Crossing The Rock
Santa Maria La Scala, Sicily
Taking the sea air in another era
10 Guests
5 Bedrooms
4 Bathrooms
Key Highlights
- Pool
- Walkable to beach/sea
- Sea views
- Short walk to shop(s) / restaurant(s)
- Walking distance to restaurant(s)
- Walking distance to shop(s)
- Daily maid service
- Barbecue
Gallery
Aerial views of Crossing The Rock.
At Crossing the Rock, a series of beautiful terraces offer plenty of space and sea views galore.
Crossing the Rock's gorgeous seafront position.
The elegant, sumptously furnished main living area.
Exploring the extensive gardens.
Taking a dip in to the refreshing waters of the pool.
What stood out about Crossing the Rock was the location, the furnishings, and the cleanliness. The facilities were all excellent and everything was of a very high standard.
– Verified guest, visited 2026
Features and Amenities
The property
- Sea views
- Children's play area
- Air conditioning
Geography
- Walkable to beach/sea
- Short walk to shop(s) / restaurant(s)
- Walking distance to restaurant(s)
Pool & Wellness
- Pool10x5m
- Gym equipment
Services
- Daily maid service
- Breakfast (excl. ingredients)
- Local knowledge and recommendations
Kitchen & Dining
- Barbecue
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
Entertainment & Tech
- Table tennis
- ADSL Wi-Fi Internet
- Satellite TV
Includes
- The Thinking Traveller's expertise to help you fine-tune the logistics of your trip and access to exclusive experiences
- Exclusive use of your private villa and grounds
- Effortless trip sharing with your guests on our online platform
- Award-winning local expertise throughout your stay
Excludes
- Flights
- Car hire
- Transfers
- The cost of ingredients for specified meals, payable locally
Getting to and around
Bedroom details
- Bedroom 1: double bed (180x200cm), adjacent and shared shower room
- Bedroom 2: double-twin bed (180/90x190cm), adjacent and shared shower room
- Bedroom 3: double-twin bed (180/90x190cm), adjacent and shared shower room
- Bedroom 4: double-twin bed (180/90x190cm), adjacent and shared bathroom
- Bedroom 5: master double bed (180x190cm), adjacent and shared bathroom
There are four full bathrooms in total at Crossing the Rock. Whilst none of them are en-suite, they needn't all be shared if some members of the group were looking to have a bathroom for exclusive use.
NB: A double-twin bedroom has two single beds that can either be joined together to create a double bed or left separate as two single beds.
Reduced Occupancy
During the shoulder seasons, Crossing the Rock has a reduced price for a group of up to 6 that only need up to 3 bedrooms. The bedrooms not required will be closed, but the rest of the villa, its amenities and its grounds will remain at the complete disposal of guests. If unspecified, the best bedrooms will be prepared for you.About the property
Inside
Crossing the Rock occupies the second (top) floor of a seafront villa and is accessed either via an internal staircase or a private lift. The apartment is organised in a U shape, at the centre of which is a large, fully-furnished terrace looking out to sea.The entrance hall, at the bottom right of the U leads on the right to two large, interconnecting, high-ceilinged reception rooms, both comfortably furnished with elegant sofas. The first has views onto the harbour, while the second has both sea and harbour views and access to the central terrace.
Behind the smaller of the two reception rooms is the dining room, which has its own terrace looking over the harbour and access, via a corridor, to the wonderful kitchen where the cook will prepare your meals.
A corridor at the base of the U is home to a double bedroom and two double-twins, each with large French windows opening onto the central sea-view terrace. Opposite them are two beautifully fitted shower rooms. At the end of the corridor another access to the kitchen, and a snug room with large flat-screen TV and access to a series of terraces, the gardens and the pool.
A corridor leads up the left-hand side of the U, where there is another double-twin bedroom, a small study with laptop and printer, two more lovely bathrooms (one with shower and one with tub). At the end of the corridor is another large, stunningly designed double, complete with access to the central terrace, and a private sitting area with treadmill looking out to sea. Furnishings and fittings throughout are of the highest quality.
Outside
Crossing the Rock offers no end of outside space, including the central sea-view terrace - the perfect spot for dining, lounging, aperitifs or just gazing out to sea - and the dining room terrace, which is another great option for meals.The star of the outdoor areas, however, is the series of terraces, walkways and mature gardens to the left of the U. Here is the large pool, a canopied sea-view pergola, and a solarium area, ideal for soaking up the sun, relaxing or indulging in fun and games!
The icing on the cake is that the fishing village of Santa Maria La Scala (on the doorstep of your own private oasis) offers a series of excellent seafront fish restaurants, bars and lidos with bathing platforms.
