Have you ever thought about playing golf in the foothills of one of the world’s most active volcanoes? Well, neither had I until I was invited to explore eastern Sicily and the newly renovated Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa. Sicily isn’t famed for its golf, but luckily, this charming golf course and boutique hotel offer a unique experience that mixes golf and a series of quintessential Sicilian experiences that golfers and non-golfing friends and family can enjoy in equal measure.
The Setting
(Image credit: James Hogg)
Mount Etna is the most active volcano in Europe. Sitting 11,000ft above sea level, I arrived in early June, a day after what the British press had described as a ‘major eruption sending tourists fleeing.’ Luckily, the locals, who are far more attuned to Etna’s comings and goings, weren’t too concerned about one of the volcano’s several yearly eruptions, and we headed up to the hotel as planned.
From Catania airport on the southeast of the island, Picciolo is an hour’s ride up the curvy coastal and mountain roads. Secluded around 2000ft above sea level, the boutique hotel is a perfect place to base your stay to enjoy some characterful golf as well as everything eastern Sicily has to offer golfers and non-golfers alike.
The hotel
(Image credit: James Hogg)
While Sicily’s charm at Etna’s majesty will be most tourists’ initial pull to the island, it will be Picciolo Etna Golf Resort and Spa that makes the trip all the more memorable. The resort’s hotel and golf facilities have benefited from an £18 million renovation over the last five years, covering the clubhouse, the hotel, the golf course and a new collection of private villas dotted around the site.
My newly renovated room was, as one might expect, immaculate, with a charming private veranda overlooking a local vineyard and Mount Etna herself. Whether it was an espresso in the morning or an Aperol Spritz in the evening, there was a real sense of privacy and tranquillity at Picciolo that you don’t often get visiting larger golf and spa resorts.
(Image credit: James Hogg)
The hotel has recently become a part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, a selection of independent, upscale hotels that have been selected for their character, charm and unique experiences. In total, 100 rooms (including suites, deluxe rooms and rooms in the clubhouse) make up the complex, which also benefits from two outdoor pools and a recently renovated spa. Next year, on-site…
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