Living The Leopard
12 Guests
6 Bedrooms
6 Bathrooms
A sumptuous and highly prestigious baroque residence dating back to the first half of the 17th century, Palazzo Musmeci graces the historic centre of Acireale, one of Sicily's lesser-visited gems. The current owners of the palazzo have breathed new life into their beloved home, painstakingly restoring the florid artistry, the flawless craftsmanship, and the ingenious architectural flourishes of its grand halls, salons and bedrooms. At the same time, they've allowed the property to evolve by adding 21st-century comforts, contemporary artworks and designer furnishings. A stay in this magnificent home – which has hosted King Ferdinando IV of the Two Sicilies and King Umberto I of Savoia during its illustrious history - is an awe-inspiring, life-enhancing experience.
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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
- Sumptuous, character-filled interiors
- A real sense of historical wonder
- Refined, sophisticated accommodation
- A leafy courtyard garden with gorgeous pool
- In-villa cook service for three meals a day
- Walking distance to restaurants, cafés and shops
Gallery
A bird's-eye view of Palazzo Musmeci's gorgeous pool.
The leafy al fresco dining area in the first part of the secluded courtyard.
The sociable lounge area by the pool.
The shady sitting area outside the ground-floor bedrooms.
After a day's sightseeing, what could be better than a refreshing dip in 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 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
- Fully-staffed villa including housekeepers, and a Sicilian chef
- A daily cleaning service and a mid-week linen change
- Daily cook service for continental breakfast, lunch and dinner (please see the Services section below)
Excludes
- Flights
- Car hire
- Transfers
- The fixed cost of ingredients for lunch and dinner, payable locally (please see the Services section below)
- The ballroom, though this may be reserved for an extra fee should you wish to host a special dinner or event for your guests
- 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.
Palazzo Musmeci and its staff were great. What stood out was the architecture and the decoration. Would we return? Yes.
Marianne Fersing October 2025
Excellent
4.7/5
1,174 Reviews
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The Area
Palazzo Musmeci rises proudly in the centre of the history-filled, buzzing town of Acireale above Sicily's east coast. Famous throughout Italy for its carnival celebrations, Acireale boasts numerous architectural treasures, and a great selection of excellent restaurants, cafés and bars. It does, despite its many charms, fly somewhat under the tourist radar.
Down on the coast below Acireale is Santa Maria La Scala, 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 make it a great place to spend a day or two. It is possible to walk there in about 30 minutes.
Other lovely fishing villages, such as Aci Castello and Acitrezza, dot the coastline.
Taormina is just a short drive up the coast, fascinating Mount Etna awaits exploration behind you and multi-layered, historic Catania should not be missed.
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.
Getting to and around
Catania airport:
30km-18.6miles-40minsPalermo airport:
256km-159miles-3hr5Trapani airport:
337km-210miles-3hr45Nearest shops, restaurants, shops and other amenities:
just outside your doorNearest sea access and beaches:
Santa Maria La Scala - 4km-2.5miles-12mins; Fondachello - 22.7km-14miles-35mins; Marina di Cottone - 29.5km-18.5miles-30minsTaormina:
39.5km-24.5miles-40minsMount Etna cable car:
29.5km-18.5miles-45minsCatania centre:
19.2km-10miles-30minsSyracuse:
85.5km-53miles-1hr10Noto:
112km-70miles-1hr30Modica:
150km-93miles-1hr50Local 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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In villa experiences
We are here to assist you in creating unforgettable memories during your stay at the villa. Allow us to pamper you and make the most of your time there.
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