Donna Carmela, ITALY

Dining: Relish the region. Donna Carmela's menu, based on the typical local delicious recipes, will bring you on a culinary journey through the flavors and scents of ancient traditional Sicilian cuisine. The care put into the choice of ingredients and the passion put into the preparation turn every dish into both a pleasure and a discovery. Thanks to the refined wine cellar, they always complement the dishes with the most appropriate wine. Quality, passion and good taste for those who have a fine palate: with Donna Carmela the best of Sicilian cuisine is always within your fork's reach - except on Wednesday, when it is closed. Be sure to reserve a space the day before. The restaurant, La Cucina di Donna Carmela, is open to the public. One day advance booking for lunch and dinner is required.

Facilities & services: In addition to the daily cleaning, the fridge-bar, satellite TV and toilets in every room, there is an ample parking area, a restaurant, laundry services, air conditioning, Internet access, a swimming pool, a solarium and a reading room.

Special Events: the perfect conference room where you can organize any type of event. The natural scenery and quiet of the area and the easy access and services make Donna Carmela the ideal place for company briefings, business training courses and any other type of meeting. For all your special moments: honeymoon or anniversary, a romantic occasion or a chance to relax with your family. Any occasion will become a special moment thanks to the warm welcome and services you will receive especially thought of to make your events special.

Nearby activities include: sports and nature, skiing, golf club (il picciolo) 25minutes by car, trekking, sailing, tennis (Tennis Club Acireale), Alcantara Adventure (sport fluviali nel Parco fluviale dell'Alcantara), Amatori Nuoto Faro S.Anna: private spa, solarium, bar and restaurant, Mikasaluxury: charter boats, Air Panarea: (helicopeter rides), Diving Center Capo Taormina, and guided tour of Mount Etna. It is also possible to organize tasting sessions of local products.

Nearby Attractions:
The port of Riposto - 5 km
Fontanarossa Airport, Catania - 43 km
The centre of Catania - 18 km
Acireale - 5 km
Taormina - 25 Km
Mount Etna - 34 km
The Greek theatre of Siracuse - 90 km
Golf Club - 40 km
The Roman villa of Piazza Armerina - 110 km
The Valley of Temples, Agrigento - 180 km

Homemade House Wine: The Doc wine for Donna Carmela is produced on ten hectares in the most prestigious wine area on Mount Etna. These vineyards between Solicchiata and Passopisciaro on the northern side of the volcano in the territory of Castiglione di Sicilia were bought by Donna Carmela in 2006 and all grow Nerello Mascalese, the vine that produces the most appreciated wines in this area.
The wine-making is done in a well-equipped cellar in Mascali, the area of origin of the Nerello Mascalese, only a few kilometers away from Donna Carmela. The name of the wine, Pietradolce - Archineri Etna Doc, comes from the place where it is produced and is born from the passion and commitment of the Faro family. It is characterized by its ruby-red color, red berry scents with mineral notes, and by the complexity, persistence and elegant tannin it offers the palate.

Botanical Gardens: Relaxing, wining and dining, is not the only thing they offer. A little lower down the mountain side, between the Ionic coast and the first hills, discover the best environment for Mediterranean plants to flourish, where Piante Faro created the biggest nursery in Europe. Here plants develop into unrepeatable shapes and colors. Donna Carmela gardens feature Abutilon, Agave, Ficus, Cistus, Opuntiae, and ornamental Citrus plants. They are the essence of Mediterranean gardens and these plants and flowers offer themselves to visitors in all their charm. Here you may enjoy a guided tour to discover the hundreds of scents and varieties of Mediterranean plants and admire a private collection of subtropical plants.

Getting there: From the Vincenzo Bellini Airport, located in Fontanarossa, Catania, follow the road signs for the Autostrada A18 Catania-Messina. At the exit for Giarre keep to the left and after 300m at the stop sign turn right towards Catania. After 1km you will pass a Landrover dealer, keep on for another 500m and turn off the main road at San Leonardello on the left towards Torre Achirafi and Carruba di Riposto. In the village of Carubba turn right by the church, after 800m go through the bridge keeping to the right and after another 300m you will reach Donna Carmela.