Casa delle Zammare

A charming, welcoming house in a great spot by the port. It gives you a real feel for the Sicilian lifestyle.

The location is lovely, with fishmongers and a cooperative just steps away. There’s a pebble beach on the right and a sandy one a little farther to the left. The house itself has a nautical look, all white, blue, and warm brown, and is set up for nine people across four bedrooms, one downstairs and three upstairs. It has two bathrooms and two furnished terraces, both lovely places to spend time at any hour. Everything you need is there, even a small first aid kit, which was a thoughtful touch. Such a shame we only stayed two days, we needed a much longer holiday.

Salvo and Giusy were wonderful hosts, and their hospitality made the stay even better. Seven of us stayed in this beautiful two-storey house. The bedrooms all have air conditioning, and there are two bathrooms, a living room with sofa and TV, a fully equipped kitchen, and even a wine cellar with wine available. There’s also a dining room with a table for eight and a TV. Two terraces look over the harbor, and one also faces Mount Etna. They have sofas and chairs, while the large terrace also has a table for eight, loungers, and a barbecue. Bed and bath linens are provided and changed weekly. Parking is easy, and a beach umbrella and free parking are available at a beach club in Mascali. What more could you ask for?

At 3 PM on our check-in day, the apartment was still dirty, even though I’d told the manager I needed it for an important event. He blamed an unexpected problem with the cleaning staff, who didn’t arrive until after 4 PM. We ended up waiting two hours for them to clean everything. I think a property manager should find another solution instead of handing over a place in that state, especially during the COVID pandemic. I strongly advise against dealing with this “gentleman,” who manages this property and four or five others around Riposto, Giarre, and Mascali. He was completely unreliable. It looked as if he’d forgotten my reservation, and I’m almost certain he hadn’t even recorded it, since I accidentally saw that the property was still bookable on AirBnB for my dates. Otherwise, the house looks like the photos, though the walls are a little more worn. There’s a church behind it, and its bells ring every half hour from early morning.