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'CASA ARANCI' self catering villa, great sea views, close to piazza Duomo

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Terrace
Property grounds
Kitchen and dining area
Living area
Property grounds
Reviews
10 out of 10 Exceptional
3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 5200 sq m

Popular amenities

  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Free WiFiFree WiFiFree WiFi
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • Air conditioningAir conditioningAir conditioning
  • Outdoor spaceOutdoor spaceOutdoor space

Check out the area

Map
Acireale, Sicily
  • Popular LocationAcireale Cathedral5 min walk
  • Popular LocationPiazza del Duomo5 min walk
  • Popular LocationL'Antico Teatro dei Pupi9 min walk
  • AirportCatania (CTA-Fontanarossa)35 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Futon and 1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Single Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Bidet · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Bidet · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Dining Area

About this property

'CASA ARANCI' self catering villa, great sea views, close to piazza Duomo

This 3 bedroom house which spans over 3 floors is situated in Piazza Madonna Suffragio with magnificent views of both a beautiful 400 year old church and the Ionian sea; it is walking distance from the heart of Acireale, a 17 C baroque town bursting with beautiful historical buildings. 'Casa Aranci', recently refurbished, retains some of its original features and integrates within the square.

Casa Aranci sleeps 5 people.
The first floor is dedicated entirely to an en suite bedroom with a king double bed, it also has a single sofa bed for a third guest.
The second floor comprises of a king double bed room and a single room both sharing a 'wrap around' style balcony with individual access from the respective rooms and a bathroom with shower. The highlight of 'Casa Aranci' has to be the third floor which is the kitchen and dinning area leading out to a garden terrace which benefits from magnificent views of the sea. There’s also a bathroom with shower on this floor.
All rooms have air conditioning which can also switch to heating in the few cold winter nights between Nov and April.

Catania, Taormina Mt Etna and Siracusa are within one hour drive.

Thermal Site; Acireale's Santa Venera Thermal Site dates back to Roman-times but unfortunately it is currently closed to the public.

Excursions to Mt Etna: Etna volcano, the largest Volcano in Europe, towering above Catania, Sicily's second largest city, has one of the world's longest documented records of historical volcanism, dating back to 1500 BC. Historical lava flows of basaltic composition cover much of the surface of this massive volcano. The Volcano, truncated by several small calderas, was constructed during the late Pleistocene and Holocene over an older shield volcano.
If you are a volcanoes amateur it is possible to organise a trip to Refugio Sapienza and the cable car that departs from there followed by a ride in a four wheel drive shuttle and take advantage from there of the guided tours with highly trained experts in geology and volcanology that can lead you on small groups to the summit of mount Etna. In Casa Aranci you’ll find vouchers for a free snack and drink for everyone taken the excursion to the summit.

There are good restaurants in Acireale and around. "Vecchia Aci" trattoria in the square on the side of the San Sebastian church,  also from Piazza Duomo you can walk across on via Cavour until you see the steps of the church of San Domenico, and across the church is the restaurant "Il Fico d'India" also a very good restaurant/pizzeria and quite good value ( these are my favourites). -please note: Fico d’India means The Prickly Pear, which is a typical Mediterranean plant and nothing to do with Indian food!

The recently open restaurant-pizzeria “Frumento” in the fish market of Piazza Mazzini are open for dinner, their food and wines are very good quality and they’re very popular already. 

The pizzeria “Vecchio Teatro” round the corner from the house in via Romeo has reopened after being closed recently for refurbishment and it’s very economical. .

For an aperitif just seat at "Costarelli" or any bar near Piazza Duomo and enjoy the scenery and the passeggiata (walk on the main street Corso Umberto up to Villa Belvedere gardens). 
 
Locals have their midmorning snack of "granita" - a sorbet made with almond paste - you can sample different flavours also at cafe' "Cipriani" just across the church of San Sebastian -closed on Wednesdays- 

In Santa Maria la Scala there are several good sea-food restaurants "Scalo Grande", "La Grotta", “Al Mulino” and "La Timpa" (their granita is renowned).

For a special evening, the town of Acitrezza has several sea food restaurants, the best one, "Da Federico", is in the main square  or my friend Emmanuele's "Il Covo Marino". 
Also "La Bettola dei Marinai, Da Lorenzo" in the town of Santa Tecla and "Aquapazza" near the small port in that the same town. 
In the small town of Capomulini try the restaurant “Al Mulino”, it’s position on stills right on the sea, their menu and service are very good. - practice your Italian in google translate!

