Monaci delle Terre Nere

Rooms

Monaci delle Terre Nere has expanded over the years and now comprises 27 rooms, suites and villas.

Signature Suites, are scattered around the property, either in original buildings with lava-stone walls or in modern cottages, and feature private patio gardens or terraces. All look to be in-keeping with the hotel's sleek elegant design, including parquet flooring, and feedback is good. We loved show-stopper Junior Suite Amabile, which has an oval in-room bath, bare stone walls, and a fabulous fireplace, all set in the eaves with views of Mt Ilice.

Further afield and up towards Mt Etna, separate lava stone outbuildings have been transformed into standalone Pool Villas, the Two-Bedroom Pool Villa, and the upscale Monaci Pool Villa. All have gardens and small swimming pools, perfect for honeymooners or guests looking for added privacy, and long views across the estate and its vineyards to the sea.

Wherever located, all rooms exhibit the same intelligent design touch that includes smart lamps and comfortable kingsize beds dressed in organic-cotton linens. Contemporary bathrooms (some with bathtubs, others with walk-in showers) have hairdryers, robes and organic toiletries. We were impressed with the selection of Etna wines and snacks in the minibars.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfasts (included in the rates) are served on the pretty terrace in warmer months, or in the private dining room in cooler months. Choose from cereals, yoghurt, home-baked breads and up to four kinds of cake, along with artisan jams, Etna cheeses and hard-boiled eggs (produced by their own chickens).

Other meals are served in the fine-dining restaurant, Nerello, which has a gorgeous sunny terrace. Lunches are light: perhaps a simple plate of pasta or tasty tomato and rocket salad dressed in the estate's own virgin olive oil, which has a delicious peppery taste.

For dinner, there are à la carte options, tasting menus or daily set menus. The dishes showcase the very best in local produce, much sourced from the farm itself. Guido is passionate about the Etna region's bounty and a fervent advocate for zero food kilometres and sustainability - and is also a trained sommelier whose recommendations were always spot on. We opted for the 4-course set menu, which was truly scrummy. It began with an aubergine and Ragusa mozzarella puff pastry, followed by cuttlefish risotto and baked sea bass with home-grown salad. Dolci was pistachio semifreddo or Sicilian chocolate cake.

For pre- or post-dinner beverages, head to Convivium Bar and try some of Guido's homemade wine while admiring the gorgeous views of Mt Etna. If eating out, Guido recommends intimate and classy All'Angolo 8km away, which offers traditional fare, or seafood specialist La Grotta on the coast, 12km away.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Kids' meals
• Organic produce
• Restaurant
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• The number one sight round here is Mt Etna - Europe's tallest, most active volcano - and its surrounding National Park. Visitors can hike up or ski down its slopes; most will drive up to various access points for stunning views, exploring vents and craters, and taking the cable car up to 2500m
  
• Taormina - popular for its shopping, beaches, breath-taking setting on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Ionian Sea, and impressive ancient Greco-Roman theatre - is 40 minutes away
  
• Explore the coast: fishing village Acitrezza offers boat trips and scuba diving, as well as a Lido
  
• The Etna coastal region produces excellent food and drink. For an authentic and delicious lunch on Etna, Parco Statella is a must - Massimo and his wife are on hand to prepare local seasonal produce for you
  
• Or take a Sicilian cooking class with the hotel's chef and create cocktails with the barman
  
• There's a day spa 8km away; in-room massages and yoga lessons can be arranged at the hotel, plus there's a weekly complimentary yoga session for guests (suitable for all levels) and other yoga lessons available
  
• The property's own Guido Coffe vineyards continue to grow and a wine tasting evening can be arranged in the old cistern of the main house with the sommelier
  
• Take a helicopter tour from the hotel's own helipad if you're feeling flush; otherwise private guides can be arranged
  
• We loved simply wandering around the 40-acre estate, admiring the views, fruit trees and organic planting scheme, and listening to birdsong

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Cycling
• Golf
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Language courses
• Mountain biking
• Plantlife / flora
• Scuba diving
• Shopping / markets
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Wine tasting
• Yoga

Kids

Although a tranquil grown-up retreat, children are warmly welcomed here – as ours can testify – and we think it will make a great base for a family wanting to explore the fun activities and charm of the Etna region of Sicily, especially one with older children you can trust to be around nice objets d'art, and lots of terraces and steps.

Cots and extra beds are available on request; larger rooms have sofabeds, too. There's a small playground and large pool on-site. Villas and Pool Estate Suites all come with small private pools.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Junior Suites Amabile and Intenso can sleep up to 4 (a double sofabed in the former, a single bed in a loft + sofabed in the latter). The Villas can also take baby cots and have double sofabeds in their living rooms; note that they are removed from the main building so provide privacy but you are further from the pool and playground.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 40 minutes
• Doctor: 15 minutes
• Shops: 5 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Monaci delle Terre Nere is on the lower slopes of Mt Etna, near the small town of Zafferana Etnea, which is almost equidistant between Catania and Taormina, along the northeast coast of Sicily.

By Air:
Most will fly to Catania Fontanarossa (36km away, allow 30-45 minutes to drive to the hotel) but if you're touring the whole of Sicily you might fly into Comiso (117km away) or Palermo (220km away).

From the Airport
Pick up a rental car at the airport - see our car rental recommendations - then it's a quick journey along the A18 autostrada, taking the Zafferana Etnea exit. Alternatively, the hotel can provide a transfer at an extra cost.

By Bus:
Take a bus from the airport to the main bus station, then take another bus to Fleri. From here you will be collected by Monaci delle Terre Nere.

By Boat:
If you're driving from southern mainland Italy, take the regular ferry from Villa San Giovanni to Messina (every 20 minutes; sailing time of 20 minutes) then follow the A18 motorway south to Catania and take the Pisano turnoff.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.