Monaci Delle Terre Nere

Hotel review

Clichés apart, Monaci delle Terre Nere is an absolute hidden gem. Accessibly off the beaten track, this 19-room boutique hotel is interestingly contemporary in terms of decor - bare gessoed and concreted walls, clever modern art, books you actually want to read or indeed should have read, with a bit of volcanic lava, Rococo, Philippe Starck and gilt thrown in. Importantly it is comfy and not in the least pretentious. A pretty dusty pink 19th century villa is the hub of the hotel whilst the bedrooms are scattered through the 40 acre grounds in a mixture of converted farm buildings, outhouses and some new builds. But don’t let this put you off, walking to and from the hotel is a delight – especially at night with sophisticated fairy lights to show you the way. The bedrooms and bathrooms are spacious, light and bright - all clean lines and modern simplicity. Lie by the pool and marvel at Mount Etna rising up behind the hotel, or admire the cultivated plains fanning out to the Mediterranean coast far below. The food is innovative and fresh, perhaps a tad expensive, the wines local and delicious. Guido, Ada and their excellent young team will make you feel entirely at home. This is the perfect base for exploring the fascinating north eastern shores and hinterland of Sicily by car, with easy access to historic points of interest such as Taormina and Syracuse and it's handy for Catania airport.

Caroline Townsend