Essential Italy

We know car choice is important for the enjoyment of your holiday, our supplier – Maggiore Car Rental – will guarantee the following:

• highly competitive prices
• no major tour operator is working with them, therefore we are quite sure that queuing will be kept to a minimum, even in high season
• all cars have air conditioning
• a full and comprehensive back-up system

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We do not book flights, we leave it to you to choose the best departure point and flight times to suit your party. We have compiled a list of airlines flying to those regions in which we offer accommodation.

Flights are from the UK, if you are travelling from elsewhere, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we will recommend an airline flying from your departure point. If you are unsure which airport in Italy is closest to your accommodation, please call us on 01223 460100 or email

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Borgo Petra Mascalucia

Borgo Petra sits on the southern slopes of Mount Etna in a peaceful and quiet setting on the edge of the little village of Mascalucia. The charming walled property is full of Sicilian character and is actually listed by the Office of Monuments and Fine Arts thus ensuring that it will never be spoilt in any way. Extensive renovations have taken place over the last few years and the 18th century buildings are a delight to stay in. The Borgo was literally once a “village within a village” complete with a piazza where everyone could meet, various homes and a cantina for wine production. Creamy coloured local stone and wonderful tiled floors are found throughout the property along with beautiful age-old palms, perfumed orange and lemon trees plus an abundance of tumbling oleanders that seem to bloom all year giving vibrant splashes of colour around every corner.

The superb location of Borgo Petra means that you can easily drive down to the shimmering coastline and swim in the blue sea in Taormina, visit the bustling city of Catania with its wonderful historic centre (not to mention the shopping!) and view the world from the top of mysterious Mount Etna – a must when you are so close! Of course, we would not blame you if you decided simply to laze by the glorious pool and relax without a care in the world!

The accommodation at Borgopetra is all different in size, design and furnishings. The thick stone walls provide a natural sound-proofing that ensures tranquillity in all the buildings and rooms – the only disturbance being the occasional sound of the church bells ringing or the flight of a bird doing some hunting in the cool of the night.

The apartments and suites are situated around the main square and are all furnished with TV, air conditioning/heating and internet connection – beautiful old wooden furniture fills Borgopetra and the attentive owners make sure that they are “ecologically minded” where ever possible. The tempting pool and a small gym sit slightly away from the main part of the Borgo in lovely gardens – the gym is actually in the building that was once the ancient puppet theatre – a hugely important part of Sicilian culture.

La Casa degli Orti – sleeps 5
This spacious and sunny house has a large open plan lounge/dining room and a country kitchen including dishwasher and washing machine. There is one double bedroom, one twin/double and one single bedroom plus 2 bathrooms. Please note that the bedrooms are in a line and although they all have their own exit to the terrace, the guest in the single bedroom (which is perfect for a child) accesses the bathroom via one of the double bedrooms. A private furnished terrace completes the accommodation.

Grand Suite Orti – sleeps 3
This is La Casa degli Orti with the twin/double bedroom and one bathroom closed off leaving a double and a single bedroom plus one bathroom. The living space is as above. The rest of the apartment will not be rented out during your stay.

Suite Orti – sleeps 2
This is La Casa degli Orti with just a double bedroom and one bathroom. The living space is as above. The rest of the apartment will not be rented out during your stay

Casa Barone – sleeps 4/6
A fascinating house with two extra-large suite-style bedrooms (double/twins) with the addition of a sofa bed in both of them. A stylish living/dining room is next to the small but pretty kitchen which is filled with antique furniture. The charming decor features a mix of old and contemporary furnishings and Casa Barone has the exclusive use of a small flower garden/terrace.

Suite Barone – sleeps 2/4
This is the Casa Barone with the use of the double/twin bedroom with sofa bed and one bathroom – perfect for a couple or a small family. The rest of the apartment will not be rented out during your stay

Casa Donna Petra – sleeps 2
This very romantic two-floor suite has a small living/dining room beneath an antique vaulted ceiling along with a tiny kitchen. The spacious bedroom with a double bed in the alcove and the bathroom is found on the raised floor. Beautiful antique furnishings, a Sicilian ceramic display and a small “cabinet of curiosities” completes this unique accommodation. Outside there is a seating area in the shared courtyard.

Casa Oleandri – sleeps 2
The former stable has been converted into comfortable studio beneath a sloping roof and comprising of a double bed, a living area and a small separate kitchen area. The special features in Casa Oleandri include the small library of biographies, the collection of glass paintings and the beautiful Italian fabrics. Outside there is a seating area in the shared courtyard.

We know that the attentive owners will take the very best care of you at Borgopetra and their presence every morning when they serve a delicious breakfast is the perfect way to start the day with tasty home-made fare and some great tips/local information if required. We highly recommend this great Sicilian property.

New in Puglia for 2012

Helen & Sarah have just returned from a very fruitful trip to Puglia...

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