Introducing the Liberty Inn Bed & Breakfast

Liberty Inn Bed & Breakfast is a brand new bed & breakfast situated in downtown Milazzo (ME). It belongs to a friend from high school. He manages it. I had the opportunity to see this place  last summer and I was pleasantly surprised by its decor. The facade maintained the classic liberty style – which is cleverly reflected in the name of the B&B, while the interiors have been totally restructured and refurbished with the latest modern comforts. The Mediterranean Sea is at walking distance. Rooms are quiet, even though this B&B is close to bars, restaurants and an extremely entertaining nightlife. If you are in Milazzo or boarding for the Aeolian Islands, Liberty Inn Bed & Breakfast is a nice hidden gem.

Address: Via umberto I  n°163
98057 Milazzo (ME)-Italy
Tel: +39-389/4596390
Web site: www.libertyinn-bb.com

The British Are Warming Up to Sicily

This is what Jo Fernandez writes about Sicily on The Evening Standard and we like to think that the British have a soft spot for Sicily in their heart.

My first thought on arriving in Sicily was who needs the Caribbean? Azure waters, intense heat and cloudless blue skies were all just a two-hour flight away.

We then drove the hour from Palermo airport to Rocco Forte’s five-star Verdura Golf & Spa resort, which opened on the south coast of the island last year, named after the river alongside which it sits.

Italian architect Flavio Albanese took inspiration from Mexico, with the rooms arranged in low-rise, two-storey minimalist blocks in shades of mustard and terracotta, much like the surrounding hills scorched by the sun’s fierce rays.

Sicilian inspiration comes from the mosaics used in the bathrooms, polished concrete floors and romantic white canopied four-poster beds. And from two novels – the Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa and Beautiful Antonio by Vitaliano Brancati, both Sicilian authors.

Outside, the 60-metre, two-tiered pool is the resort centerpiece, surrounded by lush lawn, lofty palm trees and tanned Missoni bikini-clad women.

Further down is the hotel’s beach, with part of it essentially fake, the natural pebbles covered with imported sand. Pebbles would be just fine.

At this point I should mention the golf. Sir Rocco Forte chose golf architect Kyle Phillips (Kingsbarns in Scotland and The Grove in Hertfordshire), to design two championship 18-hole courses and a nine-hole, all set amid olive and orange groves next to the sparkling Med. Not being golfers we weaved around and across the course on bikes provided instead.

Breakfast could keep you going all day: long tables laden with perfect looking cakes, breads and pastries line the walls. Stylish glass carafes contain various juices and milk while waiters fetched frittata with fennel and mint or Sicilian sausages on rustic toast.

Zagara is the most formal restaurant. We nibbled on crudities and bread so soft that you didn’t need butter or olive oil.

An amuse bouche of a silver spoonful of guacamole with anchovy was followed by red mullet with greens and prawns on grilled aubergines for the adults. Our daughter had fried fish (“too salty”) with chips and grilled Mediterranean vegetables followed by Nutella (“yummy”) in a tiny dish flanked by butter biscuits. We preferred peach with puff pastry, star anise, cinnamon and ricotta ice cream.

This food was enticing but we couldn’t keep up – four drinks in the bar alone set us back €50. Seeking something more affordable we snuck away to the beautifully named fishing town of Sciacca, set between Selinunte and Agrigento. We found a medieval town with baroque churches as well as cheap but tasty fish and salad eaten on a clifftop restaurant overlooking the sea.

On our last night we ate fish again in the resort’s most popular restaurant, the Ibiza-style beachside Amare. We glimpsed two-star Michelin chef Fulvio Pierangelini looking like an older Marco Pierre White, dressed in a baggy jumper and trousers with just an apron as if in a country house kitchen cooking for friends.

Suddenly there was a buzz – Sir Rocco Forte himself glided in with a large glamorous entourage. And who could blame him for smiling?

This resort attracts and breeds money with clientele including Calvin Klein and Formula One ace Michael Schumacher. Staying in La Verdura is like gaining temporary access to a cosseted world.

We drove south west along the SS15 autostrada through squares of parched fields, to La Foresteria, a 14-room hotel set atop rolling vineyards reaching to the sea at Porto Palo near Menfi.

Run by the Planeta wine and olive oil producing family, who supply about two million bottles a year (half exported) they entered the world of agritourismo after visitors to their vineyard on the shores of Lake Arancio would ask where they could stay, adding Sicilian cookery courses to the pot. The food was exquisite, each course better than the one before.

Chef Angelo Pulmilia had been recommended by Fulvio Pierangelini, coincidentally.

Sat outside as the sun set we ate seared prawns with celery purée, sedanani pasta with sardines and breadcrumbs, fried saltfish with tomato confit and sweet and sour sauce and, finally, sage ice cream with tiny cubes of pineapple. All perfectly presented and accompanied by Planeta wines including a spicy Syrah.

