We had a lovely time at this magical place! The house provides you with everything you need - it is spartan but for our taste, it was just what we were looking for: an authentic Sicilian countryside stay on the beautiful slopes of Mt Etna. The surroundings are mesmerizing - you can enjoy a splendid view of the Alcantara Valley and Mt Etna from the house. But the best part is the immediate surroundings of the house - the beautiful vineyard and olive groves. Try the wine made by Antonio, it is amazing! Sit underneath the trees in the garden and enjoy the taste of an organic Nerello Mascalese. It is also possible to use the bbq at the house and cook a splendid meal to go with it.
If you rather fancy having dinner at a restaurant, try CaveOx in the nearby village of Solicchiata. In need of a traditional Sicilian granita? Go to Scrivano just down the road from CaveOx - their granita is fantastic!
We also recommend you visit the nearby villages of Castiglione and Francavilla di Sicilia. If you are interested in history, the newly open archeological museum in Francavilla (MAFRA at Palazzo Cagnone) is well worth a visit. It very nicely tells the rich history of this area, both in prehistoric times and when the Greeks settled here during Antiquity. A short drive from Francavilla is Gole Alcantara, an ancient river gorge where you can enjoy various activities. It also happens that it was on the Alcantara river that the Greeks sailed to reach the site of Francavilla some 2500 years ago! If you feel adventurous, climb Mt Etna! We started from Etna Nord and walked up to 2500 mt, which is as far as you can go without a guide. The landscape is truly out of this world and we will remember and cherish this experience forever.
To sum it up, we highly recommend anyone who wishes to experience Sicilian culture and nature to visit this area and stay in this wonderful house. Antonio was a wonderful host and we hope to come back to this treasure of a place soon again.