Hotel Panorama di Sicilia

The hotel is ideally placed for exploring Castelmola, and buses run to Toarmina. We walked the Sentiero dei Saraceni down to Taormina and found it less demanding than expected. Staff were excellent, even helping us park among Castelmola’s narrow streets. Our double room was lovely, and breakfast on the terrace came with superb views of Mount Etna and the coastline. We also enjoyed the local Sicilian wines, which were very reasonably priced. Highly recommend this place.

The town itself is charming, and Taormina is only about 20 minutes away by car. This is a simple but really good B&B, with big rooms, air conditioning that’s essential in summer, and a terrace with stunning views of Etna and the coast. The staff were helpful and nice. Be aware that getting in involves two flights of stairs. The place closes at 23:00, but we were given a key to the main door. You can park in front if you ask the staff, who give you a sign for the car. Without that, only residents can park in town.

The high setting means there’s no traffic, so it feels quiet and private. We had such a beautiful stay and would definitely come back. Our room was bright, the sheets were fresh, and we slept really well. We loved the balconies and the stunning view. Igor’s hospitality was so welcome, thank you 🤩 There’s a new high-end restaurant down in the village. Avoid the closest place, the “fish one”, which felt like a tourist trap trading on its terrace view.

We had a memorable stay, thanks in large part to the family hosts, who were welcoming, professional, and accommodating. The hotel provides free parking for guests. Our room was spacious and clean, and the air conditioning worked quietly and well, so we slept comfortably. There was no TV or fridge, but we didn't mind. The place hasn't been renovated, and the price reflects that. The owner explained that the local council owns the property and doesn't want to pay for renovations. At a renovated standard, the nightly price might be three times as much. The views are spectacular, across the bay of Giardino Naxos, with Etna right in front of the balcony.