Also the Pinacoteca Museum in via Marchese di San Giuliano is one of the most important in Sicily and the nearby Teatro dei Pupi (a theater of traditional sicilian marionettes playing scenes of history in Sicily) and its own museum upstairs are worth visiting.

There's a foot bridge across the square from the house that leads to an ancient path to the sea in the village of Santa Maria la Scala, you'll enjoy the walk; this path is known as "Le Chiazzette" (a natural reserve now); you'll find a metal post about half way down, you can go on walking up to the town square or take the steep steps on the right that takes you to the old flour mill (Il Mulino) and the sea. The sun goes behind the hill in the afternoon so the best time to go is in the morning. For the summer months the town hall built a free entry wooden platform on the rocks with showers and a little bar with deck chairs to rent.

We should also add that the old church across the square tells the time with its bells from 7am to 10pm. This is an ancient custom in Sicily that has been carried out for centuries since the period when it was the only way for most parishioners to know when it was time to get up, have lunch, the Angelus and go to bed... This is difficult to understand nowadays when we all have watches and phones to do that job!
However, we provide earplugs in the house if you think it may affect you!

Property manager

Mario Failla/Eamon Murphy

Languages

English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
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Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

House Rules

Check in after 3:30 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 10:30 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts cash
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

All guests, including children, must be present at check-in and show their government-issued photo ID card or passport
Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed EUR 5000, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using the information in the booking confirmation
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Acireale

Located in Acireale, this holiday home is by the sea. Via Etnea and Ursino Castle are notable landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Mount Etna and Catania Beach. Butterfly House and Adventure Park Etna are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with scuba diving and snorkelling nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and hiking/biking trails.
Map
Acireale, Sicily

What's nearby

  • Acireale Cathedral - 5 min walk
  • Piazza del Duomo - 5 min walk
  • Palazzo Musmeci - 7 min walk
  • Piazza San Domenico - 7 min walk
  • L'Antico Teatro dei Pupi - 9 min walk

Getting around

  • Acireale Station - 10 min drive
  • Catania (CTA-Fontanarossa) - 36 min drive

Restaurants

  • Cipriani Michele - 6 min walk
  • Moro - 5 min walk
  • Frumento - 5 min walk
  • Rococò - 7 min walk
  • Etimuè Pub Birreria - 3 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is 'CASA ARANCI' self catering villa, great sea views, close to piazza Duomo pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at 'CASA ARANCI' self catering villa, great sea views, close to piazza Duomo?

Check-in begins at 3:30 PM.

What time is check-out at 'CASA ARANCI' self catering villa, great sea views, close to piazza Duomo?

Checkout is at 10:30 AM.

Where is 'CASA ARANCI' self catering villa, great sea views, close to piazza Duomo located?

Situated by the sea, this holiday home is within a 5-minute walk of Timpa Natural Reserve, Ionian Sea and Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Acireale Cathedral and Piazza del Duomo are also within 5 minutes. Acireale Station is 21 minutes by foot.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 66 out of 70 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 70 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 70 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 70 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 70 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Mike D., England

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Mario
Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful Wonndrful
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Penny H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our stay at Aranci 70
Before we arrived at the property, Mario provided extremely helpful information and was there to greet us on arrival. The villa provided everything we could ask for and Mario was always on hand to provide any help. It was a short stay but made all the better by our accommodation. The beds were comfy and the kitchen provided all the equipment we needed.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michael B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a lovely stay at Casa Aranci
We had a lovely stay at Casa Aranci, and we would like to extend our sincere thanks to Mario and Eamon, the owners of this charming property, who were enormously kind and helpful not only in providing advice about how best to reach the many sights within the area, such as Etna, Catania, Taormina and Siracusa, but also in their assistance with making arrangements and negotiating with the local taxi service in addition to their recommendations on the many good restaurants within Acireale and elsewhere that would not otherwise be discovered by novice visitors. The well-equipped property, whose location is close to the church in Piazza Duomo, has a superb balcony from which to observe Sicilian life and enjoy beautiful sea views, especially at sundown with something cold and alcoholic; and is also in a great location to walk down to the quaint fishing village of Santa Maria La Scala to enjoy some excellent sea food and yet more beautiful sea views. The old town of Acireale is lovely and remarkably un-touristy given its proximity to Catania. It also serves as a convenient base from which to visit other significant sights on the Ionian coast; and if you like baroque architecture and very good, traditional Sicilian restaurants which are also very reasonably priced (e.g. €55-€65 for a family of 5, including starters, such as caponata and bruschetta, and main courses of pasta and pizza washed down with a 1 litre of good house wine) then Acireale is the place to be! Furthermore, we had the good fortune of our visit coinciding with Acireale's Carnevale that also occurs in early August, as well as in February, which was also thoroughly worthwhile experience. Finally, we had an excellent time in Acireale and on Sicily's Ionian coast, and this was in no small part due to the help of Casa Aranci’s very kind and hospitable owners, Mario and Eamon. We would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Casa Aranci to anyone looking to explore this lovely part of the world.
Stayed 11 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Lynne P.

