I loved my 2wk stay in Il Gelso di Dietroserra! Gee, Michele, and Maria are wonderful, wonderful hosts. This was my first time ever in Italy, and it was for a 2wk business trip to my company’s Catania office in San Giovanni La Punta. For such a long time away from home (California), I wanted to have more room and a more convenient accommodation than a hotel room can offer. I need to do laundry, cook if I want to, room to stretch out, etc. This house is exactly perfect for me, in all those respects. Plus it is very safe and secure, away from the main street, on a vineyard, with only the hosts and a few other guests in different houses. You have privacy if you want it, but help is always close by, too.
The views of Etna are fantastic from the front porch area. It is beautiful to wake up to, and beautiful to see at sunset (if you are not out and about at that time).
There are plenty of little markets and restaurants close by, easily accessible with a few minutes drive.
The house itself is very conveniently designed. The kitchen, dining, and living room are one big room that you enter from the front door. Beyond that is a laundry room, the bathroom, and the bedroom. Everything in this house is very good-looking. The interior finish looks new, clean, and fairly modern. The windows are dual-pane and are easy to open/close. They also have ‘shutters’ as well as curtains, to help keep the inside temperature constant, compare to outside temperatures.
All convenient kitchen gadgets are available, and none of it is ‘cheap’ or dirty. Everything is in good order and clean.
Upon arrival there was a very good bottle of their red wine that they made! It is very good! Also some of their super-good, homemade orange juice from their orange grove! And a nice basket with some toasting bread, jams, little muffins and pastries for a quick breakfast. Everything needed to get started. There are also olive oil and vinegar and other basic cooking spices. But I did not cook anything because the food at restaurants around here is so good. There is bottled water in the fridge, too, which is great to have on a hot day.
Gee also took me on a nice walk up the nearby hill/crater. You can get a great view of all the surrounding areas from the top of this hill. When we returned to the bottom, I was treated with a cup of Michele’s homemade granite di gelsi and espresso. It was my first granite, ever, and super good! Made from the berries of the tree right outside this house! (Il Gelso)
This is a wonderful house and wonderful hosts, and I miss it already!