Where to stay on a farm at the foot of Mount Etna: the 10 best addresses chosen by Gambero Rosso

"A' muntagna," as the Sicilians call Etna, is one of the few active volcanoes in the world that is easily accessible, making it a constant destination for tourists—not just Italians—interested in this phenomenon, as well as for athletes drawn to the area by the opportunities for trekking, mountain biking, quad biking, off-road routes, and, in winter, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding. The characteristics of the surrounding terrain, rich in lava material making it particularly fertile, favor the cultivation of vineyards, pistachios, and fruit trees, products that find their way to the table.

Where to stay on a farm at the foot of Mount Etna

Bronte (CT) – Oro Verde

The green gold here is pistachio, a Slow Food Presidium with a PDO, cultivated right in Bronte, a town on the western slopes of Etna also famous for the Sicilian Cart Museum. This fruit, generating an annual wealth of about 40 million euros, has a festival at the end of September, and gives its name to this family-run agriturismo a few minutes from the center, with a magnificent view of the volcano. The 10 available rooms are quiet and welcoming, with all necessary amenities, well-furnished, and impeccably serviced. The breakfast, both sweet and savory, offers fresh and genuine products, homemade jams, and pastries. Parking, Wi-Fi, trekking, excursions, and horseback or mountain bike rides are available.

Oro Verde – s.da statale 284 c.da Borgonuovo via Messina, 275 – 095 691389-347 3723553 – www.agriturismoruraleoroverde.it

Castiglione di Sicilia (CT) – Fondo Cipollate

About 15 kilometers from Castiglione, in a panoramic position with a beautiful view from the mountains to the sea, this well-maintained agriturismo is housed in an old country house with land mainly cultivated with citrus fruits. The 10 rooms, each with a different imprint, are all furnished with antique furniture, wrought iron beds, and well-equipped. The breakfast, served in a cozy room or outdoors when the weather permits, is carefully prepared and genuine. The vast garden park features a beautiful swimming pool with sunbeds and umbrellas, children's play areas, and equipped relaxation areas. It’s an excellent base for trips and excursions, including the impressive Alcantara Gorges, where you can go trekking and rafting, while the splendid Taormina is just a few minutes away.

Fondo Cipollate – frazione Mitogio c.da Cipollate, 12 – 389 1571912 – www.agriturismofondocipollate.it

Giarre (CT) – San Leonardello

This beautiful organic agritourism, surrounded by greenery and just 3 kilometers from the sea, is managed by the Calabretta sisters who are affable hosts, offering accommodations of various sizes and types in restored old farmhouses, all with independent entrances, well-furnished, quiet, and comfortable. The breakfast features products from the family farm, particularly citrus fruits and fruit; for dinner (by reservation and in advance), a rich fixed menu. Services include parking, children's games, an equipped pool, bike rental, free Wi-Fi, and the opportunity to buy jams, preserves, citrus fruits, liqueurs, and aromatic herbs. Cooking classes are also organized.

San Leonardello – via Madonna della Libertà, 165 – 095 964020 –  www.sanleonardello.it

Linguaglossa (CT) – Kikajon

The unique position, close to the sea and the slopes of Etna, is not the only good reason to vacation in this corner of paradise. The structure is set in 8 hectares of organically cultivated land, producing wines and excellent extra virgin olive oil, products that can also be purchased on-site. There are 5 rooms available, each one different, furnished in a simple and warm style, equipped with all the comforts for a pleasant stay. The restaurant, housed in a renovated old winery, offers genuine traditional cuisine and pizzas. Breakfast features fresh and genuine products, parking, Wi-Fi, children's games, a barbecue area, a hot tub, a relaxation area, and airport transfer service from/to Catania.

Kikajon – c.da Sciaramanica – 3427197948 – www.kikajon.it

Mascali (CT) – La Pietra Antica o’ Munti

Located 9 kilometers from Mascali, near Sant’Alfio, this agriturismo is an old winery carefully restored, preserving as much of the original materials as possible and introducing new technologies to protect the environment, such as solar panels. Set in a beautiful estate of 4,000 square meters with panoramic terraces overlooking the sea, a vegetable garden, orchard, and a well-kept garden, it offers hospitality in different types of rooms and an apartment, ideal for families or long stays. The restaurant serves traditional dishes prepared by expert hands using genuine and seasonal ingredients, with homemade pasta, preserves, and pastries, all accompanied by Etna wines. Breakfast is rich and abundant, a delight for the palate. For relaxation, there is an equipped swimming pool.