We just had time on our last day to see the ancient Greek ruins at Selinunte, set high above the sandy beach. One of the most important archaeological sites in Europe holds graceful Doric temples and an acropolis.

Once a prosperous city where the Greeks would have feasted, it seemed a fitting last place to come on this island so rich in history, food and wine.

The Ashbee Hotel in Taormina Reopens on April 1st and Launches a Butler Service

The Ashbee Hotel in Taormina reopens on April 1st and launches a new butler service, The modern butler may still function exclusively as a top-ranked household affairs manager, in lesser homes, such as those of dual-income middle-class professionals, they perform a full array of household and personal assistant duties, including mundane housekeeping [Wikipedia].

Located in a peaceful 20th century Sicilian Villa in the heart of Taormina, the Ashbee Hotel was built in the 1908’s by Colonel Shaw-Hellier who commissioned the famous architect Charles Robert Ashbee, English designer and entrepreneur, prime mover of the Arts & Craft movement.

Easy to locate, just few steps from the main street and chic boutiques of Taormina, the hotel offers easy access to the main theaters, museums and all over objects arts, historical heritage of the city. A short walk leads to famous restaurants, to enjoy an excellent cuisine.

Today, this new charming house offers some of the finest accommodation in Sicily. With 25 guestrooms and suite, you will find everything required for a relaxing stay, screwing up one’s eye to English style, representative symbol of The Ashbee Hospitality.

This description is based on information provided by the hotel.

Address

Viale San Pancrazio, 46
98039 Taormina
Tel: +39 0942 23537
Fax: +39 0942 626227
Email:  info@theashbeehotel.com
Web site: www.theashbeehotel.com

Ferro Hotel in Modica receives sustanaibility award

Ferro Hotel in Modica (Ragusa) received the prestigious  Premio turismo responsabile italiano a sustainability award at the WTE (World Turism Expo), the award focuses on the combination of tourism and culture.

The award was specifically given to the vacation package created by Luca Guerrieri, director of the hotel.

The luxury Ferro Hotel offers the kind of warm hospitality, inviting atmosphere and top-notch services sure to please business and leisure travelers alike. This 4 star Hotel is conveniently located in front of the Modica train station, and just a half-mile/700 meters from the main square of the town Piazza Matteotti.

Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa just opened

We are always excited when we hear about beautiful new properties in Sicily. Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa just opened. This a five-star hotel is located in the vast Donnafugata fiefdom, which is also a nature reserve one hour drive from the International Airport of Catania and a flew minutes away from Ragusa.

Situated amongst pristine beaches such as Marina di Ragusa, Punta Secca and Camarina, and other areas of outstanding historical interest, the Resort is a fantastic point of departure to discover tourist attractions and cultural sites in the area. Several nearby towns, Ragusa, Modica, Ibla, Noto and Scicli, form part of a UNESCO World Heritage site that preserves many remains of the Sicilian Baroque style in a unique atmosphere.

Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa
Contrada Piombo
97100 Ragusa
Tel. : +39 0932 911 368
Fax: +39 0932 911 368
Web site: www.donnafugatagolfresort.com

Hotel Donna Carmela

We are pleased to introduce the charming Hotel DonnaCarmela, nestled between Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea nearby Catania and Taormina.

DonnaCarmela is a boutique hotel arisen in a 19th century Sicilian House. It has been furnished with great attention to detail and the carefully chosen modern design touches exalt the traditional elements that hint at the building’s history. In the heart of Piante Faro, the biggest European company specialized in producing Mediterranean plants, surrounded by age-old olive groves, DonnaCarmela’s born to offer Sicilian hospitality at its best. Donna Carmela has 18 rooms, including three suites, nine junior suites, four double rooms and an apartment.

Exposed stone and brickwork and block colored walls are the perfect setting for luxurious contemporary armchairs and soft sofas. The mosaic-tiled swimming pool is splendidly positioned, enveloped in the vivid colors and fragrances of the surrounding Mediterranean greenery and offering timeless views of Mount Etna, Taormina and the Ionian Sea.

Donna Carmela is a good base to reach Taormina, great place to visit with its breathtaking Greek-Roman theater and wonderful views over the Ionian Sea, Catania, with its Baroque architecture, much of it made from the characteristic black volcanic rock spewed from Etna herself and Mount Etna. It’s possible to easily reach these places by A18 Motorway and SS 114 high street. The Pietradolce – Archineri Etna Doc wine produced for Donna Carmela is from vineyards on Mount Etna in Castiglione di Sicilia, which are owned by Donna Carmela, and it is a delight to sample the wine, just minutes from where it was made and grown. Visits and Tasting sessions can be organized for those wanting to sample local produce.

