge, and

one day I came on an old villa, built in the traditional local style, totally white, suitably grand, and … for sale.

And on that site, after years of careful and challenging restoration, Sikelia was born.

Travel – and the world’s most interesting and unique hotels - has always been one of my passions

and at Sikelia I have gathered my travel experiences – the details from every hotel that welcomed me and made me

feel at home.

It is those details and special attention that are at the root of true luxury.

The idea for Sikelia came to me some time ago – Pantelleria has so much to offer and it needs to be shared with

people who care about fine things. For the last ten years, I have worked to create an artistic and emotional

residence that reflects the wild beauty of Pantelleria using metal, glass and the highest quality fabrics. Each of the

20 suites has its own unique design and identity, which links the property’s original monastic architecture with

refined contemporary elegance.

At Sikelia, we are committed to “cuddling” our guests – an example is our massage therapy using the essence of

our Mediterranean undergrowth, under the shade of a palm tree – a true open air spa.

When the wind blows you can spend the day at the Lago di Venere with its therapeutic mud baths and, if you are

lucky, a view of our pink flamingos.

Another option is the experience of a natural sauna at the Benikula caves, or the thermal baths a Gadir or Sataria

– even in the winter.

And of course, there is our amazing blue sea with its depths that offer unexpected discoveries…

antique wrecks and archeological finds against a spell-binding background of natural hues.

Pantelleria, now an Italian National Park, has limitless trekking routes that extend through the valleys of its

dormant volcanoes till the peak of Montagna Grande… forgive me if I don’t accompany you personally…

I’ve spent my life running since my basketball days and now I want to enjoy the slow pace of this wonderful island.

For me, Pantelleria is the place to find a most intimate link with the essence of life… there is a saying that once

you have spent a bit of time on Pantelleria, you realize that you really don’t need anything else.

For some I am “a pirate seeking adventure”, for others “a noble dame of times gone by”… but in reality I

just love to stroll through the vineyards of Coste Ghirlanda with my beloved Weimaraners, and to stop

in the evening to listen to the silence of Pantelleria’s incredible star-filled sky, with the calming faraway sound of

the sea.

Vi aspetto a Pantelleria!

giulia pazienza gelmetti

-------------------------------

Stylish suites housed in ancient dammusi dwellings bring together strict monastic interior architecture and refined contemporary elegance: welcome to Sikelia, an exclusive, timeless place, synonymous with luxury and tranquillity, a place to discover the many contrasts of the island of Pantelleria. Our warm and personal welcome will make you feel right at home. Our elegant and stylish cuisine showcases the authentic flavours of rural tradition. And our Arabic garden is a place to get lost in the ancient rituals of grape therapy and rediscover the slow rhythms of the earth. This is Pantelleria, the Black Pearl of the Mediterranean, a place to discover and respect, with its dark rocks carved by the wind, its sharp forms softened by the roundness of the white dammusi dwellings, its natural hot springs and rejuvenating mud, the precious legacy of the volcano from which the island originated. The music of the wind crashes dramatically on the cliffs, as if to remind us that here, nature is the absolute master. But that nature is also our friend. And finally the sea, an intense blue, in which to get lost and dream. A sea which whispers tales of an Africa that is closer than we ever could have imagined.

Interiors & Sikelia

From one woman’s passion for this magical, rugged, wild place came the idea of transforming a large private residence into an exclusive destination.

We placed the conversion and extension of the original structure in the hands of Gabriella Giuntoli, an architect originally from Milan. Giuntoli brought a conscious harmony to the project, respecting nature and the ancient dammusi, thanks to her extensive professional portfolio and her life experience on the island itself. The design details, the choice of materials and the architectural languages were handled by two young engineers, Francesco Alessandrelli and Katherina Pazienza Gelmetti, who integrated technical aspects with formal research. The interior design was born from a complicity and understanding between Katherina and Giulia Pazienza Gelmetti, who share a taste for simple elegance, firmly integrated with the natural way of life of the island. High quality fabrics, metals, concrete and glass become a source of enrichment of this striking setting designed around the vaults of the ancient dammusi.

Artists & Sikelia

Gennaro Avallone is an artist who has worked in the multidisciplinary field of applied arts for many years, producing increasingly mature results.

The craft he has cultivated, right from his early work, the artistic experience that brings together the languages of sculpture and painting, the creation of unique functional objects: all of this, and more, comes together in an original journey. Avallone originally started out using stucco, with its infinite variations, and since then has incorporated a host of other materials into his aesthetic universe, yielding considerably complex results to fulfil the requests of high profile international clients. His contribution to the Sikelia project is clear in his great paintings, in multiple pieces of furniture and in the objects present in the communal spaces and some of our suites. On Pantelleria Avallone has worked by subtraction, letting his materials guide him. Like an archaeologist, he approached the decoration project by drawing out the faintest traces of ancient pottery, pale memories of glazed painted tiles, faded relics of a world almost devoid of colour, predominantly concentrated in dark shades. On this volcanic island, he has allowed fire to speak, from which both bronze and glass are born, both present in his work, alongside stucco and concrete. In an exercise of harmony with the unique characteristics of the site and with a cultured and respectful client base that over time has given him the privilege of expressing himself.

Timeless

Timeless is the island of Pantelleria, where our senses are enveloped in a rough and wild nature, and time passes slowly like in the most authentic Africa.

Timeless is the search for stone tombs, shrines and other ancient island treasures, built in ancient times.

Timeless is bathing in the rock sediments of the Lago di Venere, where the early history of life is innate.

Timeless is the origin of the name Sikelia, which dates back to sometime in the Byzantine era, when the Empire was divided into themata.

Timeless is falling asleep gazing at the ancient Arabic arches of our suites.

Timeless is your experience at Sikelia, where time seems to stand still and the soul finds its original union with the spectacular elements of nature.

Hidden is the island of Pantelleria, solitary in the sea between the coasts of Sicily and Africa, an ancient land whose people once worshipped Ishtar, the goddess of love.

Hidden

Hidden are its pathways, winding through Mediterranean shrubland and volcanic rocks.

Hidden are the hot springs flowing from the rock and the Mirror of Venus, set in a beautiful natural amphitheatre.

Hidden is Sikelia, concealed within the rounded walls of ancient dammusi dwellings, a haven of peace and serenity.

Hidden are our Alcoves, concealed behind a golden door for exclusive relaxation.

Hidden are dinners in the vineyards under starry skies, accompanied by the intoxicating scents of the harvest.

Intense

Intense like the scents of the island and the black of its volcanic rocks.

Intense like the sunset with its African hues and the night sky, illuminated only by starlight.

Intense like the rare silence of Pantelleria nights, which envelop you in ancestral emotion.

Intense are the authentic flavours of our cuisine, with its typical Arab and African influences.

Intense are the flavours and aromas of the Pantelleria wines you will enjoy every day.

Intense is the pleasure of a massage in the shade of the Arabic garden, in total harmony with the island’s soul.

Unique

Unique are the contrasts between the white roofs and the blue sea, the green countryside and the black volcanic rocks.

Unique are the forms that the wind and the weather have given to creeping olive trees and rocky shores.

Unique are the Zibibbo vineyards, part of Unesco’s World Heritage, protected from the wind by typical dry-stone walls.

Unique are our suites, each one unequalled, all elegant and refined.

Unique are the exclusive works of art that adorn the ancient rooms of our dammusi.

And you, too, are Unique, our guests to whom we devote ourselves, in our quest to make every single moment at Sikelia unique.