Perfect Location - Perfect Paradise
Look no further. Choose this one. A real taste of authentic Sicily. Stayed here as a group of five friends – outstanding location close to all sights and amenities. Centrally located in the heart of the Piazza, panoramic views over a glistening sea. Spacious and airy bedrooms, with ensuites and roomy, hand-crafted wardrobes, functioning shuttered windows and balconies, overlooking magnificent church. You immediately feel you are in the hub of Sicilian life. The Townhouse is well appointed in a classical style with touches of modern décor. Very versatile, suits an entire family or group like ours or separate couples: The top floor has well-equipped and comfortable living and kitchen space, for family group dining. Handy adjacent bathroom. The magnificent central ocean view on a wide panoramic balcony is THE place to sit, sip and wonder in awe , morning or evening. Pure heaven. A short 5-10 minute walk to a very well stocked supermarket – fresh produce, reasonably priced, you can spend the week working through their cheese and wine, envying Sicilian lemons and everything else Italian. Also nearby picturesque Cathedral and Churches, welcoming coffee shops pastries, cakes and lunches. Excellent range restaurants – authentic Italian . Here also are the artisan shops, bakeries, smart retail, pharmacy etc. A walk down to the cliff to beautiful town of Santa Maria La Scala for sunning swimming and lunching and a welcome return bus. . We were also able to arrange a day out with a very comfortable taxi drop off and pick up to Taormina, which is not to be missed. Absolutely spectacular. We didn’t hire a car as we didn’t really need to. Maybe for longer visits. Used the taxis recommended. Hosts so helpful with arrangements and airport pickup. This is truly a very comfortable and well-appointed base to explore and enjoy. Well run and maintained with thought and care. Rooms/floors have individual locks and the solid front door is very secure. It felt very safe. The area felt safe. Plenty of hot water, spotlessly clean, as the accommodation is large. Plentiful fresh linens. large fridge, good washing machine/drying space, to minimise packing, extendable dining table, plenty of chairs. Spare beds for children and enough space to move around. Well loved and looked after accommodation. Even the plants looked perky. A great find. Recommend. A magical stay at Casa Aranci -

10/10 Excellent

DENISE K.

Fabulous Memories of Casa Aranci!
A beautiful quaint Italian property very near a Catholic Church (whose bells I am now missing)! The view from the top third floor is spectacular looking at the sea and you can do a bit of people watching as the locals go about their business. You also get the early morning sun which you can enjoy sitting on the balcony with your expresso! And in the evening just as stunning with your glass of prosecco or Italian red! There were five of us in the party staying here and we certainly had plenty of room. The town is 5 mins away - with plenty of restuarants and coffee shops. The owners of the property also left us taxi details and people to contact for excursions which we made the most of. We visited Taormina by by car and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves but I am so glad that we stayed in Acireale as I felt we were more in an Italian environment away from too many tourists. Every day we walked to Piazza del Duomo where there is the most incredible coffee shop with cakes, ice cream and assortment of Italian pastries. It is directly opposite the huge church. And every day it took us ages to actually chose what we wanted as we tried to taste everything. The staff were so friendly and patient! At night we always went somewhere different to eat - and believe me I would not be able to say which was the best restaurant! They were so good!!! There are also excellent walks by the sea and a lot to explore. I will definitely be returning to Casa Aranci as I think I have found my new 2nd home! Thank you to the owners of Casa Aranci and their family nearby who were always willing to help and give advice!

About the host

Hosted by Mario Failla/Eamon Murphy

Host profile image

What makes this property unique

The excellent view from its terrace will make you fall in love with it as it did to us from the minute we set foot in it... It was, and it still is, like seating in the deck of a cruise ship; from dawn to sunset!

Languages:

English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
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