Hotel Donna Carmela
Contrada Grotte, 5
Carruba di Riposto (CT)
Phone: (+39) 095-809-383
Web site: www.donnacarmela.com

Grand Hotel Timeo: Sicily travel raised to 5-star standards

It’s an iconic summer experience, a chic Italian vacation at one of Orient-Express’s(OEH) portfolio of waterfront hotels, which include Hotel Splendido and Splendido Mare in Portofino.

In recent years, the company has changed its seaside presence with the Hotel Caruso Belvedere in Ravello along the Amalfi Coast. But in one of the biggest game-changing debuts to date, Orient-Express migrates to Sicily’s Taormina starting May 27 for a one-two hotel punch that may alter the dynamics of this majestic town and traditionally affordable island escape forever.

There’s no easy way to get there. The most accessible is through Catania and a speedy highway trip up the southeastern shore of Sicily that gets progressively more picturesque before a hilltop fortress appears on a distant hilltop in the backdrop of a sometime-smoking Mount Etna that is the historic town of Taormina. Its name is virtually unknown to most Americans, who prefer Positano or Capri. But to overlook Taormina is to miss one of Italy’s most beautiful wonders, a mountaintop topography with majestic Roman-Greco ruins and a lazy cable car that links it to a seaside paradise of secret swimming coves and offshore natural reserves untouched by mass tourism.

If arriving with your own set of wheels, getting to the Grand Hotel Timeo won’t be the easiest of journeys even once you’ve arrived in Taormina. Confusing signs, if any at all, and roads shared with pedestrians take you to the edge of town near the entrance of Taormina‘s historic Teatro Greco ruins. There, you’ll find the atrium-entrance of the larger and more opulent of Orient-Express’s two newest hotels acquired this year. They were closed for a complete overhaul and brought up to 5-star standards.

Grand Hotel Timeo was hardly a wreck to begin with. But it was a laggard behind San Domenico Palace as the city’s top hotel. Grand Hotel Timeo was built in 1873 and expanded over the years along a dramatic hilltop promontory with three private villas that maximize the head-on views of Mount Etna and the bay of Naxos. Poised to become Sicily’s top hotel property, the location next to one of Italy’s great historical ruins makes it a top draw during the annual Taormina Film Festival, held June 10-18.

Source: Street.com

Boutique Hotels in Sicily

Set just off the tip of Italy’s boot in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily offers visitors a mountainous landscape filled with an Old World feeling. Peppered throughout the island you can find boutique hotels that incorporate Sicily’s long-standing traditions with the modern facilities of a contemporary hotel to create an intimate and one-of-a-kind environment.

Hotel Villa Ducale

The Hotel Villa Ducale resides in a traditional aristocratic villa on the hillside overlooking Taormina Bay in northeastern Sicily. This small boutique hotel was completely refurbished in 2007 and contains only 17 rooms and suites, each with its own private balcony facing the sea. Rooms feature a traditional decor, tiled terracotta floors, raw stone walls, private bathrooms and locally crafted handmade antiques. Amenities include air conditioning, wireless Internet access, satellite television and coffee makers. The hotel serves a complimentary Sicilian breakfast on the outdoor terrace and offers complimentary cocktails in the evening. Guests can enjoy the on-site garden with Jacuzzi or take advantage of the free shuttle service to Taormina’s city center.

Hotel Villa Ducale
Via Leonardo da Vinci 60
Taormina
Phone: (+39) 0942-28-153
Web site: www.villaducale.com

Hotel Villa Carlotta

Guests of the Hotel Villa Carlotta stay in a former aristocratic manor within walking distance to historic city center of Taormina. This luxury boutique hotel contains 23 individually designed guest rooms, which mixes its historic clad stone construction with modern styles to create a contemporary feel. Rooms have large bay windows looking out at the sea, private bathrooms, bathrobes, slippers, complimentary wireless Internet, plasma televisions, air-conditioning and balconies. Guests have access to a nearby fitness center and an on-site book and DVD library. The hotel can arrange a chauffeured car-service, theater tickets and dinner reservations.

Hotel Villa Carlotta
Via Pirandello 81 Taormina
Phone: (+39) 0942-626-058
Web site: www.hotelvillacarlottataormina.com

Hotel Palazzo Failla

Located in southeastern Sicily, the Hotel Palazzo Failla gives guests easy access to Modica’s 100 historic churches. This luxury hotel features a traditional Sicilian design and atmosphere. Throughout the property guests can admire original frescoes, hand-made ceramics and antique furniture. Rooms carry the same Old World feeling, yet feature modern amenities such as wireless Internet access, air conditioning and satellite television. All room rates include a daily breakfast buffet. The hotel’s cafe serves cocktails and coffee throughout the day and the on-site restaurant offers Sicilian dishes and wine.

