Portugal’s largest golf course operator, Details - Hospitality, Sports, Leisure, has continued its rapid expansion by taking over the management of the Italian venue formerly known as Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa.
The move marks the company’s first project outside Portugal and represents a significant milestone in its international growth strategy.
Under the agreement, Details will oversee the day-to-day management and long-term development of the 36-hole Sicilian destination, including strategy, repositioning, marketing, sales and communications. The addition of Donnafugata increases the number of golf venues under the company’s management to 13, joining a portfolio that already includes Vilamoura Golf, PGA Aroeira Lisboa, Troia Golf, Monte Rei, Palmares Ocean Living & Golf, San Lorenzo and Vale Pisão.
Nuno Sepulveda said:
“The addition of the former Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa to our group of golf venues represents a defining step in our international growth strategy. Expanding beyond Portugal for the first time is not only a landmark moment for our company but also a reflection of the strength and ambition of our platform. By adding such a significant destination to our portfolio, we are reinforcing our position as a leading force in European golf and hospitality, while continuing to elevate the quality and diversity of the 13 venues under our management.”
Situated in Sicily’s historic south-east region, Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa first opened in 2009 and quickly established itself as one of Italy’s premier golf destinations. The resort features luxury hotel, golf and lifestyle facilities, including two 18-hole championship courses — the Parkland and the Links. It also hosted the 2011 Sicilian Open before closing in 2020.
Details is now preparing a major redevelopment project ahead of a planned relaunch in 2027. The company intends to reposition Donnafugata as an upscale integrated golf and hospitality destination, combining premium accommodation, leisure experiences and championship golf into a cohesive luxury offering.
As part of the transformation, both 18-hole golf courses will undergo extensive renovation and redesign work.
Located in the municipality of Ragusa, Donnafugata sits within one of Europe’s richest cultural landscapes. Sicily’s UNESCO-listed towns, renowned gastronomy, volcanic scenery and internationally recognised wine regions are expected to play a key role in broadening the destination’s appeal beyond golf tourism alone.
The resort is also positioned alongside Costa Ragusa, a new hospitality destination operated by Mangia’s. In 2026, the area will welcome two ultra-premium properties: Costa Ragusa Borgo, a five-star retreat within a historic borgata, and Costa Ragusa Resort, a five-star beachfront luxury resort.
Together, the developments are expected to establish Costa Ragusa as a fully integrated luxury destination ahead of Donnafugata’s golf relaunch in 2027, combining world-class accommodation with two redesigned championship golf courses in one of Sicily’s most culturally significant and visually striking regions.
The investment into Donnafugata is regarded as one of the most significant golf resort developments in Italy in recent years. Industry observers believe the reopening and redevelopment of the resort’s two courses could prove transformational for Sicilian golf, helping shift the island from a limited-venue market into a credible multi-course destination capable of attracting substantially higher levels of international golf tourism.
