We stayed in Salvo's beautiful apartment for 7 nights in April.

Salvo is an incredibly friendly and generous host, and really made us feel welcome throughout our stay - even inviting us to join him, his wife and his colleague for a coffee and some traditional Sicilian pastries at his family home at the foot of mount Etna, before taking us to see some of the local sights.

The apartment itself is spacious, with a large raised roof terrace which - although east facing - gets sun through much of the day. We were a group of 2 couples, and it was ideal for us. The bedrooms were a good size. The larger one is en-suite; the adjoining bathroom containing a very large bath; perfect for relaxing after a long day of walking round Catania!

The kitchen is a good size, with a large gas range, which is perfect if you really want to take advantage of the quality local produce, which is available at the markets, and cook for yourselves (Catania's fish market is definitely worth a visit).

If you admire minimalist modern design and appreciate the difference that staying with a host (rather than staying a hotel) can make, don't give this one a miss!

It was a special holiday for me anyway, as I proposed to my girlfriend, but Salvo's hospitality made it that bit more memorable!! :-)