Villa Neri Resort & Spa ★★★★★

If the ancient Greeks are to be believed, Mount Etna is the home and prison of Typhon, the ‘Father of Monsters’ and the most fearsome, deadliest creature who ever walked the earth. The humungous dragon had a hundred heads and reached all the way up to the stars, but after terrorising the Greek gods he was defeated by Zeus and trapped beneath Mount Etna, from where he has been periodically belching out great showers of fire for the last few thousand years. A terrifying tale, but we were still feeling intrepid enough to venture to the Villa Neri Resort & Spa, a five-star luxurious mansion just 15km away from the beast’s lair.

As soon as we arrived it was hard to believe that we were just a few miles away from the most frightening monster of all time, since the whole place was drenched in an atmosphere of pure tranquillity and peace. The bucolic setting is absolutely magnificent, surrounded by the fertile foothills of the mountain, whose verdant slopes are awash with vineyards, meadows and olive groves. The snow-capped mountain itself looms large on the horizon, providing a spectacular backdrop for the Villa Neri’s luxuriant and fragrant gardens. We were already falling in love with the place before we had even laid eyes on the hotel, but as soon as we glimpsed the elegant mansion in the heart of the gardens, with its pastel blue façade overlooking a pristine lawn and gurgling fountain, we knew that this would be a holiday to remember…

As it turned out, our first impressions were spot on. The traditional architecture on the outside belies the chic interior which provides a sleek and modern take on old-fashioned grandeur, with polished marble, gleaming columns and a stylish black and white colour scheme. While we were still admiring our surroundings, a friendly member of staff was immediately on hand to welcome us to our new palatial home for the week, and we were soon setting down our suitcases and admiring our luxurious bedroom. Thanks to its spacious layout, gorgeous bathroom and easy on the eye contemporary décor we instantly felt right at home, while the private terrace with views of the mighty mountain was absolutely divine.

Eager to get straight into the easy-going holiday spirit, we headed off to unwind in the Petra Spa. The afternoon slipped by surprisingly quickly as we made our way between the sauna, Turkish bath, ‘experience showers’, ice fountain, heated swimming pool with a hot tub feature and the water beds in the relaxation area. With all these facilities at our disposal, we didn’t even have time to test the enticing range of treatments, many of which use organic Sicilian ingredients such as fresh plant extracts, cold-pressed plant oils, sea salt, Etna grapes, spices and citrus fruits.

We didn’t completely miss out on our chance to sample the local produce, however; the sun was soon setting and we decided to pay a visit to the hotel’s restaurant on our first night. ‘Le Dodici Fontane’ (or The Twelve Fountains) provides a splendid setting, with an elegant dining room and a terrace overlooking the pool, surrounded by olive and birch trees. We ordered a lovely bottle of local wine from the extensive list and sat back as we were brought three courses of delectable food, which used local produce to expertly capture the flavours of the Mediterranean.

If the poolside setting is magical at night, it really comes into its own when the sun is beating down on a summer’s afternoon. Though we were eager to get out and discover the countryside, charming towns and beautiful coastline of Sicily, we found plenty of time during our stay to pull up a sun lounger and chill out beside the swimming pool. In the heart of the floral and fragrant, sun-drenched gardens and offering excellent views towards Mount Etna, it was always an absolutely idyllic spot to while away a couple of hours. If only someone would imprison us here for a few thousand years…