Overview
Il Palmento dei Castagni is just a short walk out of the characteristic village of Sant’Alfio, about 550 metres up Mount Etna. It enjoys wonderful panoramas not only of Europe’s highest volcano but also the sea far down below. The owners have restored this old winery with exceptional taste, maintaining the original lava stonework and wood-beamed ceilings but adding some modern touches that can be seen in the wonderful bathrooms, the sauna and the general quality of the fittings and furnishings. The outside terraces are spacious and perfectly designed for outside dining and the splendidly private pool will make it hard to tear yourself away from the house! All in all a perfect choice for those wishing to relax and explore the magnificence of Etna and the beauties of the east coast of Sicily.
The Property
Inside: The main entrance takes you into a large open hall with high wood-beamed ceilings that used be the heart of the winery. This also functions as the dining area. The original wooden press dominates on one side while on the right there is a comfortably furnished mezzanine living area reached by wooden steps. Below this is a wonderful bathroom with sauna and the entrance to a double bedroom which itself leads to another sleeping area up a ladder on a mezzanine.
Moving from the hall past the old press, several steps take you into the main part of the house, which is extremely comfortably and cosily furnished. Here there is a double bedroom (its bathroom is up some stairs) with a cosy living area, a kitchen and another double bedroom with bathroom. This latter bedroom has direct access onto the gardens at the front of the house.
Outside: the Palmento has its back to a wall but on the other three sides is surrounded by large expanses of terracing, gardens and olive groves (not to mention the small football pitch). The main terrace area is home to an extensive dining area and barbecue zone. A few hundred metres from the house is a small wood with log cabin that is ideal for picnics. Down below , hidden away from the world, and just a short walk from the house is the fantastic new pool.
The Area
The village of Sant'Alfio, perched on the eastern flanks of fascinating Mount Etna, is a perfect gateway to exploring not only the looming volcano but also its many interesting towns and villages. There are a great number of excellent walks in the area and many very good restaurants, including one which is 2 just minutes away by car. Coming down from the mountain there are many visits to be made: Taormina, Catania, the Alcantara Gorge and, slightly further afield, Siracusa.
On the coast around Taormina there are many beaches and lidos.
Distances
Catania airport: 47km-29miles-40mins
Palermo airport: 272km-170miles-3hr10
Trapani airport: 353km-220miles-3hr55
Taormina: 32km-20miles -35mins
Mount Etna (La Sapienza cable car station): 29km-18miles-40mins
Siracusa:114km-70miles-1hr30
Call Us
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from the UK
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020 7377 8518
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from outside the UK
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+44(0)20 7377 8518
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Toll-Free from US or Canada
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1-800-490-1107
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We can take your call during London office opening hours:
Mon to Fri: 9:30am - 6pm, Sat: 10:30am - 5:30pm.
Booking notes
Options: we will hold options for you whilst you decide. The duration
of an option will depend on the property and the dates
Booking: a 30% deposit ( 100% if 9 weeks or less before departure)
will secure your booking.
Read our booking conditions
>>
Prices and payment: we accept payment in EUR, GBP and USD using
any major credit card, bank transfer or cheque.
More information about how we calculate our prices.
thinkAbout
The small town of Sant'Alfio with its shops and bars is a 20-minute walk away.
The road up and down from the motorway takes about 20 minutes but once on the motorway you can get to Taormina, beaches and Catania very quickly.
There is a road behind the house but it is not very busy and unlikely to disturb.
Many of the stairs in the property do not have banisters.
The 4th bedroom is accessed by a ladder and would be perfect for teenagers and relatively athletic people!
The sauna can be used by guests but is charged extra.