#Bosco Ciancio

[77evabellalucia]

We arrived at Country Hotel Bosco Ciancio inside Sicily’s Etna Park, passing down a long and wooded driveway, the kind that makes you hold your breath because you know something special is waiting on the other end. What we saw gave us that ‘fairytale cottage in the forest’ feel as the driveway opened up into a clearing with a long stone and wood building, complete with a black iron gate.

We parked the car and walked through the chill of an early October evening into a stone courtyard divided by a patch of green grass with a gnarled old olive tree at one end. At the other end was a wide rock terrace dotted with small umbrella tables. Soft lights began to glow around the courtyard as darkness crept over the land. We stood there, enveloped in a realm of rustic enchantment.

Alberto, the proprietor of the hotel, met us inside with a warm reception. He explained that the hotel was a part of the ancient estate of Baroni Ciancio, duke of Adrano. The old stone villa was thoughtfully and authentically restored into the hotel it is today on 74 acres of chestnut, oak, pine and birch forests.

The hotel encompasses fifteen rooms gathered around a central courtyard. Each room is tastefully yet simply decorated with warm colors, wood beams, and terracotta tiles. Alberto is still adding some small embellishments throughout the building. We found our room with attached bathroom very comfortable. The romantic ambiance of the courtyard and terrace aglow at night from our panoramic balcony view was lovely.

Alberto has put some personal touch into this particular room with a local Chestnut tree headboard.

Dinner was served in the small and cozy on-site restaurant Alloro later that evening. The generous set menu included a good variety of food options that Alberto took time to describe. It was difficult to choose so we relied on his suggestions which proved to be delicious. It was immediately apparent that he had a top-notch chef working in the kitchen. Alberto shared some of his expansive knowledge of Sicilian wines and we took him up on his recommendation of a local red.

We began the next day with a hearty breakfast of both sweet and savory options prepared by the friendly and accommodating staff.

The weather was sunny so we took our plates out onto the terrace and enjoyed the freshness of a new day.

The cable cars to Mt. Etna are just a 20-minute drive further up the road. We drove it the next morning and passed small groups of chestnut pickers filling their bags. As we neared Mt. Etna, the landscape became dark and covered with cinder ash everywhere. Large outcroppings of lava rock rose in spots, evidence of the last volcanic eruption.

We parked our car and took a cable car up to the gift shop and panini/café bar. Although there were off-road vehicle tours, we opted to walk some of the trails leading upward. Ladybugs seemed to be everywhere, which seemed strange but refreshing at the same time. Even though the dark results of a natural disaster lay all around us, these delightful little bugs brought a good dose of life back into the landscape.

The panoramic views provided an exhilarating experience and extended out over the sea. If you choose to join a tour, the Mt. Etna guides will take you as close to the active volcano as the local safety regulations will allow. Several external craters can also be viewed.

Back at Bosco Ciancio, Alberto took us on a one-mile walk along a trail that wound through the chestnut forests. We passed a clearing lined with about 40 hives of bees busily gathering nectar.

Beekeepers are hired to bring hives in every spring for about 5 months to gather pollen and make honey. Some of it is left with Alberto and served at breakfast in the morning. It has a slight nutty-chestnut taste and very delicious!

Country Hotel Bosco Ciancio is an experience in nature that is tranquil and soothing. I could have easily spent my three days right at the hotel, sipping café on the terrace, reading in the sunshine, or walking the forest trails.

However, the hotel is ideally located to Mt. Etna as well as the seaside towns of Taormina, Siracusa, and Catania along the eastern coast. You will need your own car to navigate about. We picked up a car rental for our time in Sicily from the Catania airport upon arrival.

A warm welcome by the multi-lingual staff combined with the serenity of the forest and comforts of home easily put Hotel Bosco Ciancio on my list of great places to come back to. Not to mention that chestnut honey…

Things to do nearby –

Mt. Etna is only a 20-minute drive away and is the highest active volcano in Europe at over 10,900 feet. Cable cars will take you up close to the craters where you can take an off-road vehicle tour, hike, or ski in the winter. Snow usually appears in December. Check out this website for more info – http://funiviaetna.com/en/

Mountain biking and hiking trails will immerse you in the lush vegetation of Etna’s volcanic soil within the park.

Take a day trip and visit the ancient Greek cities of Siracusa and Ortygia, only 98 km away. If you love architecture, history, and a seaside village ambiance, this is the place for you. For sightseeing and learning more about the fascinating history of Ortygia or Siracusa, I highly recommend tour guide Marco Sanzaro at http://www.personal-turist-assistant.it/  Catania and Taormina also make great seaside escapes.

Save a day to hang at Hotel Bosco Ciancio for a tranquil, peaceful experience nestled in the beauty of Mt. Etna.

