The house with the courtyard pool
6 Guests
3 Bedrooms
3 Bathrooms
With its internal courtyard garden with pool, Camelia's design has something of the traditional Sicilian baglio or Moroccan riad about it. Here, however, inward-facing privacy is perfectly balanced by large external windows and wrap-around gardens offering splendid vistas of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea.
Speak to our experts
For expert advice on this villa, things to do in the area, or to discuss how we can make your stay truly bespoke, call our Villa Specialists today. We are open every day of the week, weekends included.
Keyholder highlights
- Contemporary design
- Generous proportions
- Internal courtyard pool
- Views of Etna and the sea
Gallery
Giarre, Sicily
Camelia
Available exclusively through The Thinking Traveller
Dates
Guests
Bedrooms
The Area
Situated in a panoramic position above the town of Giarre on the east coast of Sicily, about halfway between Catania and Taormina, Camelia is an excellent base from which to discover the area's historic towns, Mount Etna and the fascinating villages that populate its flanks. There are some lovely beaches down on the coast below, including those at Fiumefreddo and Marina di Cottone, which have received several consecutive "Bandiere Blu", attesting to the cleanliness of the water and their general ecological excellence. The chic lidos and evocative beaches below Taormina are just up the motorway, while an 18-hole golf course is a 45 minute drive away.
Further afield, Syracuse, the baroque towns of the Noto valley, the quiet beaches of Vendicari and Capo Passero to the south and Messina to the north are all comfortably reachable for day trips.
Catania airport:
45km-28miles-45minsPalermo airport:
270km-168miles-3hrTrapani airport:
352km-219miles-3hr45Nearest shops/supermarkets:
in Giarre, 5km-2miles-10minsNearest beaches:
Fondachello, 6km-3miles-10mins, Marina di Cottone, 10km-6miles-18mins, 19km-15miles-21mins.or Taormina/Isola Bella, 25km-15miles-30minsNearest restaurants:
there is a good selection of restaurants within 10-15 minutes driveTaormina:
26km-16miles-30mins18-hole golf course:
18km-12miles-30minsMount Etna:
around 45-1hr drive depending on which part of the mountain you are heading for.Syracuse:
98km-61miles-1hr15Noto:
125km-77miles-1hr30Local Experiences
Helicopter tours in East Sicily
A helicopter trip in Sicily over Etna and to the Aeolian Islands is a highly moving experience, enough to reduce grown men and women to tears! Book with us for a truly unforgettable addition to your Sicilian holiday.
DiscoverPrivate boat charters in East Sicily
The coastline between Taormina and Catania is one of the most dramatic and idyllic in Sicily, thanks to its sandy-pebbly coves, its sea stacks and its transparent waters. The best way to explore it is by boat, and we can arrange a wide variety of full-day, half-day and sunset trips. From your port of departure, you'll head to the lovely fishing villages dotting the coast, such as Aci Trezza and Aci Castello, before sailing north towards the Bay of Giardini Naxos below Capo Taormina. Once there, your skipper will drop anchor so that you can enjoy an unforgettable swim under the awesome gaze of Mount Etna. If you can tear yourselves away from this majestic setting, your trip will continue north to the gorgeous Bay of Isola Bella, one of Sicily's most evocative and picturesque sections of coastline, where lush vegetation imbues the brilliant blue water of the Grotta Azzurra with an emerald green hue.
DiscoverCulinary experiences in East Sicily
From the bounty of Mount Etna to the fish-rich sea below, the Ionian Riviera is home to a host of gastronomic delights. Our culinary experiences in the area will give you the knowledge and the skills to recreate some of eastern Sicily's best-known dishes.
DiscoverWine tours on Mount Etna
Some of Italy’s finest wines are now being made on the flanks of Mount Etna. A new generation of Sicilian producers are realising the full potential of the mountain’s climate, its autochthonous grape varieties (NerelloMascalese - red - and Carricante - white), its ultra-fertile soil and its unique terroir. To discover just how the natural magic of the mountain combines with the perseverance and passion of man to create outstanding wines, let us arrange a chaufferued wine-tasting tour for you. A delicious lunch is included, so you’ll get a full experience of Etna’s gastronomic abundance.
