Overview
The more the merrier! You’ve heard that good old saying right? It’s true for birthday celebrations, weddings, family reunions, football nights at the local pub, and anything else that constitutes a grrrr…great party. That’s why this saying is the ongoing theme at the Princely Houses, a soloSicily property specially dedicated to large groups and special events. Located smack in the middle of an immense countryside estate blooming with citrus fruit and Saracen olive trees, the Princely Houses consists of five independent cottages (The Queen’s Jewels) and the dazzling villa adjacent to them (Casa Etna). Two private pools, an exclusive stage, impressive lawns, the green hilltops of Taormina’s countryside, the Ionian Sea, and the brooding Etna volcano create an out-of-this-world setting for all the exciting things you have planned for your entourage. Candle-lit buffet dinners, scavenger hunts, afternoons on the beach, or a private jazz concert……
Property details
You’ve been waiting a long time for this. So long, in fact, that you can hardly believe the day has finally arrived. The amazing thing is, everybody (yes, even grumpy Grandma Gertrude) agreed to fly down to Sicily for this special holiday. A high-five to yourself for coming up with this awesome idea.
The Princely Houses is exactly what you were looking for. With the huge lawns and fruit-filled garden, there is more than enough space for the kids’ scavenger hunt. The covered gazebo outside, with its spotlights, is where you’ll hold that amateur Poker tournament and buffet dinner. You’ve already reserved the stage for the BIG surprise. And nobody will be complaining about the two luxury swimming pools and sunbathing decks either.
The five cottages look out onto the garden and barriers of oleander separate each front patio from the next. Every cottage features décor items and furnishings with a Mediterranean personality. The floors are paved with terracotta, the roofs are made of natural canes, and they remind you of a traditional Sicilian farmhouse from times past. The cottages vary in size (from 50 sq. m to 100 sq. m), but they all have a double bedroom, a bath with shower, a sitting room with a small mezzanine holding two beds for children aged 5-16, a private patio with cane covering, an exclusive garden (5x5m), and a cooking area adorned with ceramic tiles from Santo Stefano di Camastra.
The villa’s front patio opens up into a multi-levelled living room with orange walls, an open fireplace, several sitting areas, and a copper chimney makes its way up to the slanting roof of varnished old cane. A stone stairway leads to a cosy mezzanine with two single beds and a reading corner. The master bedroom, painted in a vivacious shade of blue, features a restored bed from the 1830’s and a fascinating collection of antique furniture sketches. The other four double bedrooms, each painted in a different colour, can all be converted into twins on request and lie under spectacularly barrelled ceilings. The mat green dining area can accommodate up to 22 people. The six bathrooms of the home all come with a shower and make use of the Solar Prism System, a special illumination system that uses solar energy and produces a very natural light.
Celebrating at the foot of Etna Volcano, on the doorsteps of the Ionian Sea….now that’s what you call partying with style!
Area details
The Princely Houses are located in a tranquil area less than 7 miles away from the centre of Taormina. The villa sits in the middle of a huge countryside estate that grows oranges, lemon, olives and grapes all year round. The estate, which belongs to the aristocratic House of Alliata di Villafranca, lies at the foot of the Etna Volcano and is only a short drive away from the sandy beaches at Mazzarò and Giardini Naxos. Architecture and history buffs will be delighted by the Baroque treasures of Catania and Acireale. Those of you who are seeking a little rush of adrenaline will love the ravines of the Alcantara river and the surreal treks up Mt. Etna. Let’s just say there is something here for everyone!
Additional Information
Heating system €200 p/w from December to March.
Additional housekeeping €15 p/h. Internet connection €30 p/w.
Cook service (only dinner) €55 pp, F&B included. Laundry service €15 p/h.
Late arrival after 22:30 €50; after 24:00 €100.