Holiday industry

Mangia’s launches the Costa Ragusa brand in south-eastern Sicily

Two five-star resorts, 538 rooms, the relaunch of Donnafugata Golf and conference facilities for up to 800 people: the group is building a unique regional brand spanning Kamarina, Scoglitti, Marina di Ragusa and Val di Noto

by Nino Amadore

14 June 2026

5' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

The two resorts

5' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

It’s not just about new rooms, but an attempt to establish a tourist destination that is recognisable on the international market. Mangia’s is launching Costa Ragusa, a project that brings together two five-star resorts, the future development of the Donnafugata Golf Resort and a broader strategy to position the Ragusa coast as a hub for high-end hospitality, sport, wellness and conference tourism.

The initiative aims to create a unified brand for a stretch of south-eastern Sicily that has hitherto been promoted in a fragmented manner: the area between the Kamarina Archaeological Park, Scoglitti, Marina di Ragusa and the Val di Noto. The sea, archaeology, agricultural landscape, culture, food and wine, and outdoor activities thus become the elements of a tourism platform designed to attract diverse audiences and, above all, to try to extend the season beyond the summer months. Mangia’s is one of Italy’s leading brands in the hospitality sector. Founded in 1973, the group manages a collection of 17 properties across Sicily and Sardinia: a luxury city hotel in Palermo, ten resorts and six clubs, totalling over 4,000 rooms. The portfolio includes, among others, the Grand Hotel et Des Palmes in Palermo and resorts in various parts of Sicily and Sardinia.

The Costa Ragusa Project

The project begins with the opening of Mangia’s Costa Ragusa Borgo, a five-star, fully all-inclusive resort, scheduled for 1 July 2026, and Icona’s Costa Ragusa Resort, a five-star luxury resort, due to open on 1 August 2026. The two properties will have a total of 538 rooms: 105 rooms and suites in the five-star luxury resort and 433 rooms, suites and villas in the Borgo. The project will be completed by the relaunch of Donnafugata Golf Resort, designed to attract guests interested in golf, leisure and high-spending international tourism.

Costa Ragusa represents one of the most significant tourism investments currently underway in Sicily, with a total estimated investment of around €200 million covering acquisitions, redevelopment and the development of new accommodation and service facilities. Of this, around €160 million has already been invested in the various components of the project, which includes Mangia’s Costa Ragusa Borgo, Icona’s Costa Ragusa Resort, Donnafugata Resort and Donnafugata Golf. In terms of employment, the project is already generating around 300 direct jobs linked to the development, preparation and management of the facilities due to open. Once fully operational, direct employment is expected to exceed 600 positions in total, comprising around 400 staff for Costa Ragusa and over 230 for Donnafugata Resort and the associated golf facilities. In addition to these direct benefits, there will be knock-on effects on the wider economy, involving construction firms, service providers, hospitality suppliers, catering businesses, cultural and sports operators, and organisations active in the main tourist hubs of south-eastern Sicily.

The private individual who builds a destination

Mangia’s aims to build a destination ecosystem: luxury accommodation, sport, wellness, golf, corporate events and conferences all serve to boost the region’s appeal and attract new visitors throughout the year.

This is the most interesting aspect of the project: transforming a collection of places that already possess a strong identity – Kamarina, Scoglitti, Marina di Ragusa, the Val di Noto, the agricultural landscape and the coastline – into a cohesive, recognisable tourism product that can be marketed on the international stage. Costa Ragusa was therefore launched as a destination brand, with the aim of attracting luxury travellers, premium families, wellness travellers, sports tourism, corporate clients and travellers interested in experiences linked to a side of Sicily less frequented by the more established tourist circuits.

“Costa Ragusa was born out of a clear vision: to reveal an authentic, alternative side of Sicily to the more conventional international tourist routes, showcasing the charm of the island’s south-east through a hospitality model deeply rooted in the local area, culture and contemporary wellbeing. We have believed in the potential of this part of Sicily with the aim of creating a destination that is vibrant all year round, capable of attracting travellers through experiences linked to luxury lifestyle, sport and wellbeing, whilst at the same time helping to generate tangible value for the entire area. “In addition to the direct impact in terms of employment, the project is set to generate widespread benefits for the local economy through the involvement of production chains, increased tourist spending and the strengthening of south-eastern Sicily’s competitiveness in foreign markets,” says Marcello Mangia, chairman and CEO of Mangia’s.

The two resorts

Icona’s Costa Ragusa Resort will be the most exclusive part of the project. As part of Icona’s Collection, the group’s new five-star luxury brand, it will feature 105 rooms and suites designed for an international clientele seeking privacy, quiet luxury, wellbeing and a connection with the landscape. The offering will include refined dining, beach lifestyle, a spa and programmes dedicated to advanced wellness, developed in partnership with The Longevity Suite, an Italian organisation specialising in longevity, biohacking and advanced wellness. Mangia’s Costa Ragusa Borgo, meanwhile, will form the heart of the destination. With 433 rooms, suites and villas, it will cater to families, couples and travellers seeking a premium experience, with personalised services, dining options throughout the resort, a beach club, wellness facilities, sports and communal spaces. The formula will be ‘All Inclusive Sublime’, featuring buffet and à la carte restaurants and a culinary offering built around the quality of ingredients, Sicilian and Italian cuisine, and fusion interpretations. The premium family positioning will be reinforced by programmes developed in collaboration with specialists in educational and recreational entertainment, such as Worldwide Kids, alongside activities designed for different age groups.

Sport, golf and conferences to combat seasonal fluctuations

Sport will be one of the key drivers of seasonality reduction. The Borgo will feature 14 clay tennis courts and facilities designed for training camps, retreats, tournaments and stays focused on dynamic wellness and performance. These will be complemented by padel, pickleball, outdoor activities and, from 2027, the relaunch of the Donnafugata Golf Resort. The Donnafugata project involves the redevelopment and repositioning of over 200 rooms and private villas within a site spanning almost 500 hectares. The resort will feature two 18-hole championship golf courses, among the few in Sicily with this layout, and will involve Details – Hospitality, Sports & Leisure, a Portuguese golf operator active in the management of some of Southern Europe’s leading golf destinations.

Another key element will be the MICE sector, namely meetings, incentives, corporate and private events. Costa Ragusa will feature modular spaces set within the landscape: Mangia’s Costa Ragusa Borgo will be able to host events for up to 800 people, whilst Icona’s Costa Ragusa Resort will offer more intimate settings for board meetings, executive gatherings and private retreats.