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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Villa Silvia Viagrande

This pretty and beautifully kept apartment is set in the glorious countryside on the hillside of Mount Etna. This villa is set in the grounds of a larger estate and is a perfect holiday home where you can simply chill out by the private pool and also do a little sightseeing - Etna, Catania and Taormina all being within easy reach.

The villa was originally part of a country estate and has been tastefully turned into a lovely dwelling for stays at all times of the year. The views take in some of the all-important grape vines that produce an excellent local wine and also stretch across to the stunning coastline. The gardens are a delight as is the super pool which is used also by the owners – we are sure that you will come home having made some charming new (and most unobtrusive!) Italian friends!

The comfort of the guests has been considered very carefully at Villa Silvia and you will find simple but effective furnishings and pastel shades throughout the accommodation. The entrance takes you into the lounge where you may spend some time escaping the heat of the day and the kitchen is home to a hob, oven, fridge freezer, washing machine and a large dining table. The two bedrooms are light and airy – one has a double bed and the other has 2 twin beds and there are 2 shower rooms making it a great property for both families and friends. There is an additional double bedroom with en-suite shower set slightly away from the house within the gate house. It's perfect if you have older children or a couple who'd like to be a little independent. This suite has tea and coffee making facilities along with a fridge.

We are sure that you will spend most of your time outside in the beautiful gardens – a furnished and private patio ensures some great al-fresco meals and the super pool which is set on a slightly lower level, is surrounded by grassy lawns and flowering shrubs. A lovely setting in which to get your daily exercise or simply just soak up the Sicilian sunshine and float to your hearts content!

The position of Villa Silvia means that it is easy to explore some of this culture-stacked island without straying too far and a great bonus is that it is only 20 kms from Catania.

Villa Silvia is a real find and we look forward to receiving your comments on your return from this lovely location.

New in Puglia for 2012

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

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