Taking the sea air in another era
10 Guests
5 Bedrooms
4 Bathrooms
Crossing the Rock incorporates everything that is desirable in a rental villa: a rare and privileged seafront position, sensational views, stylishly crafted and luxuriously proportioned interiors, extensive panoramic grounds and terraces, a large pool, discreet pampering service and total privacy: all at the heart of the picturesque fishing village of Santa Maria La Scala, with its excellent seafood restaurants, amenities and rocky-pebbly beach.
Looking to know more about Crossing The Rock?
Our team has visited each of our villas, so they can share the finer details and help explore flexible date options
Winner of Condé Nast Traveller’s 2025 Best Villa Rental Company in the World
Keyholder highlights
- Fabulous seafront pool
- Extensive gardens and terraces
- Exquisitely finished and furnished
- Authentic fishing village location
- Easy stroll to restaurants
- Sea access from the village
Gallery
Aerial views of Crossing The Rock.
A series of beautiful terraces of 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.
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 local 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 to assist you during your stay and 24/7 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 (5 hours/day, 6 days a week) and a mid-week linen change
- Daily continental breakfast preparation (6 days a week)
Excludes
- Flights
- Car hire
- Transfers
- Meals (unless otherwise specified)
- Ingredients for specified meals
- Tourist taxes (tassa di soggiorno) levied by many town councils in Italy. The amount varies by location and usually amounts to between €1-€5 per person per night
From the Guest Book
Read the insightful reviews from travellers who have experienced this villa and our service firsthand.
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 October 2025
Everything at Crossing the Rock was great. Clean, attention to detail, fabulous.
CB 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 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 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 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, July 2024
Excellent
4.7/5
1,143 Reviews
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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!
