We had a truly fantastic stay with Marco. The house is stunning, sitting on the edge of a conservation area, inside a private marina. Sferrocavallo is popular with local tourists from Palermo and we felt like we were off the beaten track; the locals were friendly and welcoming, happily putting up with our second rate Italian. The sea is beautifully clear, ideal for snorkelling, though I recommend water shoes. The journey to Syracuse/ Catania is about 3 hours (still worth it) but there are also plenty of local villages for day trips etc we enjoyed a day in Cefalu to the East. By the end of our stay we preferred to relax at base; the house itself has a wonderful terrace, a well-equipped kitchen and spacious bedrooms. Highly recommended.