Origins of The Momentum Resort lie in a beautiful family story....

In the 1950s, a young couple, Anna and Alessio, left Sicily in search for a better future for their family. Embarking on an unpredictable journey from the North of Partanna to Ticino, the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland, the couple set off with just a few essential possessions, having to leave behind their entire lives, and most importantly, their three sons. Thankfully, hard work of Anna and Alessio paid off, and already after several years, the boys joined their parents in Ticino…

Armed with tenacity, good education and Anna’s firm parenting, the three sons turned into young entrepreneurs. The eldest has created his roofing company, the middle son, Emanuele, opened a home appliances store, and the youngest - a carpentry company. One of the family traditions Alessio always prioritized was a yearly family vacation to Sicily to retain a connection with their extended family and to appreciate their island roots with its warm embrace, contrasting landscapes and culinary delights. This passion for their native Sicily was not only kept alive, but the distance made their hearts grow fonder…

When Emanuele was twenty years old, he met a beautiful Swiss-German girl, Therese, who had moved to Ticino to work in a hospital and to learn Italian. She was one of eight siblings and had grown up on a family farm, helping her parents in potato fields and cherry orchards from a tender age. She had planned on staying in Ticino for only one year, as she had ambitious dreams of moving to England, learning the language and traveling throughout Europe…but love took overher destiny…

Manuela on a ferry to Palermo, summer 1983

Wedding of Emanuele and Teresa<s/mall>

By the time Emanuele and Therese were twenty-six, they were married and had two children, Manuela and Giuliano. Therese managed the household whilst juggling sales and administrative requirements of their home appliances store. Once the kids were old enough, they spent long hours in the office and in the repair lab of the family business, learning the creative flair, discipline, and persistence, required of an entrepreneur. The family highly valued cultural education, and therefore, would spend each summer holiday in a different European country, discovering new cultures. However, every five-six years, Emanuele would insist on taking his family back to Sicily to re-connect with their relatives and to ensure his children knew the magnificent culture of their father’s heritage…

As the children grew older, Giuliano was inspired by his exposure to the electronics and mechanics at the family business and opted for a career as an electronic engineer. Manuela gained a financial education, was passionate about learning languages, and dreamed of traveling the world. Little did she know, that she would leave safety and comfort of Switzerland to follow the love of her life to sub-Saharan Africa…

Over the years, Manuela and her partner poured their energies, efforts and dedication into various entrepreneurial and social projects in Africa, sharing their vision and love with anyone who crossed their path. Their business activities and passion for new cultures made them travel extensively. Spending time around the world gave Manuela an opportunity to experience hospitality in all its forms and facets, and she quickly realised that the deeply personal experience of being a guest in a foreign where the local community treated her like one of their own, completely fascinated her...

She longed to create a personalised experience that recreated the kindness and care she had experienced in faraway corners of the world, combined with the love and comfort she had felt growing up in her home - a welcoming and warm nest of wellness that would feel like a charming home away from home. As the idea grew into a goal, she searched for a perfect location. In 2016, during a trip to Sicily with her partner, they stumbled upon the ideal site. Gifted with extraordinary energies, kissed by the Mediterranean sun, and nestled in nature amid thousands olive trees, only a few minutes away from the seashore and the ruins of an ancient civilisation, they had found the place…

The resort underwent an extensive renovation for almost two years, and finally, Momentum Resort opened its doors to the guests in June 2018. Ever since, it has been offering its guests the warm embrace of Sicilian hospitality, combined with love and respect for Nature and for the whole world outside the Golden Island…

 Manuela with her grandparents, Anna and Alessio, 1975

Sixty years after Manuela’s grandparents, Anna and Alessio, left the island to pursue a better life, their granddaughter was back, realising the dream that would merge her Italian heritage, her Swiss mindset, and the kaleidoscope of international influence she had collected over the years…

"Today, my team and I welcome you at the Momentum Resort - the place where Nature, informality, and the warmth of Sicilian hearts will make your stay unforgettable"