Service
Crossing the Rock offers an impeccable level of service, including a member of staff who will prepare breakfast, and a maid who will carry out daily cleaning. A cook is available on request.CIN No. IT087004B4DDUYF933, CIR No. 19087004B405330
About the Area
Santa Maria La Scala, on the sea below Acireale, is a characterful working fishing village, still relatively untouched by tourism except during August and summer weekends when it attracts locals from Catania in search of the sea. Its harbour (where you can hire a boat), sea-front fish restaurants, bar and bathing platforms are on Crossing the Rock's doorstep.
Other lovely fishing villages, such as Aci Castello and Acitrezza, dot the coastline, while nearby Acireale is great for food shopping.
Taormina is just a short drive up the coast, fascinating Mount Etna awaits exploration behind you and Catania is just a short drive down the coast. Further afield, Syracuse is about an hour's drive away, but also suitable for day trips are the UNESCO World Heritage towns of Noto, Ragusa, Modica and Scicli. There's even a golf course within striking distance if you fancy a round!
Considerations
The pool is natural and free of chemicals of any kind. It is filled with either sea water or with fresh water (depending on the season) which is completely changed every 3 to 4 days.
Please note that there is no real shallow end in the pool, whose minimum depth is 1.3m.
The number of steps that must be negotiated to get into and/or around this property might make it unsuitable for people with mobility problems.
The sea access in front of this property is via rocks and so may not be possible to use if the sea is rough. Please note that it is also immediately deep and therefore not ideal for less confident swimmers.
There is no private parking at this villa, though public parking is available nearby.
Parts of the route to this property include some quite steep twists and turns and/or narrow stretches of road. We recommend guests rent smaller car models rather than large people carriers or mini vans.
Guest Reviews
What stood out about Crossing the Rock was the location, the furnishings, and the cleanliness. The facilities were all excellent and everything was of a very high standard.
Verified guest, visited August 2026
Crossing the Rock is an amazing villa with spectacular views. And it was so peaceful. What stood out was the location and the staff. What a great vacation!
Sandy Waltz, visited April 2026
Crossing the Rock is amazing - from the views to the staff, to the location, everything was perfect. Very comfortable for 4 couples to stay for a week. The location was the perfect combination of small village but walkable to a big town and easy to get to even bigger towns so you can make this your home base and see a lot of Sicily. Thank you for an amazing week.
Carol Levitt, visited October 2025
Everything at Crossing the Rock was great. Clean, attention to detail, fabulous.
CB, visited July 2025
Crossing the Rock is beautiful. It has an old-world charm. The lovely terraces and the grounds are spectacular. The large pool overlooking the sea and the spacious garden with its many different areas for relaxation make it a special place. Once there, you don't want to leave! We had a wonderful, stress-free, fun-filled vacation in a beautiful villa.
TJ, visited June 2025
Our stay at Crossing the Rock was absolutely incredible. From the beautifully designed home and stunning property to the seamless excursions and unforgettable meals prepared at the house, every detail exceeded our expectations. The staff was exceptionally helpful and accommodating throughout our stay, making the entire experience feel effortless and luxurious. We’re already planning our next trip and choosing the destination based on where The Thinking Traveller has properties - we truly cannot recommend them highly enough.
Sara Elmore, visited May 2025
Crossing the Rock was impeccably clean and beautifully appointed with furniture and art. The level of service was top notch - highly responsive and effective. The local village and setting gave us a peaceful, pastoral experience and true local cooking and culture, while Acireale was just a 15-minute walk for a bigger, more urban experience. Our excursions to Mount Etna, Catania and Siracusa were an easy ride away, so the central location was wonderful. The staff was so attentive, kind and friendly that we were sad to leave them. In summary, everything about the villa, the setting, the local village, the staff and our experience with our local cooks, concierge services and excursions was absolutely fantastic!
Teresa Stivarius, visited October 2024
Crossing the Rock was authentic, comfortable and gorgeous! It was beyond all expectations. The entire Thinking Traveller team was exceptional from the day we booked the villa to the day we sadly left the villa. The team is a stellar example of how to interact with and treat a customer.
Verified guest, visited July 2024
Looking to know more about Crossing The Rock?
Our Specialists know Crossing The Rock first-hand. Having personally visited the villa, they can answer your questions, share insider details, and help you find the perfect dates for your stay.
Local Experiences
Helicopter tours in East Sicily
Culinary experiences in East Sicily
Wine tours on Mount Etna
Private Guided tours in East Sicily
Private boat charters in East Sicily
Private guided tours in Southeast Sicily
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