Seeking Adventure on Sicily’s Mt. Etna? Make Hotel Bosco Ciancio Your Perfect Stay We arrived at Country Hotel Bosco Ciancio inside Sicily's Etna Park, passing down a long and wooded driveway, the kind that makes you hold your breath because you know something special is waiting on the other end.

[77evabellalucia]

The sun-splashed lungomare d’Ortigia was a sensual delight on a gentle afternoon this last October. I had made the drive from Hotel Bosco Ciancio on the slopes of Mt. Etna, which had been my lodging for the past few nights, to meet with Marco Sanzaro, a local tour guide. My goal was to discover the wonders of the island of Ortigia, the historical heart of the ancient Greek city of Syracuse on Sicily’s eastern shore.

As I walked the footpath that followed the waterfront, I couldn’t help but notice the brilliant green waters of the Ionian sea lap against the shore as it gently cradled boats in the harbor.

Restaurants, bars, and trattorias lined the shaded sidewalks. The aroma of food being prepared came from the doorways of kitchens as outdoor diners waited in anticipation while sipping their wine. I passed soft voices, bursts of loud chatter, laughter, and even periods of silence. Land and sea blended well together in a natural rhythm of past and present.

I met Marco Sanzaro in a small piazza not far from the Cathedral of Syracuse. He arrived a few minutes early and I recognized him not only by his photo but also by his name tag which read Regione Siciliana Guido Turistica. Marco and I connected instantly and the next two hours proved to be packed with one of the most interesting history lessons I can remember, followed by a delicious authentic Sicilian dinner.

Marco grew up in a house very close to where we met and has been a lifelong resident of Ortigia. He is passionate about his hometown, the beauty, and history that goes back more than 2,500 years.

We began at the Cathedral of Syracuse, just a stone’s throw away in Piazza del Duomo. It is a pedestrian-only square located in the center of Ortigia. The Cathedral, constructed by Saint Bishop Zosimo of Syracuse in the 7th century, was built on top of the ancient 5th century BC Greek Temple of Athena. Some relics remain, including several Doric columns that have been incorporated into the walls.

The baroque facade includes Acanthus leaves in its Corinthian columns. An earthquake in 1693 damaged the Cathedral, which began reconstruction in 1725. Today, it is classified as High Sicilian Baroque.

Inside the Cathedral is a combination of rustic walls with baroque touches. The baptismal font below dates from the 12th century.

The Cathedral is included in the Syracuse UNESCO World Heritage Site as a major monument of the historical core of Syracuse.

  We left the Cathedral and wandered the cream-colored paving stones past outdoor markets, shops and gelateria. Notice the crenelations that run along the top of the Cathedral’s flank.

Our next stop was the 6th century Temple of Apollo in Piazza Pancali. The remains are nestled in a garden of palms and green spaces. It’s the most ancient Doric temple in Sicily and through the centuries has undergone many transformations. The temple was constructed with forty-two monolithic columns which were most likely transported by sea. It must have been an incredible building, especially for its time. At the top step of the eastern face, an inscription by the architect, or builder, celebrates the construction of the temple with an emphasis on its exploratory attributes.

Marco was very knowledgeable and shared the historical aspects of the Temple of Apollo with much enthusiasm.

We ventured on toward the sea where we stopped at the Fountain of Arethusa. As the legend goes, an Arcadian nymph fled underwater to Syracuse to escape the river-god Alpheios’ advances. The nymph, who was the goddess Arethusa, in resignation, transformed herself into the freshwater spring that we see today.

Nearby is a flowing statue of the river-god Alpheios and the goddess Arethusa.

The Fountain of Arethusa is one of only two places in Europe where papyrus grows.

We spent a wonderful afternoon walking the historical district of Ortigia while discussing legends, cultural influences, and the city of today. Marco greatly enabled me to orient myself to Ortigia as well as understand the past and present, all of which added a lot of depth to my experience. Before parting ways, Marco recommended a restaurant that we were eager to try. It proved to exceed our expectations with its delicious authentic Sicilian menu.

The Perle d’Ortigia is a welcoming place with a rustic arched interior accented by green palms. Seafood is a specialty here, and the menu includes several options made from the fresh catch of the day. Fish fillet of amo in nuanced brandy with hedgehog sauce or octopus steeped in nero d’avola are a few options along with daily homemade pasta embellished with Sicilian ingredients. We were more than pleased to rest our feet while tasting some of Ortigia’s finest cuisine.

  Syracuse and Ortigia are a place on the eastern seaboard of Sicily not to be missed. The beauty, history, cream-colored buildings and walkways, the early evening passeggiata, and the open friendliness of the locals are good reasons for me to return.

Have you been to Sicily? Syracuse and Ortigia? What was your impression? I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to share your thoughts below.

