Corte Aragonese

Etna was clearly visible from the pool, and the refuge was an easy 40-minute drive away. The rooms are modern and clean, with daily cleaning. Dinner was home-cooked and delicious at a very reasonable price. The lovely hosts also served fresh croissants and cakes for breakfast, with eggs, cheese, and ham as options. Highly recommend.

Maria greeted us with a big, kind smile, which was a relief after a long, tiring drive. We picked this place at random at the start of our trip around eastern Sicily and were so glad we did. It felt like a lovely oasis after the chaos and unattractive areas we passed while following our mapped route. Call Maria for the best way to get here and avoid the roads we took. The hotel is only 20 minutes from Catania. A small family runs the place and takes real care with their land, service, and kindness. Our room was very clean and had everything we needed, including a small fridge, for a good night's sleep. The food was very good. I especially liked the Vulcano Spaghetti, which had a bit of heat, as the name suggests, but the flavors worked beautifully together. The preserves are made with organic, real fruit. I wholeheartedly recommend staying here if you're in the area. You'll love it!

The family running the place are very friendly, though a little reserved at first. By the time we left, I felt we were friends. We stayed three nights and ate there in the evenings. The food was really good, and the pasta with pistachio and pepper was superb and memorable. Breakfast was good too. There are great views of Etna from the rooms, and driving up and back in a day was quite easy, though we got a bit lost, which is half the fun. With a car, it's an easy drive to supermarkets in Paterno, Santa Maria Licodia, and Biancavilla. It is rural and seemed isolated at first, but the location is on the main road and clearly signed. Our sat nav took us off the main SS121. The place has some history, though my poor Italian meant I didn't learn much about it. We came from the UK by car, and I think you'd have a good time using this as a base.

Maria and the staff were friendly and accommodating, and the food was some of the best I had in the area. The restaurant and pool are both great, and the grounds were very clean. Our rooms were cleaned daily, with fresh towels and linens. I stayed with a large group on a class trip. The beds may be fine for most people, but some might find them small and not very supportive. The WiFi was unreliable. I'd still recommend staying here.