Andreina and Vito redefined the word hospitality...Our time with this beautiful, loving couple was so utterly unique it's hard to describe. They went above and beyond on so many levels that I don't know which to share, and I'm sure your experience will be equally unique, but I'll try...
Every day started with Andreina's homemade bread and jams. She uses traditional Sicilian ingredients (apricot & orange mandarin), and provided a selection of the regional fruit selection of the day when available (green figs & green mandarins), explaining the significance of each ingredient along the way. They provided maps and restaurant suggestions not just in Catania, but across Sicily, and all while teaching us about the history of each place along the way. If we decided we were going to Palermo, for example, they would make sure we knew why the marble was yellow there rather than white like in Syracuse, where the baroque architectural influence came from historically, the best beach in the region, and what restaurant to go to (which we entered through a small door in an alley that no tourist would ever find). On the final day, Vito even took us on a personal, guided tour of the city! This is just a handful of the many beautiful moments we had the pleasure of sharing with them. They really did treat us like family and feel truly blessed to have had the pleasure of meeting them.
Of course, the place itself is gorgeous, from the modern design of the room, to the view of the volcano from the balcony (which we enjoyed at sunset on arrival, with a granita Andreina had prepared for us as a welcome)...Communication, directions, and local suggestions were all top notch...But it's Andreina and Vito that are the real reason to book this place.
If I could give 6 out of 5 stars, I would. A perfect experience.