This is a wonderful location for those wanting to go off-grid and connect to real Sicily and the beauty of Mount Etna. The hosts are incredibly welcoming and are happy to integrate with you as much as you desire. We don’t speak Italian or French (as they speak both) and came away for time to reconnect with each other, so they were happy to leave us to it. However, they still did invite us in for coffee and pastries, which would be perfect for those who wish to socialise with them more.
We feel it is essential to have a car to reach this location - which we did as we hired one. For example, the nearest supermarket (Lidl) is located 30 minutes away by car and local shops seemed scarce. The hosts have ample parking and explain their gates and entrance system etc really well. Even though it was raining heavily when we arrived, the hosts were waiting out on the road for us to greet us and guide us onto the premise. They also told us about local restaurants walking distance away.
The cottage itself is separate from their home and has its own private garden. We were not overlooked at all when we sat out in the morning or at night eating our meals. It was just wonderful to sit out in the evening, drinking Sicilian wine looking out over the valley.
It’s the perfect base for those who enjoy walking/hiking as we were easily able to walk to Etna Nord from our cottage.
Please be aware there is limited phone signal and no WiFi - however we enjoyed the lack of interruption from social media etc and it enabled us to concentrate on our time together.
In summary, the cottage is basic with only essential amenities, but comfortable and functional and bursting with traditional charm - exactly what we wanted.