Villa Paradiso dell’Etna
S. Giovanni La Punta, Catania
Painting and review are copyrighted work by Ginda Simpson
Even inclement
weather did not diminish the pleasures of a stay at Villa Paradiso
dell’Etna on the outskirts of Catania, for this is a hotel that was
built with the sole purpose of offering guests a retreat in the
countryside at the foot of majestic Mt. Etna. If I were to choose a hotel where I would be forced to
spend a day or two of retreat, this would be it.
Villa
Paradiso has a long history of cordial hospitality.
Constructed in the 1920’s by Cosmo Mollica, a renowned
industrialist who owned an important marble works factory in the area, the
villa was the result of his dream to promote tourism on the island.
Villa Paradiso opened its doors in 1929 with much fanfare and soon
became a popular place of sojourn for the travelers that started to come
to Sicily.
Continuing
to offer the wonderfully, warm hospitality for which Sicily is known,
Villa Paradiso is proud of its rooms, each one charmingly unique.
Breakfast is served on its rooftop terrace, glass-enclosed and
cheerful, with a stunning view of Mt. Etna.
Its renowned restaurant, named “La Pigna” so called for the
pinecone that represents hospitality in Sicily, offers a creative cuisine
based on traditional recipes.
This is a quiet oasis and for
the traveler ready to retreat into the Sicilian countryside, Villa Paradiso is the perfect choice.