La Pietra Antica o’ Munti – frazione Puntalazzo via Livio Andronico sn – 345 8208985 – www.lapietraantica.it  

Piedimonte Etneo (CT) – Etna-Mare

For those who want to truly disconnect and relax on vacation, this is one of the right addresses. Immersed in the greenery of a lush garden, a few kilometers from the beaches and the volcano, Etna-Mare is a family-run agriturismo where the first immediate sensation is feeling at home. Three independent apartments, each one different, well-furnished and equipped, are available for guests. Breakfast, which can be enjoyed outdoors or in an internal room, consists of fresh and genuine delights, some of which come from the 3 hectares of organically cultivated land. The property features a small museum of peasant civilization, parking, Wi-Fi, the possibility of buying farm products, a children's play area, and panoramic terraces equipped with umbrellas, tables, or sunbeds.

Etna-Mare – via Terremorte I traversa – 333 3163701 – www.agrietnamare.it

Randazzo (CT) – Etna Quota Mille

A few kilometers from the center, this is a noteworthy rural tourism spot completely surrounded by the greenery of a magnificent garden park, housed in an old farmhouse renovated using mainly local materials, such as lava stone. The rooms, with terracotta or wooden floors, beam ceilings, and rustic furnishings, guarantee quiet nights and every comfort. The restaurant, also open to non-residents, draws from the rich bounty of local seasonal products. At the right time, there are mushrooms and truffles; homemade fresh pasta and pastries. Tasting paths (for children, vegetarians, and vegans) and a wine list focused on local offerings are also available. Excursions (even by donkey), cooking courses, and tastings are organized. There is also parking, a bar, and a panoramic swimming pool.

Etna Quota Mille – s.da prov.le Quota Mille c.da Marzarola – 095 5187293 – www.etnaquotamille.it

Sant’Alfio (CT) – Case Perrotta

A couple of kilometers from the town center, at about 800 meters altitude, this is one of the oldest agritourisms in the area. The organic farm produces vegetables, aromatic herbs, extra virgin olive oil, fruit (with a special mention for Etna PDO cherries), and honey. There are 10 rooms available, 5 in the old winery and 5 in the main building (a former Benedictine monastery), each with its peculiarities but all quiet and spacious. The restaurant, open to non-resident guests, has built a well-deserved reputation for quality cuisine based on selected ingredients and tested recipes. The dishes are accompanied by a wine list mostly featuring local labels. Farm products can be purchased, and cooking classes are available.

Case Perrotta – via Livio Andronico, 2 – 095 968928 – www.caseperrotta.it

Santa Maria di Licodia (CT) – Fontana del Cherubino

A few minutes from the center, this agriturismo is housed in an old rural house completely redesigned and renovated, with ample spaces for relaxation, a garden, a lounge bar, and a TV room. The attached farm produces wine, table olives, and extra virgin olive oil from the Nocellara Etnea cultivar, fruit, citrus fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, and eggs. The breakfast, both sweet and savory, offers a rich assortment of fresh and genuine products. Visitors can stay in 5 panoramic rooms, each different, furnished with antique furniture, parking, and all necessary comforts. The swimming pool, set in lava rock, has a hot tub and sunbeds, bike rental, a restaurant by reservation and for events, and on request (and for a fee), transfer service to/from the train station or the airport. Dogs and small pets are allowed.

Fontana del Cherubino – c.da Panuzza – s.da Giovanni La Rosa, 5 – 347 6377800 – www.fontanadelcherubino.it

Viagrande (CT) – Casale Poggio del Tiglio

The setting is the unspoiled nature of the Etna Park, which offers many opportunities for leisure and sports, from trekking to e-bike rides and walks, but the sea is only a quarter of an hour away by car. Inside an old farmhouse under the protection of the Cultural Heritage, renovated respecting the original architecture, you will find warm, welcoming, and refined hospitality typical of family management. The entire structure is surrounded by a vast garden park with a children's play area and a swimming pool equipped with sunbeds. There are 8 accommodations, each with its peculiarities, all well-furnished and comfortable. The rich and genuine breakfast lifts the spirits, with homemade pastries and jams and freshly squeezed citrus juices. Excursions and rides, even on horseback, are organized.

Casale Poggio del Tiglio – via San Giovannello, 1/B – 095 956496 – www.poggiodeltiglio.it