We were in Italy since the end of October when our newly 'remote work' policies made us decide to escape the winter and hibernate in the south of Italy.
After staying for a while in Calabria, We were looking for a place in Sicily that was good enough to work remotely on a day to day basis(stable wifi, option to sit comfortably behind a desk/table) but also somewhere a bit more remote to escape the city life.
Alida's place fit us perfectly. Waking up with a daily view on the Etna and a big garden to walk around with our dog, pig fresh lemons/oranges/mandarines was more than we could ask for. The house they rent out has recently been renovated and has everything you need. The place is on a slope so you have a great view of the Etna. During the day you can see the beautiful snowcapped mountaintop and at night you can often see the eruptions that happen(safely). There is a highway close to the house but we didn't find the sound disturbing(you only hear it outside).
Both Alida and her husband are really welcoming people who live just 50m away. They are very respectful of your privacy but also always there when you need them.
The area is really beautiful. Unfortunately due to lockdowns, we were not able to fully explore the area but you have Taormina, the Alcantara valley, and of course the national park around the Etna. Alida has been a guide in Sicily for a long time and has a lot of great tips on what to see/do in the area.
The town close to their house is not very special, but you have Giardini-Naxos 30 mins walking distance which has a big variety of restaurants with amazing seafood.
Overall we can definitely recommend this place for anyone visiting, not just in the winter but I expect that it's a great place all year round!