Villa Praiola - Exclusive seafacing mansion with pool and Jacuzzi

The villa was absolutely perfect — even better than in the photos! The pool and jacuzzi were amazing, and the garden was simply beautiful. The area is great, quiet and convenient at the same time. The owner was very kind and helpful, and there was also a cleaning service, which made our stay even more comfortable. We had an unforgettable time and would definitely love to come back!

We enjoyed the large garden with trees (including citrus trees) and a pool and jacuzzi. One could stay under the sun or hide in shade. There is a ping pong table, sun loungers, and pool towels available, as well as a shower and toilet by the pool. The kitchen is spacious and well-equipped. In general, in the villa there is everything what you need for a daily use. There are many bedrooms to choose from, each with air conditioning/heating. Every room has its own bathroom with a bidet. During meals on the terrace, we could enjoy views of Etna or the sea (a good neck workout guaranteed :) ). It's a perfect location for families with kids. The hosts were very nice and helpful.

This is a matter of personal preference, but for us the mattresses were too soft (at least in the light green room). In addition, the mattress covers or sheets were not breathable enough, causing the skin in contact with the mattress to overheat or sweat (with the room temperature around 18 degrees Celsius at night, in mid-April). For hygienic reasons, we would also have preferred a duvet with a full cover, rather than a separate uncovered duvet with a bed sheet underneath.

Spacious villa with well stocked kitchen, comfortable beds, stunning views of Etna, the sea and surrounding countryside, large pool and jacuzzi, separate dining area with BBQ, air conditioning, bathroom and pool towels, gated entrance, ample parking, proximity to supermarket, local restaurants, bakery, vineyards and good access to the motorway (less than 1 hour from Catania airport and Taormina).

stair access to the villa could be problematic for children and less able adults, chairs (dining, pool and lounge) not very comfortable

Our hosts met us at check-in and gave us a tour of the villa. They were very thorough, helpful, and even booked a dinner reservation for us the first night we arrived (and again later in our stay)! The villa was clean and as pictured in the listing. The property is beautiful and full of citrus trees. The outdoor patio was our favorite part of the whole house, with plenty of covered and uncovered seating space, and outstanding views of the sea and Mt. Etna. Since we stayed at the villa in April/May, it was too cold to use the pool, but the hot tub was great. We would love to stay here again with a group of friends!

The fourth room is upstairs in the attic and accessible only via a spiral staircase. We weren't aware of this beforehand, so just wanted to give a heads up to future guests that it is not on the same floor as the other three rooms.

The communication between myself and the hosts was easy and quick. They offered help and advice in response to all my requests. As I was arriving on my own, over the Easter weekend, the hosts very generously provided me with some food basics, until my friends arrived and the shops opened so we could stock up. When I arrived, the property was beautifully presented. I had to quickly move many ceramic items out of reach from my toddler! There was one set of stairs that I would always need to supervise him on, as well as near the pool outside, but otherwise, it was a beautiful, comfortable home, suitable for families and groups of friends, for the duration of our stay. The kitchen is well stocked with pans and cooking implements, we were spoilt for choice for indoor/outdoor/covered areas to eat. The local markets provided delicious fish and veg. The bedrooms were comfortable, all ensuite. The hot water temperature and pressure was good. The rooms facing the road had double glazed windows so any road noise was blocked out. You can block out most of the light too, if you need a dark bedroom. The pool is a good size, perfectly deep for diving practice. It's unheated, so felt fresh in the sunlight of early April. A post-swim hot tub session helped us warm up after a night time swim. The lighting around the pool and the citrus trees made this a luxurious treat. The views were a challenge - do you watch Mount Etna blow smoke rings, or the sun rise over the sea? My son loved watching the vehicles managing the neighbouring plant nursery. This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip for me and my son. The villa was the perfect place for it.

I didn't know where to find new toilet rolls or bin bags. And we didn't know exactly when staff would arrive to tend the garden. But I think this was because my 2 year old really needed to sleep as soon as we arrived, so the hosts didn't have much time to show me around! Any queries I sent via Whatsapp they responded to promptly and helpfully. You do need a car or bicycle to reach nearby shops as the roads are narrow, without pavements. The nearby village has all your daily groceries. Bigger shops are about a 20 minute drive. But the pebble beach is within walking distance, down a quiet road.

Almost everything

The local beach.

Absolutely stunning villa! Had the most amazing week, brilliant position to explore Sicily, and wonderful to stay and enjoy all the facilities at the Villa. The hosts are great and very helpful! Thank you for the most amazing stay! Will definitely be booking again!

Beautiful villa and a lush, well kept and amazing garden with a large pool and jacuzzi. We were welcomed by the lovely owners when we arrived and got a tour of the house and there were plenty of fruit and drinks for us to enjoy as a gift from the hosts. The villa has a peaceful location and great view over the sea.

Nothing, really! We knew it was located a bit from shops and restaurants when we ordered, so that was of our own choice. Maybe a bit sad there was no real beach down from the house, only a stone one. But that is a minor issue, we enjoyed the pool even more for it!