Camelia

Includes

Sole use of the villa and the grounds
The support of our Villa Specialists to help you select your perfect villa
The expertise of a dedicated team to help you fine-tune the logistics of your trip and to plan a range of experiences, many of which are exclusive to The Thinking Traveller
A Local Specialist available during your stay for emergency support
A comprehensive guide to your villa and its surrounding area, including our restaurant recommendations, cultural highlights and other activities
An easy-to-use online holiday planner to keep all your booked experiences and services in one place, ensuring that nothing gets missed during your stay
The ability to coordinate and share the details of your trip with your group via Your Account
All sales taxes, electricity, gas, Wi-Fi, linen, bath towels, pool and/or beach towels
Access to our in-villa wine delivery service – choose from our handpicked menu of the best regional wines and find them waiting for you at your villa
A daily cleaning service (4 hours/day, 6 days a week) and a weekly linen change

Excludes

Flights
Car hire
Transfers
Meals (unless otherwise specified)

The Area

Situated in a panoramic position above the town of Giarre on the east coast of Sicily, about halfway between Catania and Taormina, Camelia is an excellent base from which to discover the area's historic towns, Mount Etna and the fascinating villages that populate its flanks. There are some lovely beaches down on the coast below, including those at Fiumefreddo and Marina di Cottone, which have received several consecutive "Bandiere Blu", attesting to the cleanliness of the water and their general ecological excellence. The chic lidos and evocative beaches below Taormina are just up the motorway, while an 18-hole golf course is a 45 minute drive away.

Further afield, Syracuse, the baroque towns of the Noto valley, the quiet beaches of Vendicari and Capo Passero to the south and Messina to the north are all comfortably reachable for day trips.

Getting to and around

Catania airport:

45km-28miles-45mins

Palermo airport:

270km-168miles-3hr

Trapani airport:

352km-219miles-3hr45

Nearest shops/supermarkets:

in Giarre, 5km-2miles-10mins

Nearest beaches:

Fondachello, 6km-3miles-10mins, Marina di Cottone, 10km-6miles-18mins, 19km-15miles-21mins.or Taormina/Isola Bella, 25km-15miles-30mins

Nearest restaurants:

there is a good selection of restaurants within 10-15 minutes drive

Taormina:

26km-16miles-30mins

18-hole golf course:

18km-12miles-30mins

Mount Etna:

around 45-1hr drive depending on which part of the mountain you are heading for.

Syracuse:

98km-61miles-1hr15

Noto:

125km-77miles-1hr30

Local Experiences

Helicopter tours in East Sicily

A helicopter trip in Sicily over Etna and to the Aeolian Islands is a highly moving experience, enough to reduce grown men and women to tears! Book with us for a truly unforgettable addition to your Sicilian holiday.

Discover

Private boat charters in East Sicily

The coastline between Taormina and Catania is one of the most dramatic and idyllic in Sicily, thanks to its sandy-pebbly coves, its sea stacks and its transparent waters. The best way to explore it is by boat, and we can arrange a wide variety of full-day, half-day and sunset trips. From your port of departure, you'll head to the lovely fishing villages dotting the coast, such as Aci Trezza and Aci Castello, before sailing north towards the Bay of Giardini Naxos below Capo Taormina. Once there, your skipper will drop anchor so that you can enjoy an unforgettable swim under the awesome gaze of Mount Etna. If you can tear yourselves away from this majestic setting, your trip will continue north to the gorgeous Bay of Isola Bella, one of Sicily's most evocative and picturesque sections of coastline, where lush vegetation imbues the brilliant blue water of the Grotta Azzurra with an emerald green hue.

Discover

Wine tours on Mount Etna

Some of Italy’s finest wines are now being made on the flanks of Mount Etna. A new generation of Sicilian producers are realising the full potential of the mountain’s climate, its autochthonous grape varieties (NerelloMascalese - red - and Carricante - white), its ultra-fertile soil and its unique terroir. To discover just how the natural magic of the mountain combines with the perseverance and passion of man to create outstanding wines, let us arrange a chaufferued wine-tasting tour for you. A delicious lunch is included, so you’ll get a full experience of Etna’s gastronomic abundance.

Discover

Culinary experiences in East Sicily

From the bounty of Mount Etna to the fish-rich sea below, the Ionian Riviera is home to a host of gastronomic delights. Our culinary experiences in the area will give you the knowledge and the skills to recreate some of eastern Sicily's best-known dishes.

