Monaco di Mezzo

We (a family of four, two boys aged 4 and 10) spent two weeks self-catering at Monaco di Mezzo in August and absolutely loved it. The place is 'hidden' in the mountains and you feel very off-the-beaten-track, yet the Palermo-Catania motorway is only 15 minutes away with easy access to many parts of Sicily. The lovely town of Cefalu on the north coast is only and hour's drive away and typical mountain top villages are much closer. Our longest trip was a day trip to Etna, which was a 2 hour drive and while we were there we had dinner in the lovely town Aci Trezza on the east coast. Also within reach on a day trip are the Greek temples in Agrigento, which are about 1.5 hours away. The kids loved staying at the farm where most of the time was spent by the pool with short breaks at the table tennis table and badminton. Most days we had the pool for ourselves or with only a few other guests. The location of the pool above the farm means you have lovely views across the mountains and glorious sunsets. We had dinner at the farm three nights and the food was fantastic! Cooked with the farm's own produce and served on the terrace. On weekends the restaurant was visted by locals and the terrace almost full, which created a lovely atmosphere. Week nights were quiet. I would recommend Monaco for both couples and families with children. The size means it never gets crowded, and the location means you really feel away from it all. Yet, the main motorway being only 15 minutes away means there are plenty of options for exploring the island.

Very quiet and atmospheric. The dinners were beyond comparison. It's proper rural cooking by a fantastic chef from Palermo. It put most of our dinners in the southeast and northeast of Sicily into the shade. And yet everything was so simple. Beware - its location means that it is not easily accessible. 15 minutes of dire narrow roads and tracks to get in or out. But all the better for it!! We arrived after dark - we would absolutely not recommend anyone doing that without a SatNav! And we didn't have one!!. Our only complaint would be the breakfast - very basic. One hint - you have to enjoy hearing cowbells during the night - sometimes right outside your window!.

The nicest place we stayed! food was unbelieveable - cost was phenonemal - was tricky to locate so definately get your bearing before you try to find the place - well worth the tricky trip over the hills and down the dirt roads!!! will stay there again next year - did i mention how awesome the food was...

A short, restful, stay before the journey home. It is remote from towns etc. in the middle of Sicily with high hills all around. Very peaceful. The condition of the minor roads leading to the premises makes it an unrealistic centre for touring. There are walking paths, but we didn't really explore in the heat. Rooms are comfortable and well equipped. Food and wine at dinner on the terrace were excellent with very good service. Breakfast inside was limited, but adequate.

We spent a week self-catering in this out-of-the-way farm high up above Resuttano in central Sicily. It is several kilometres up a winding track from the neaby motorway, but this is part of the charm as it really is off the beaten track. Highlights were the 20 metre pool with glorious views across rolling countryside (we seemed to while away several lazy days by the pool - wonderful!) and some fantastic dinners prepared by the excellent cook, Mimmo. Ettore who runs the place was very helpful throughout. Our apartment had two bedrooms, well furnished and decorated in a traditional Sicilian style, and a simple kitchen and living area, together with a well-appointed bathroom. It was air conditioned in the bedrooms. We visited Resuttano, a typical Sicilian village, not touristy, with a nice local mini-market. About an hour and a half's drive away, but definitely worth the drive, is Casale Romana - renowned for its Roman mosaics, and the whole family was thrilled to see these - bringing school Classics study to life in the most amazing way. The Duomos at Enna and Piazza Armerina were also very impressive. Driving in Sicily is not the easiest, but away from the main centres, the 'motorways' are good. We travelled in August which is very hot indeed, which did limit our desire to drive too far to visit sights, and would be keen to try Sicily in May, June or September. Overall, a lovely and memorable stay.

Although only a mile or so from the Autostrada as the crow flies, it took a tortuous three or four mile drive to get there along Sicily's twisty, pot-holed, collapsed side roads. ("Strade disestate" I think they call them). An important factor if you are planning to use it as a base for exploring - over more than two or three days the drive in and out might become tedious. Once arrived though, it is in a lovely spot and well equipped with parking, a pool, sizeable restaurant and indoor and outdoor seating areas. We arrived on a Saturday and stayed three nights half board (essential because of the location). I think another reviewer warned that weekends attract locals with families and I can confirm that - it was a bit lively on Saturday and on Sunday morning so maybe not suitable if you want absolute tranquility. Our room was spacious if a little sparsely furnished but perfectly clean and comfortable. Strangely though, the room wasn't cleaned nor the bed made during our three day stay. Breakfast was poor. A selection of bread and cake like items, a slice or two of cured meat (one morning, what looked like raw bacon) and watery, tasteless orange juice - it may even have been orange squash. Hell's bells this is Sicily! Oranges grow on trees here! Dinner was very good all three nights - the full range of courses (starter, pasta/soup, main course and sweet) and a carafe of red wine all included in the price. You need two things however to get the best from this; a big appetite and a liking for aubergines. We had aubergines in at least two different forms every night - they should ditch the aubergines at night and squeeze a few oranges in the morning! Service throughout was good and the staff were generally friendly and helpful although they seemed to send out mixed messages about meal times; first night we were told dinner was at 7.30. We promptly arrived but found that no-one else turned up until we were almost done at 8.45. The next night we thought we'd wait until after eight but had staff knocking on the door telling us "dinner was already!" In conclusion, this is nice place in a pretty but effectively rather inaccessible position. The accommodation was good but not great and the food mixed - dinner good but breakfast poor. Would we return? Probably not.

Even though this is very difficult to get to - a really frightening road with high drop offs - it is still a 5. This is the place to go to in the middle of your trip and just rest for a couple of days before continuing on your journey. It is truly an agriturismo hotel with all foor coming right from the farm. I highly recommend this - it was the best meal of our three week vacation and also one of the best rooms.

This place is ideal for all those who want to get away from daily routine and stress. A car is essential as there is no public transport that reaches this location. This place is on its own surrounded by mountains. There is nothing else, except for walking trails and a nice swimming pool. Rooms are basic and clean, but they are not cleaned every day. Rooms that are overlooking internal yard and childrens' playing field are not quiet. Noise from the outside a/c units and the playing fields can be unbearable at times. Food is excellent and the Sicilian chef Mimmo is a very good cook. He is also very friendly and takes care of the guests. Breakfast is very poor. However if you ask for anything extra you will get it free of charge. So what you don't see on the breakfast table, just ask for!

We stayed here for a week in July 2011. It was not full when we stayed. We did half board - essential as it's several kilometres off the beaten track and we could have starved in the evenings otherwise. Evening meals were set by the chef and consisted of four courses plus wine, limoncello and coffee all included in the price - if we had realised that we would have drunk more! Some rooms do have cooking facilities, however. The staff were all great but special credit must go to Mimmo, the chef, who not only cooked great food but also helped me with my Italian. The pool is great and free horse riding is available. It is invaded by Italians at weekends which must be a recommendation in itself. Very central position in Sicily, so good for getting around but local roads have a tendency to landslips and closures. Our first stay at an agrituristica but there will be more.

Monaco di Mezzo falls under the category "agriturismo." It is worth a side trip: our most memorable meal in two weeks of Sicilian travel was served here. All info on their website is accurate. The food served could not be purer, fresher, nor more impeccably prepared. Bring your appetite, because at dinner the table d'hote menu just keeps rolling out. You needn't ask for another litre of wine, it will be replaced before you even finish the first. We were entirely blissed out; I would have liked to stay longer. It is a lovely and congenial place for both families and couples, and would be relaxing for singles as well. Very low key, but a haute kind of rural experience.