Italy - Sicily
Villa Ducale
A Karen Brown Recommended Hotel / Inn
Owners: Rosaria & Andrea Quartucci |
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Karen's Review Of This Property:
Villa Ducale
The Villa Ducale’s superlative reputation has been earned thanks to the passionate hospitality of its owners, Rosaria and Andrea Quartucci. Originally Rosaria’s childhood home, its 17 romantically-styled rooms and suites are within two houses, divided by the street. A winding road takes you up past the center of town to a residential area that offers memorable views. If you are able to tear yourselves away from Villa Ducale’s comfortable, very attractive rooms (each appointed with Sicilian solar color palette, local artisan work, antiques, and fine linens) you will be rewarded with a sumptuous buffet breakfast on the flower-laden terrace featuring a variety of home-prepared specialties to satisfy any taste. Try to concentrate on this feast while gazing over the steep hillside sweeping down to the open sea and back up to the towering Etna volcano looming to the right. Most rooms have a terrace and all have sea-views of either the northern or southern coastline. The very friendly staff assists with the many convenient services offered, including free Internet access, private mini van shuttle to the town center or down to the private beach. Don’t miss a chance to walk down to town on the walking path with head-spinning views right over the sea, Teatro Greco, and more.
Villa Ducale is
Located along this Karen Brown Itinerary:
I - Exploring the Wonders of Sicily
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A Few Nearby Cities & Towns: List Them All
Distances Shown From Villa Ducale.
| Taormina Sicily, Italy |
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| Messina Sicily, Italy |
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| Cefalu Sicily, Italy |
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| Siracusa Sicily, Italy |
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| Zafferana Etnea Sicily, Italy |
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Credit Cards Welcome: AMEX VISA MC
12 Rooms, Double Occupancy: €99.00 - €279.00
5 Suites, Double Occupancy: €199.00 - €449.00
Closed: Jan 10 to Feb 10
Phone: (0942) 28 153 Fax: (0942) 28 710
Directions:
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Traveler Reviews of
Villa Ducale:
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| Combined User Ratings: | |||
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| Overall Rating: 5 |
Quality Rating: 5 |
Welcome Rating: 5 |
Charm Rating: 5 |
I am a profoundly deaf solo traveller and stayed at the lovely family run boutique 4 star Hotel Villa Ducale AGAIN this year for 4 nights recently! When I arrived the first evening, I was welcomed with open arms by Antonio, Alessia and Santina, who provided me with a glass of Sicilian wine, and treated me like a member of their family in a home away from home! Afterwards, Antonio took me to a ‘honeymoon’ type suite deluxe with ornate interiors in Room 4 – I felt like a Royal Highness and I enjoyed my experience in that suite! I went to bed very late about 1.40am, because I was so excited! It has the homely lounge, large bedroom, a spacious en-suite and a balcony with a view of the lovely bay.
The next day, it was lovely to meet Francesca the hotel breakfast waitress again and she always looked after me and the other guests first class by making sure our breakfasts were OK! I enjoyed my breakfast on the terrace with the breathtaking views of Mount Etna, Taormina, Giardini Naxos Bay, Mediterranean Sea and sky again! Best view number one in Taormina from Villa Ducale, especially at sunset from the cocktail bar! That hotel is really beautiful with lots of pretty flowers around and in a peaceful location for those who want to get away from the crowd! It provides the free frequent shuttle to, and from Taormina town and the beaches, also it has 2 bus stops nearby where we can get the buses down to Taormina, or up to the ‘fairy tale’ mountain village of Castelmola! OR you would be able to walk down from that hotel to Taormina town via the public pathway where you would enjoy the panoramic views on foot like I did. It should take you about 10 to 15 minutes if you walk straight down. There is some seating and the lampposts for the dark hours.
Later on, it was great to meet the hotel owner Andrea again! Later, they moved me to another room due to the fully booked, as I had already agreed with them before. I would advise you to book your hotel room well in advance – Villa Ducale is a very popular hotel in Taormina!!
Room 15 is a standard room with the elegant Sicilian character interiors and has a good size en-suite with a white bathroom set – spotlessly cleaned by the regular friendly cleaner! It is much better than any boring plain rooms at the many big hotel chains worldwide!
In the evening I met Luca for the first time and we had some nice chats! He and Santina were very good at entertaining everyone with their sense of humour, including myself, as well as they were serving us the meals at that hotel’s restaurant!
All the attentive multi-tasking staff were able to do the reception job, porter job, cooking and serving the meals, etc. during their shifts!! They were so amazing keeping smiling when they were busy! And the day before my departure day, Antonio offered to book any transport to take me back to the airport. I told him that I chose the bus for going back there. He suggested that he could book me for a free shuttle where the driver could take me to Taormina Bus Terminal beyond the usual drop off point where I would be able to get a bus to the airport from there! I must say that Alessia and Antonio looked after me so well during my stay – big thanks to them!
During my last evening, I enjoyed Villa Ducale's delicious home-made sarde Beccafica (Anchovies style).
I really had a fantastic time there, as well as visiting Taormina, picturesque Isola Bella beach and Giardini Naxos beach! I feel sure you would want to go back to that hotel after your first stay! I would love to go back there from time to time!
Hotel Villa Ducale just won the Conde Nast Award for the most romantic hotel in Europe 2010! I am really pleased about this, because Andrea, Rosaria and all the attentive staff deserved it!!
| Overall Rating: 5 |
Quality Rating: 5 |
Welcome Rating: 5 |
Charm Rating: 5 |
| Overall Rating: 5 |
Quality Rating: 5 |
Welcome Rating: 5 |
Charm Rating: 5 |
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