Discover

Private Guided tours in East Sicily

Sicily is, quite simply, one of the world’s most fascinating places, with a uniquely rich history, geography and cultural heritage. The Eastern side of the island has a seemingly endless variety of treasures to discover, from the architectural gems and culinary delights of the main towns, to UNESCO Heritage sites, to the geological phenomena and breath-taking landscapes of Mount Etna.Our private guides are tried and tested experts in their field, with many holding PhDs in their particular specialism. Book a tour or two with them and you'll come away with fascinating insights into your destination's towns, archaeological sites, food, wine, landscapes and geology.

Discover

Beach clubs and relaxing activities

The Ionian Riviera has a great selection of beaches and rocky lava stone coves starting just north of Catania which continue all the way up and past Taormina. A day spent at the beach is a brilliant way to relax and enjoy this stretch of fantastic coastline as a family. If you're looking comfort and full facilities, we highly recommend heading to one of the coast’s many beach clubs (also known as Stabilimenti Balneari) which are private areas of beach with different kinds of facilities such as loungers and umbrellas, cafés/bars and restaurants, kayaks, windsurfing, changing rooms etc., particularly useful for children and to get away from the crowds. But this area of Sicily isn’t all about the sea, so if the beach isn’t for you, a great alternative is spending a day at one of Etna’s renowned wineries.Take some time to tour the winery, sample the delicious wines produced there, and take advantage of the other facilities available for an enriching and relaxing day out.

Discover

Private boat charters in Southeast Sicily

From here until the southeasternmost tip of Sicily, the coastline is an uninterrupted stretch of sandy beach, dotted with picturesque little resort towns, including Punta Secca (Inspector Montalbano's home), Marina di Ragusa, Donnalucata, Cava d'Aliga, Sampieri and Marina di Modica. The last strip, made up of several miles of dunes, is where the Allied forces landed in the 2nd World War. At the southernmost tip of Sicily is Isola Delle Correnti, offering an almost African scenario. Indeed, here we are considerably further south than Tunis.Just around the southeastern tip and heading north up the east coast, are the beaches of Marzamemi, San Lorenzo and Vendicari Nature Reserve. The reserve's salt water lagoons and varieties of flora offer the ideal habitat for a wide range of fauna, including nesting turtles and migrating flamingos.Continuing up the east coast, between Vendicari and the historic Greek town of Syracuse, are the popular sandy beaches of Marina di Noto, Calabernado, Marina di Avola, Gelsomineto, Fontane Bianche and Arenella.

Discover

From the Guest Book

Read the insightful reviews from travellers who have experienced this villa and our service firsthand.

What stood out about Camelia was the building itself, the view and the staff.

GM September 2025

Camelia was perfect for us and the staff were responsive to our needs. What stood out were the the beautiful orchards; lots of outdoor space; very comfortable bedrooms and bathrooms; air conditioning and WiFi. Would we return? Yes, it's a beautiful villa, and we loved the modern sensibility.

IN July 2025

If we could sum up our stay at Camelia in one word, I would say relaxing. Knowing that the East Sicily Locals were there to help, and having the housekeeper's assistance in the mornings made the stay effortless. The villa was beautifully furnished and totally private. It had a superbly equipped kitchen, fabulous views, and lovely outdoor areas. It was comfortable, quiet, and there was more than enough room for six adults to have their own space at any time.

Neil Townsend May 2025

What stood out about Camelia were the views, the fruit trees, the terrific accommodations. I would highly recommend it to all.

Verified guest, September 2024

Unique is not a term that invites comparison: Camelia was like nothing I had ever seen before. It was gorgeous It was scenic. The interior was definitely one of a kind. It exceeded our expectations even after we saw the photos. Thank you. We were very comfortable. It was difficult to leave and explore the local wineries, Mount Etna, Syracuse, etc. All in all, a great vacation villa!

Verified guest, October 2025

Camelia is a beautiful villa in beautiful grounds. The chef who cooked for us was exceptional and so sweet.

Excellent

4.7/5

1,174 Reviews

Giarre, Sicily

6 Guests

3 Bedrooms

3 Bathrooms

Looking to know more about Camelia?

Keyholder highlights

Gallery

View all photos

Read the insightful reviews from travellers who have experienced this villa and our service firsthand.

The Area