Paola was a great host! The room was even better than I expected, with a view that the best photograph cannot do justice to. For visitors to Giardini Naxos, this is an incredible location. It allows you to stroll the entire length of town along the beach, and to sit outside sheltered and watch amazing lightning storms (if it rains) over the sea. Paola even made her own jams from near by fruit trees and served it up with local pastries and fresh coffee!

There is an amazing little restaurant and pizzeria just next door that I visited multiple times The man who runs it knows Paola, and I met him because my phone wasn't working in Italy and I couldn't contact Paola when I arrived. He kindly called her for me and she was over super quickly. Paola also connected me with a fantastic half-day length tour of Mt. Etna that was considerably cheaper than options that I found online ahead of time.

I was in Giardini Naxos mostly for a conference at the Hilton (about 3 - 4 km away from the BnB) but the distance was an easy 30 - 40 minute walk max. The commune is small enough so that you don't need to worry about walking to any part of town. The room that I was staying in was MASSIVE with an amazing shower with multiple jets. It opened onto the shared balcony pictured in the post, and it even had a large telescope. I don't know how to work a telescope, but I really wish I knew how to, because the stars and moon are gorgeous from the bedroom and from the balcony.

No review would be complete without adding that you can wake up with the sun (if you want, or close the blinds if you don't want to) and just cross the street to swim in the sea first thing in the morning and it's not even cold. Actually, it's warmer in the sea than it is out of it at that time of day. Not only would I stay here again, I plan to!