DiscoverPrivate Guided tours in East Sicily
Sicily is, quite simply, one of the world’s most fascinating places, with a uniquely rich history, geography and cultural heritage. The Eastern side of the island has a seemingly endless variety of treasures to discover, from the architectural gems and culinary delights of the main towns, to UNESCO Heritage sites, to the geological phenomena and breath-taking landscapes of Mount Etna.Our private guides are tried and tested experts in their field, with many holding PhDs in their particular specialism. Book a tour or two with them and you'll come away with fascinating insights into your destination's towns, archaeological sites, food, wine, landscapes and geology.
DiscoverBeach clubs and relaxing activities
The Ionian Riviera has a great selection of beaches and rocky lava stone coves starting just north of Catania which continue all the way up and past Taormina. A day spent at the beach is a brilliant way to relax and enjoy this stretch of fantastic coastline as a family. If you're looking comfort and full facilities, we highly recommend heading to one of the coast’s many beach clubs (also known as Stabilimenti Balneari) which are private areas of beach with different kinds of facilities such as loungers and umbrellas, cafés/bars and restaurants, kayaks, windsurfing, changing rooms etc., particularly useful for children and to get away from the crowds. But this area of Sicily isn’t all about the sea, so if the beach isn’t for you, a great alternative is spending a day at one of Etna’s renowned wineries.Take some time to tour the winery, sample the delicious wines produced there, and take advantage of the other facilities available for an enriching and relaxing day out.
DiscoverPrivate guided tours in Southeast Sicily
The southeastern tip of Sicily is home to mile after mile of largely unspoilt sandybeaches and an impressive list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica, the towns ofthe Val di Noto, and Villa Romana del Casale.
DiscoverPrivate boat charters in Southeast Sicily
From here until the southeasternmost tip of Sicily, the coastline is an uninterrupted stretch of sandy beach, dotted with picturesque little resort towns, including Punta Secca (Inspector Montalbano's home), Marina di Ragusa, Donnalucata, Cava d'Aliga, Sampieri and Marina di Modica. The last strip, made up of several miles of dunes, is where the Allied forces landed in the 2nd World War. At the southernmost tip of Sicily is Isola Delle Correnti, offering an almost African scenario. Indeed, here we are considerably further south than Tunis.Just around the southeastern tip and heading north up the east coast, are the beaches of Marzamemi, San Lorenzo and Vendicari Nature Reserve. The reserve's salt water lagoons and varieties of flora offer the ideal habitat for a wide range of fauna, including nesting turtles and migrating flamingos.Continuing up the east coast, between Vendicari and the historic Greek town of Syracuse, are the popular sandy beaches of Marina di Noto, Calabernado, Marina di Avola, Gelsomineto, Fontane Bianche and Arenella.
DiscoverFrom the Guest Book
Read the thoughtful reviews that travellers have left after their time with us.
What stood out about Camelia were the views, the fruit trees, the terrific accommodations. I would highly recommend it to all.
Anonymous September 2024
Camelia was beautiful and so was its setting. It was a beautiful experience for my family.
Anonymous June 2024
Although it was a very very hot week in Sicily we had a wonderful stay at Camelia. the villa is an oasis of calm with a unique architecture. The people around were amazingly helpful and made our stay special!
Anonymous July 2023
Camelia was exceptional. Beautifully designed and appointed. The grounds and surrounding orchards/groves were beautiful. The views were outstanding.
AS, United States of America September 2022
We ended up loving Camelia and Ortensia so much we spent less time discovering Sicily and hanging out more together as a family. We really enjoyed meeting the owners of Camelia and Ortenisa and learning more about the origins of the architectural project and his thinking behind the design. Very inspirational. We ended up loving the houses so much we spent less time discovering Sicily and hanging out more together as a family at the house.
SP, United Kingdom September 2022
Overall we had a great stay at Camelia. Everything was as described and stated.
DV, United States of America September 2021