Palazzo Giovanni Bed and Breakfast

Silvio and his wife showed us real hospitality, with local suggestions, dinner reservations, and a lovely rooftop breakfast overlooking Etna. The palazzo is a beautiful, ornate building with spacious rooms and nice amenities. There’s also a family of century-old turtles in the central courtyard, a lovely extra if you're travelling with young children or are a turtle fan. This is an incredible B&B in an unspoiled part of Sicily. Silvio recommended getting a seltz limone in the square on a hot day, and it was a great tip. We couldn’t recommend the place more.

Palazzo Giovanni is a thoughtfully restored tribute to Sicily, and the hospitality felt warm and generous. Silvio took time to tell us about the house, his family, and their gorgeous lemon grove. He also gave us plenty of suggestions for places to eat, grab a snack, and swim. The location makes it easy to explore Etna with a 15-minute drive, or reach the beach after a five-minute stroll. The rooms were cute, spacious, comfortable, and clean. Breakfast on the terrace, with homemade marmalades and fresh eggs and a view of Etna, was unforgettable. Stazzo is a sweet little port town where you can experience a very local, unspoiled Sicilian way of life. We heard the church bells and swam alongside locals in the black Etna sand and crystal-clear water. Say hi to the tiny turtles and Rambo the cat, lounging in the courtyard. Forget Taormina, this is better.

Breakfast on that terrace was a highlight, with Mount Etna on one side and the sea on the other. Palazzo Giovanni is in Stazzo, a small village by the coast at Etna's foothills, and the elegant, spotless house has roomy en-suite bedrooms surrounded by lemon and orange trees. Sig.Silvio was always kind and ready with advice about restaurants, nearby places, and excursions. I’d happily return to the Catania area, and recommend it without hesitation.

Our host Silvio made the weekend memorable. Palazzo Giovanni sits on a quiet street beside its own large lemon grove, with Mount Etna in the distance. Stazzo’s boat harbor is an easy walk, and Acireale is only a short drive away.