Cheat Sheet: Sicily, Italy

Top Hotels, Private Villas, Restaurants, Villages, Beaches, Sights, Islands & more

Far from the madding tourist crowds of Tuscany & Umbria, Sicily is a lesser known Italian gem that packs a surprising punch. This lovely island, off the southern tip of Italy, is undergoing a chic renaissance … old towns, villages, churches and palaces are being restored, stylish new hotels & private villas are opening, along with fabulous restaurants serving authentic Sicilian cuisine. Here are my top picks that are truly worth your time & money, everything you need to plan this lovely island getaway ...

WHERE TO STAY IN SICILY

Belli Spa Resort

One of my trusted Sicily Insiders, Rossella Beaugie, raves about this new boutique hotel & spa, which opened in early 2009. "Belli Spa Resort is a little jewel in the heart of Gratteri, a very pretty medieval village in the Madonie Mountains," she says. "The hotel is actually several houses which have been cleverly put together ... read more about Belli Spa Resort

Phone: +39 (0)921 431114

Gratteri, Sicily Italy

Donna Carmela

"Donna Carmela is the perfect place for exploring Taormina, Siracusa, and the south coast of Sicily," says one of my trusted Sicily Insiders, Rossella Beaugie. "It's located in a wine area, near the town of Giarre ... immersed in a garden nursery brimming with tropical ... read more about Donna Carmela

www.donnacarmela.com | Phone: +39 (0)347 4094216

Contrada Grotte 5, Carruba di Riposto (CT) | Sicily Italy

Palazzo Hedone

"This is truly one of the most charming boutique hotels in Sicily," says Rossella Beaugie, one of my trusted Sicily Insiders. "The owners are two charming Parisians, who left their creative jobs at Louis Vuitton and Cartier, sold their chateau in France, and dedicated themselves entirely to ... read more about Palazzo Hedone

Phone: +39 (0)932 841187

Via Loreto 51 | Scicli, Sicily Italy

San Domenico Palace Hotel

This 15th-century monastery was converted into a hotel in 1866. But don't expect monastic frugality—the decadent decor comprises marble, wooden floors and wrought iron tables, gothic candelabras and huge fireplaces. The old monks' "cells" have been converted into ... read more about San Domenico Palace Hotel

Piazza San Domenico 5 | Taormina 98039 Italy

Grand Hotel Timeo

Jody Adams, the James Beard Award-winning chef at Rialto in Cambridge, just outside Boston, says entering the Grand Hotel Timeo feels like stepping into another era. "There's a huge patio that overlooks the water. And everything is just beautiful in the dining room. There's elegant silver bowls for breads, big glasss bowls for fruit ... read more about Grand Hotel Timeo

www.grandhoteltimeo.com | Phone: +39 (0)942 625 837

Via Teatro Greco 59 | Taormina 98039 Italy

GORGEOUS PRIVATE VILLA RENTALS IN SICILY

Rent a Private Villa in Sicily

EXPERT CONNECT: Rent the Perfect Private Villa in Sicily, Italy

Sicily is undergoing a renaissance with chic new hotels & resorts opening across the island, but the best way to immerse yourself in this fabulous hidden corner of Italy is to rent your own private villa. This Expert Connect partner has a portfolio of the most exclusive villas in Sicily, and can organize anything from helicopter flights over Mount Etna to dinner in a historic palazzo ... read more about renting a private villa in Sicily

Don Arcangelo all'Olmo

Friends of mine who have stayed here say Don Arcangelo all'Olmo is one of the best villas in Sicily ... an enchanting private home set in a former vineyard with fabulous views of the sea and Mount Etna. The villa is actually two buildings, the main house plus another next to it, with 8-12 bedrooms and room for up to 24 guests ... read more about Don Arcangelo all'Olmo

Villa San Tommaso

One of my Sicily insiders says she loves this house ... the way it has been restored, the attention to detail, and the loving care the owner has lavished on it. Located at Siracusa on the south-east coast of the island, Villa San Tommaso is set on a rise, has lovely views of the surrounding countryside, an amazing semi-tropical garden and ... read more about Villa San Tommaso

La Favorita

More like a grand estate than a mere villa, this beautiful hideaway comes with its own park-like gardens, ensuring a super-private getaway. La Favorita comprises a main villa and a smaller cottage with a total of 8 bedrooms to sleep 16 people, but each building can be rented separately according to your party size ... read more about La Favorita

Aphrodite

Aphrodite is the only house with a pool available for rental on Panarea - by far the most chic and fashionable of the 7 Aeolian Islands - and one of the few with a large garden and total privacy. But what really makes people fall in love with this gorgeous villa is the spectacular ... read more about Aphrodite

WHERE TO EAT IN SICILY

Restaurant File:Top seafood restaurants, beachside dining, romantic terraces & more

Ristorante Duomo, renowned Sicilian eatery in Ragusa Ibla

Ristorante Duomo
"Recognized by both the Michelin Guide and Gambero Rossi (the Italian equivalent) as the finest restaurant in Sicily, and one of the best in Italy," says Rossella. Star chef Ciccio Sultano is at the helm, taking what he calls "poetic license" with the freshest local produce. The result is a culinary ... read more about Ristorante Duomo and other hot restaurants in Sicily

TIPS & TIPS, SICILY

Sicily: My Insider Tips

An at-a-glance guide to enjoy the best of Sicily, Italy

If you're looking for something different in Italy, Sicily is a super alternative to the traditional hotspots ... less crowded, a little rougher around the edges, but easier to navigate and discover its gems. I tapped my Sicilian Insider Rossella Beaugie for her top picks of what not to miss, from stunning sea views and delicious cafés to the black sand beaches and a night climb up the ... read more my at-a-glance guide to enjoy the best of Sicily

Stromboli

When I saw the fiery volcano of Stromboli set on this fertile speck of an island, marooned off the north coast of Sicily in the Aeolian arch ... I felt enlightened! While the super rich and famous flock to the nearby island of Panarea, Stromboli is known as "the wild one." You'll spend your days snorkeling off shimmery black coves, eating the freshest of seafood, and enjoying a ... read more about the island of Stromboli

Sallina

For some serious relaxation, escape to Salina ... the greenest and most laid-back of the Aeolian Islands. Zip around rugged hills on the back of a Vespa, meander along its two extinct conical volcanoes, and head for the beautiful bay of Rinella with its black sands and pink, white and blue houses. Total bliss ... read more about the island of Salina

Get Suzanne's latest finds and special invitations by email... SIGN UP

Topics: Sports & Active , Shops, Gifts, Finds , Epicurean , Arts & Culture , Travel
Geography: Sicily, Italy
Tags: hotels, private villas, restaurants, villages, beaches, sights, islands