Explore the Sunsplashed Streets of Ortigia in Sicily The sun-splashed lungomare d'Ortigia was a sensual delight on a gentle afternoon this last October. I had made the drive from…

[77evabellalucia]

We arrived at Country Hotel Bosco Ciancio down a long and wooded driveway, the kind that makes you hold your breath because you know something special is waiting on the other end. What we saw gave us that ‘fairytale cottage in the forest’ feel as the driveway opened up into a clearing with a long stone and wood building complete with a black iron gate.

We parked the car and walked through the chill of an early October evening into a stone courtyard divided by a patch of green grass with a gnarled old olive tree at one end. At the other end was a wide rock terrace dotted with small umbrella tables. Soft lights began to glow around the courtyard as darkness crept over the land. We stood there, enveloped in a realm of rustic enchantment.

Alberto, the proprietor of the hotel, met us inside with a warm reception. He explained that the hotel was a part of the old manor of the Ciancio Dukes. The old stone villa was thoughtfully and authentically restored into the hotel it is today on 30 acres of chestnut, oak, pine and birch forests.

The hotel encompasses fifteen rooms gathered around a central courtyard. Each room is tastefully yet simply decorated with warm colors and terracotta tiles. Alberto is still adding some personal touches throughout the building. We found our room with attached bathroom very comfortable. The romantic ambiance of the courtyard aglow at night from our upstairs balcony was lovely.

Alberto has put some personal touch into this particular room with a local Chestnut tree headboard.

Dinner was served in the small and cozy on-site restaurant later that evening. The generous set menu included a good variety of food options that Alberto took time to describe. It was difficult to choose so we relied on his suggestions which proved to be delicious. It was immediately apparent that he had a top-notch chef working in the kitchen. Alberto shared some of his expansive knowledge of Sicilian wines and we took him up on his recommendation of a local red.

We began the next day with a hearty breakfast of both sweet and savory options prepared by the friendly and accommodating staff.

The weather was sunny so we took our plates out onto the terrace and enjoyed the freshness of a new day.

The cable cars to Mt. Etna are just a 20-minute drive further up the road. We drove it the next morning and passed small groups of chestnut pickers filling their bags. As we neared Mt. Etna, the landscape became dark and covered with cinder ash everywhere. Large outcroppings of lava rock rose in spots, evidence of the last volcanic eruption.

We parked our car and took a cable car up to the gift shop and panini/café bar. Although there were off-road vehicle tours, we opted to walk some of the trails leading upward. Ladybugs seemed to be everywhere, which seemed strange but refreshing at the same time. Even though the dark results of a natural disaster lay all around us, these delightful little bugs brought a good dose of life back into the landscape.

    The panoramic views provided an exhilarating experience and extended out over the sea. If you choose to join a tour, the Mt. Etna guides will take you as close to the active volcano as the local safety regulations will allow. Several external craters can also be viewed.

Back at Bosco Ciancio, Alberto took us on a one-mile walk along a trail that wound through the chestnut forests. We passed a clearing lined with about 40 hives of bees busily gathering nectar.

Beekeepers are hired to bring hives in every spring for about 5 months to gather pollen and make honey. Some of it is left with Alberto and served at breakfast in the morning. It has a slight nutty-chestnut taste and very delicious!

Country Hotel Bosco Ciancio is an experience in nature that is tranquil and soothing. I could have easily spent my three days right at the hotel, sipping café on the terrace, reading in the sunshine, or walking the forest trails.

However, the hotel is ideally located to Mt. Etna as well as the seaside towns of Taormina, Siracusa, and Catania along the eastern coast. You will need your own car to navigate about. We picked up a car rental for our time in Sicily from the Catania airport upon arrival.

A warm welcome by the multi-lingual staff combined with the serenity of the forest and comforts of home easily put Hotel Bosco Ciancio on my list of great places to come back to. Not to mention that chestnut honey…

Things to do nearby –

Mt. Etna is only a 20-minute drive away and is the highest active volcano in Europe at over 10,900 feet. Cable cars will take you up close to the craters where you can take an off-road vehicle tour, hike, or ski in the winter. Snow usually appears in December. Check out this website for more info – http://funiviaetna.com/en/

Mountain biking and hiking trails will immerse you in the lush vegetation of Etna’s volcanic soil within the park.

Take a day trip and visit the ancient Greek cities of Siracusa and Ortygia, only 98 km away. If you love architecture, history, and a seaside village ambiance, this is the place for you. For sightseeing and learning more about the fascinating history of Ortygia or Siracusa, I highly recommend tour guide Marco Sanzaro at http://www.personal-turist-assistant.it/  Catania and Taormina also make great seaside escapes.

Save a day to hang at Hotel Bosco Ciancio for a tranquil, peaceful experience nestled in the beauty of Mt. Etna.

      Seeking Adventure on Sicily’s Mt. Etna? Make Country Hotel Bosco Ciancio Your Perfect Stay We arrived at Country Hotel Bosco Ciancio down a long and wooded driveway, the kind that makes you hold your breath because you know something special is waiting on the other end.