Hotel Villa Sonia

Villa Sonia is a beautiful authentic Italian Hotel with wonderful views of Mt Etna and the surrounding mountains and valleys. The property is quiet and large with spacious rooms and comprehensive facilities. The staff, particularly the reception staff were very professional, warm and had excellent knowledge to assist with every request.

We dined at the hotel restaurant a couple of times. While it’s pleasant with a nice interior, it’s not to the standard of the rest of the hotel. The food was okay but the staff were not so warm and obliging.

We fell in love with Villa Sonia the minute we arrived, the staff were one big happy family, the rooms were large, spotless & the view looking directly at Etna took your breathe away! We had 4nights booked and a further week in the neighbouring beach resort Letojani - when we got to the new hotel it was a complete tourist package holiday including plastic cups for your evening drinks and nothing like the tranquility we had left! We phoned Villa Sonia & they were so helpful in finding us another stunning room & we finished our holiday back with them where we sunbathed watching birds of prey & listening to the silence - we loved our holiday so much we are already booked for July 2026 🤩

The location was lovely. It is away from the crowds in Taormina, and an easy bus ride to Taormina so no need to drive and find parking. The bus stop is right outside the hotel. The view of Mount Etna from the balcony was amazing, even though it looked more like a big hill due to the distance. Mount Etna was gently sending smoke into the air but we could not smell it. The charming hotel restaurant is a one minute walk, and the chef was excellent. The chef made a delicious potato soup for us that was not on the menu. We ate there a few times as it was so convenient, after full days in Taomina. The hotel is just below the village Castelmola, which is just a short walk or rather a couple of flights of stairs. It is definitely worth a visit. Castelmola is a very beautiful village with very friendly and helpful locals. The location of the hotel makes for a very easy visit. Villa Sonia is an older hotel decorated with antiques. It looks from the outside that there are only two or three floors, But our room was on the 6th floor. It is built on a hillside. We would definitely stay here again. The staff were amazing especially David at the front desk.

There is a bar on one of the lower floors (I forget the floor number) and a breakfast terrace. It was late in October and they close at 530pm and at 5pm we visited. The Barista was busy cleaning up and so we just said good evening, and went on the terrace. He said it was closing soon. We said we just wanted to see. Unfortunately, the door was already set to lock behind us, and after no more than 5 minutes, we decided to go back inside, It was before 5:15pm, but could not get in, and all the other exits were locked with padlocks. There was minimal lighting, we banged on the glass door, but the Barista had already gone. If one of us had a medical emergency, it would have been a catastrophe. We finally found an entrance on the side, up a flight of stairs that led to bedrooms. When I told the front desk (not David), the man did not acknowledge our distress, or recognize the possible severity of the situation, and he trivialised by laughing and saying something to the effect of, it is like a treasure hunt finding the door. I am addressing this here so higher management is aware of the problem in case another older couple, are not so mobile to go on a treasure hunt. At least put a phone or emergency button on the outside. Also the vases of flowers on the breakfast tables are a bit dusty. Finally, every now and then, the shower drain smelled. It was not the maid, it is the internal plumbing.

Eine traumhafte Lage

De ligging is prachtig. Castelmola is een relatief klein stadje dat boven Taormina ligt. Het is een fikse wandeling heen en terug. Het uitzicht op de Etna en de zee zijn fantastisch. Ontbijt prima, enkel jammer dat je voor een koffie moet bijbetalen. Dat is niet echt meer van deze tijd.

Het hotel en vooral de kamers kunnen een opfrissing gebruiken. Matras en kussens waren erg hard en er is veel stof aanwezig in de kamer door de wollen dekens en de stoffen bekleding. Airco werkt niet buiten het hoogseizoen.

에트나산 전망, 친절한직원,넓은 객실, 타오르미나로 가는 무료셔틀, 조식,호텔앞 버스정류장

De locatie boven op de berg met uitzicht op de Etna is sprookjesachtig!

Gedateerde badkamer, die absoluut voldoet, maar wel verouderd……