Hotel Palazzo Failla
Via Blandini 5
Modica
Phone: (+39) 0932-941-059
Web site: www.palazzofailla.com

Article by by Patrick M. Lind, Demand Media
Source: USAToday.com

Verdura Golf Resort and Spa, Sicily

The Telegraph published a review of the Verdura Golf Resort and Spa, Sicily a few days ago.

The spa: Perched on the rugged landscape of the lesser-known south-western coast of Sicily is this new shoreline resort from Rocco Forte, the king of cosy minimalism. At 4,000 square metres, this spa is one of the biggest in Europe.

Spa Spy’s symptoms: An outbreak of mild eczema has left Spy with dried-out and itchy skin, plus asthma which, Spy suspects, has been brought on by a stressy, urban lifestyle.

The prescription: Pre-treatment soaks in the four outdoor thalassotherapy pools, filled with mineral-rich sea water. A self-administered hydro-massage under the pool’s various power jets is followed by a 50-minute Sicilian Aroma massage (£93).

The procedure: After an initial consultation and a 45-minute relaxing soak in the pools, hammam and “experience” showers, it was time for the signature treatment: an all-over body massage aimed at moisturising the skin and offering complete relaxation. Local olive oil, lemons and blood oranges are used.

The verdict: The time spent in the thalassotherapy pools was not only relaxing but resulted in Spy’s skin calming down and feeling noticeably more hydrated. The massage was the icing on top – with aches and pains eased away and skin feeling soft and supple.

The medical opinion: Dr Eric Asher, medical director and GP at Third Space Medicine, London, says: “The application of fairly strong jets of water to skin nerve endings can stimulate a healing response in the underlying tissues and even (possibly) in organs linked to the areas being treated. The minerals in the water are likely to be beneficial as they are a more concentrated version of the body’s own blood salts and would also stimulate healing in the superficial skin cells, helping to alleviate itchy skin.”

The feelgood factor: The resort’s stark design, by architect Flavio Albanese, suits its location on a wide expanse of rugged shoreline. But the ultra-modern look is softened by it being set among fragrant olive groves and gardens. All 203 bungalow rooms have terraces, sea views and lovely Sicilian design touches – local mosaics and ceramics and flashes of warm colour.

Details: During March and April, a three-night stay at Verdura (00800 7666 6667, www.roccofortecollection.com) starts from £1,100, as part of the resort’s Exclusive Spring Offer. This includes daily breakfast, complimentary three-course dinner every evening, complimentary green fees for unlimited use on the three golf courses, and a complimentary spa treatment for each three-night stay. Alitalia (alitalia.com) flies to Catania from London Heathrow, from £177 return.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Verdura Golf & Spa Resort in Sicily reopening March 1, 2010 with a new Spring offer

The Rocco Forte Collection’s first ever golf and spa resort, Verdura in Sicily, will reopen its doors for its first full season on March 1, 2010.

The luxurious Olga Polizzi-designed resort, complete with a private coastline, three links style golf courses, a thalasso-therapy spa and four restaurants, is situated in a beautiful corner of South West Sicily, one hour’s drive from Palermo.

To celebrate the reopening of the resort, Verdura has launched a Spring promotion from March 1 to April 29 (excluding Easter) offering guests booking a stay on a bed and breakfast basis a complimentary upgrade to half-board, unlimited green fees and a complimentary 50—minute spa treatment for each three night stay.

Sir Rocco Forte, chairman and CEO of The Rocco Forte Collection, explains, “From the outset I wanted to create a truly luxurious resort which offered exceptional golf, spa and dining experiences amid panoramic views and spectacular design. With 1.8km of coastline and 230 hectares of land, Verdura offers an incredible feeling of space for those staying in the 203 rooms and suites of the hotel. My sister Olga Polizzi has worked very hard to create a look that is both luxurious and striking – our guests will know they are waking up in Sicily.”

Golfers will enjoy a first-rate experience with two 18 –hole championship golf courses as well as a 9-hole par-3 course, set into the Sicilian countryside designed by renowned golf architect Kyle Philips. The spectacular 4,000sq metre Verdura Spa is a tranquil retreat offering luxurious treatments using local olive oil and extracts from oranges and lemons. The spa also houses a lap pool, fitness center, hammam, beauty salon and open-air thalasso-therapy pools.

Families will be very well looked after with a Verdura’s Kids Club and Teenagers Club, many land and sea activities, including tennis, sailing, windsurfing and two tiered swimming pool.

Sir Rocco Forte continues, “Verdura brings together the talent and experience of some of the world’s best hotel, golf course and spa designers, who have used the vivid Sicilian setting as the inspiration for their work.”

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