We were speechless from the moment we were greeted by Diana and Antonio in Pettineo. Despite the unusually grey weather during our March getaway, we were greeted in the warmest possible way: The fire was burning in both fireplaces and the table in the living room was decked with a bounty of Sicilian goodies (wine, cheese, olives, lemons, oranges, etc.), there were colourful flower arrays and even food for our dog. Needless to say, we immediately felt welcome and at home.
Diana and Antonio took the greatest care of us and our well-being, starting from a few days before our arrival and until we left Sicily. The communication was excellent, quick, and heartfelt. Not only are they experts at hospitality, but it is also evident how much they love Sicily and especially this gorgeous countryside hideaway, which they renovated and decorated with lots of passion, heart, and taste. We must agree with the other visitors, who wrote that the reality far exceeded their expectations: Not only is the house (and its surroundings) beautiful, but it also has everything you could want and need. The kitchen is particularly well equipped, so we loved using it multiple times per day. We particularly loved pressing fresh orange juice with oranges from the garden!
You will love staying here, it’s absolutely worth every cent and you will be super relaxed by the time you’re checking out. In order to make your stay even more pleasant, here are a few tips from us:
1) The drive to the house is a little intense. If you rent a car for your time on Sicily, make sure it has a bit of ground clearance. We had a Fiat 500, which managed ok, but we were a bit worried about the car’s underside. 2) We advise getting groceries before you check in - Once you’re at the house you will not want to leave again! 3) If you’re also travelling in the colder months/ not during summer, make sure to bring cozy and warm clothes. It gets much colder than you'd expect, especially at night. And make sure to have at least one fire going at all times to keep the house warm! (It is an old stone barn, after all.)
Last but not least, hopefully we can return to Pettineo during the late summer. We felt so at home at this house that we are already craving to go back - And we finally want to make use of the pool and the outdoor kitchen!