Dario is a wonderful host and new friend. Communication prior to and during our stay was very clear and prompt.
Dario's apartment is located feet from the Mediterranean Sea; in fact, we left our balcony door slightly open during the night which gave us the benefit of the best "white noise" possible, the sounds of the sea. It's almost as if the bed is floating on the water!
The location is prime. We easily walked along the sea, to cafes, fresh fish markets, pastry shops, town center, and restaurants. Dario recommended a few nearby places for dinner. We ate dinner at "Pippo Lupo di Mare" and enjoyed one of the most fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented meals we have eaten in Sicily. Their service was very professional and personal. Our waiter was very patient with our limited Italian language skills and was insistent we eat our soup and pasta dishes in the proper order per Italian culture 😜. The ambience reflects understated sophistication, but the cost is very reasonable for such high quality and presentation.
Giardini Naxos is a great location itself, on the border of gorgeous Taormina and a short drive to Catania (airport). We appreciate the lower costs and slightly less-tourism crowd vs. Taormina.
The apartment has been very recently renovated and offers a unique ambience of original structure and modern decor. We easily found on-street parking in front of the apartment, though we were there in low season.
Thank you, Dario!