Perla Nera

A classic aristocratic villa with an exquisite garden and heavenly pool

Check out our video of Perla Nera and fall in love with this extraordinary property. It is a dream villa for a fun holiday in Sicily!

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Perla Nera

Location	Features	Surroundings	Ideal for
Viagrande	Aristocratic estate Pool with hydrojet Mediterranean garden Walk to town Nearby restaurants	Acireale Catania Mount Etna Alcantara gorges Bronte Taormina Siracusa & Ortigia	Families Groups Cultural & relaxing breaks
Sleeps
14
Bedrooms
7
Bathrooms
8

• Overview
• Property
• Area
• Extras
• Press
• Amenities
• Distances
• Prices
• Booking

Overview

Antique-filled aristocratic Sicilian residence with extraordinary gardens and pool area. Approximately 20 minutes’ drive from Catania Airport, with a spacious interior, wonderful garden and a live-in caretaker who can organise a wide range of services, Perla Nera is an excellent villa for groups and special celebrations.

Property

The villa is on the south side of Mount Etna on Sicily’s east coast. Dating back to the early 1500s, Perla Nera is unquestionably reminiscent of another age, with exquisite gardens scattered with stone statues and hidden nooks and crannies, and inside, the original wine press and an astonishing collection of antique furniture.

Outside: Ancient roses, jasmine and camellias weave their way around faded stone columns and walls, ornamental hedges frame tree-filled manicured lawns and the fragrance of flowers and plants fills the air.

The pièce de résistance, however, is undoubtedly the pool, fringed with towering palms and built with black lava stone resulting in inky-blue waters. The pool also has a hydrojet and is overlooked by two vast conservatories, dotted with large planters containing citrus trees. Alongside the swimming pool is a changing room with bathroom.

A wonderful barbecue area is found surrounded by atmospheric plants and sculptures whilst a beautiful outdoor dining area is on the patio outside the main villa, creating the perfect spot for al fresco meals.

Inside: This is traditional Sicily at its best: painted wooden bed frames and imposing wardrobes preside in the bedrooms, magnificent carved dressers and ornamental tables are distributed throughout the villa, and an atmosphere of historic elegance reigns throughout the house.

Perla Nera has a grand living area, furnished in a wonderful traditional Sicilian style. Elegant chairs surround a colourful fireplace in the formal sitting room. Next to this is the estate's original wine press, now transformed into a sitting room with a small dining table. Turning the corner you enter a large corridor, with antique sofas lining the wall. From this corridor you can access a pretty dining room which leads on to the traditional and colourful Sicilian kitchen, both of which have direct access to the garden.

A lovely reading room gives access to the ground floor bedrooms. One beautiful double bedroom has an adjacent bathroom. The other two bedrooms are adjoining (accessible only via the reading room or the dining room), and both have ensuite bathrooms.
A staircase is found near the reading room, leading up to the two double bedrooms on the upper attic floor, both of which have ensuite bathrooms.

For more than 10 guests, a guest house on the property is available for up to four extra guests, with one double and one twin bedroom. The twin bedroom has its own ensuite bathroom whilst the double room has an adjoining bathroom close by. There is also a living room and fitted kitchenette. The guest house is found on the other side of the garden from the main house.

Area

Local Sights

Viagrande is a charming town on the southern slopes of Mount Etna. There are some great restaurants, such as Antico Campanile - a super pizzeria restaurant that is only a few steps from the villa - and some fun bars. You will also find fresh fruit and vegetable stalls selling delicious local products.

East Sicily's most famous landmark is undoubtedly the magnificent Mount Etna. The Museo d'Etna in Viagrande gives a fascinating insight into the history of the volcano and how it continues to shape the landscape and the lives of the locals.

The delightful city of Catania is a 20 minute drive from Perla Nera. It is full of superb restaurants and its striking Baroque architecture and great nightlife will give you a true flavour of urban Sicilian life.

Visit Catania's famous markets: La Pescheria has a lively atmosphere and you will find the freshest fish around. For a more traditional experience, head to La Fera O'Luni, where you will find everything from clothes to fruit and veg!

For a taste of chic Italian life, visit nearby Taormina, a captivating town with gorgeous beaches, a relaxed atmosphere and spectacular ruins of a Greek-Roman amphitheatre. There are several restaurants offering wonderful food, and the lovely cafés on Corso Umberto I are the perfect spot for observing the elegant locals during their passeggiata.

Taormina's most popular beaches are Isola Bella and Mazzarò (mixed pebbly and sandy) with their excellent seafront bars and restaurants. The sandy beaches of Giardini Naxos, Schisò and Recanati Beach, with their crystalline waters and a good selection of bars and restaurants, are lovely places to spend a day.

The rocky beaches of Acireale and Acicastello, with free-access and equipped areas, are the closest to Perla Nera, with great views of the Isole dei Ciclopi.

Local Experiences

Try the local specialities of the area: Pizza Siciliana is a fried calzone filled with tuma cheese, anchovies and pepper. Gran Caffè Urna has the best in Viagrande - just a few minute's walk from the villa. Those with a sweet tooth should try the small almond biscuits called Pazientini or enjoy a gelato schiumone.

Take the taste of Sicily home with you and book a Sicilian cooking lesson. Learn how to prepare typical Sicilian dishes, either at Viagrande's fantastic Cucina del Sole or in the villa itself. You're friends at home will be delighted with your new-found cooking skills!

We also offer a cook service at Perla Nera. Book in advance and a chef will visit the villa and cook a delicious Sicilian feast or some fabulous pizzas for you and your guests.

You could also take part in a Street Food tour in nearby Catania. Treat your tastebuds to some of Catania's tasties snacks, whilst walking through the city with an expert guide!

Explore Mount Etna. With glorious views and fascinating flora and fauna, this exciting experience should not be missed. Scale the mountain on foot, take the cable car, or book a tour. There are many choices, including jeep or quad-bike tours. For something really unique, drive through the area in a vintage Fiat 500!

Another great place for a hiking or swimming is the Alcantara Gorges where the river Alcantara runs through a spectacular series of basalt-walled gorges.

Explore the coast, discovering beautiful bays and pristine water with a boat trip. You can relax on deck, snorkel, or just enjoy the wonderful views and relaxing atmosphere!

Nature-lovers will be enchanted by the Casa delle Farfalle - south Italy's only butterfly house - which is found in Viagrande's Parco Monte Serra. Hundreds of varieties of butterflies fly around in the large, tropical greenhouse. This is a great day out for youngsters with an interest in nature.

Take a guided tour of a winery: see the beautiful vines, learn about the production methods and, perhaps most importantly, taste some of the Sicily's best wines. Cantina Benanti is just outside of Viagrande and produces wonderful wines.

Extras

The pool is open to guests all year round.

Perla Nera is a historical estate with a very traditional style and antique furniture in keeping with the age of the property. There are certain, particularly prestigious sofas that the property owners keep covered to avoid damage.

Related Press Articles

Amenities

Distances

Prices

Booking

To book this property

Add this property to the shortlist function and send it to us.
Or call us from UK and from other countries on 0044 (0)20 3608 4505; from Italy on 0039 091 687 0639

Our business hours

UK time

8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday - 8:30 am to 12:30 pm Saturday

IT & DE time

9:30 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Friday - 9:30 am to 1:30 pm Saturday

Booking procedures

After making your request you will receive a Booking Form. Please fill this in and send it back to soloSicily to make your booking.
For more details please see our How to Book section.

Property prices

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