The remote jetset island of Pantelleria—a volcanic outcropping between Italy and Tunisia—is a favorite hideaway for Giorgio Armani. And, as highlighted by The Telegraph, it was the film set location for A Bigger Splash, starring Tilda Swinton and Ralph Fiennes. However this “secret” Mediterranean island is hitting the headlines this month because of a new luxury hotel opening. Sikelia Pantelleria has 20 stylish suites which occupy ancient dammusi dwellings (the island’s traditional domed structures).
As reported by The Financial Times’ How to Spend It, the “retreat (was) created by the owners of Coste Ghirlanda, a premier producer of this island’s cult Zibibbo wines.” There’s a spa, an “Arabic garden,” and a fine dining restaurant called Themà -- where the cuisine, paired with local island wines, combines African, Arab and Italian flavors. Though the “Black Pearl of the Mediterranean” is not known for its beaches (they’re rocky), the island has myriad charms, including a natural hot sauna and a volcanic lake…