Property and local area description
Charming sicilian Villa near the sea
The accomodation is a charming private villa not far from the Ionian sea (2 minutes drive), from Mount Etna (40 minutes drive), and from Catania (20 minutes drive) located in Guardia on the outskirts of Acireale. The villa is set in a superb strategical position to move for a complete visit of eastern Sicily. This self catering accommodation has recently been modernised in rustic style. It comprises three double bedrooms( with an additional bed on request), three bathrooms with shower, a wide sitting room and a kitchen/dining room (with a single sofa bed).The two floors are connected by an internal stair. The guests use their own independent entrance. Private parking in the court, 250 sq mts of private garden with furniture (chairs, table, ombrella).Gas stove heating available from November till March.
This is a perfect accommodation for families or friend’s party.
Owner lives on site in a separate part of the villa, car hire recommended. Railway station (Santa Venerina station) only 300 meters away.
The whole scene is dominated by the awe-inspiring hulk of Mount Etna rising up in all her majesty. The north and south faces can be reached easily in little more than half an hour.
to be visited
There is so much to see nearby. Acireale a Baroque town at the foot of Mount Etna built on a lava plateau. You must visit the ancient centre of the town, with the San Sebastiano Basilica, the wonderful Piazza del Duomo and the Cathedral, and the Pietro e Paolo church. Acireale is also famous for its Carnival, the best in Sicily, which takes place in February.
Taormina (25 km away) was founded by the Greeks. Taormina saw incredible development during the last century, becoming one of the most important tourist resorts in the world, famed for its archaeological and natural sights. Visit the ancient Greco-Roman Theatre, the Corvaia Palace, the Cathedral, the San Domenico friary, Castelmola, Giardini Naxos, Isola Bella and the nearby seaside towns of Schisò, Recanati and Mazzarò.
Catania and the Cyclops Riviera lies 15km away. The town was rebuilt in the baroque style after the earthquake which razed it in 1693. Visit the ancient centre of the town with the Cathedral, the Town hall, the Elephant fountain, University square, The Ursino Castle, the Bellini Theatre and Via Crociferi, a wonderful baroque street in the middle of the town.
Just 5km north from Catania is the Cyclops Riviera with the fishing villages of Acicastello and Acitrezza famous for its rocks (I Faraglioni) which, according to the legend, Polifemo flung against the boat of the escaping Ulysses.
An excursion up to Mount Etna, 30km away, is obligatory. At 3300m, Etna is the highest volcano in Europe. From the top of the mountain you can see the whole Etna region and take in a large part of eastern Sicily, the Aeolian Islands and the coast of Calabria. The Etna landscape and vegetation are well-known all over the world for their unique beauty.
And there are of course the Aeolian Islands, Syracuse, Tindari, Noto, Ragusa, Piazza Armerina, Caltagirone, Agrigento and Cefalù ... all reachable in a day trip from the villa.
From here it is easy to reach the splendid Riviera of the Lemons only 2 km away, with its typical Sicilian fishing villages including Maria La Scala, San Tecla, Pozzillo and Stazzo. There is the wonderful Cyclops Riviera with its old fishing villages such as Acitrezza and Acicastello, famously written about by Verga in his I Malavoglia. Taormina, Giardini-Naxos and the River Alcantara — all tourist attractions known all over the world for their natural beauty — are within a 20-minute drive.