Great rooms/apartments, perfect for a couples retreat and really really friendly service from Mathilde and her father.

The old vinegar press building apartments have been converted into really great little apartments, ideal for couples escaping it all on the island. Catania isn't really what you'd list as a tourist retreat but the food markets are really worth the visit, especially if you plan on taking advantage of having the mini kitchen in the apartment (it's a little bit too small and under-equipped to call it a full kitchen that's easy to cook say a family meal in every day). However the motorway is only round the corner (as is supermarket supplies) and its easy to get to Noto and the South East or up the coast to the more touristic venues and Etna.

You can really tell they are trying to transform the place and the farm is having a good makeover with new crop trees being planted and swimming pools being developed for next year. It's lovely in the evening wandering around picking almonds, figs, pomegranates and oranges from the trees to add to your evening meals or for juicing in the morning for breakfast.

There are only 2 problems with the venue. One is the rather limited and very slow broadband, but if you don't mind that sort of thing then I am sure you will love escaping it all here. The second is the approach road to the property from the motorway which is strewn with litter, the entrance way to the property being a bit hidden and also being on a blind bend in the road that the locals treat like a rat-run. However these are certainly nothing compared to being able to watch Etna erupting at night from your apartment doorway like we were lucky enough to do.