An Enchanting Visit to Donna Carmela
Positioned in the heart of a nursery growing sub-tropical Mediterranean plants, this 18th century farm has been expertly and wonderfully redesigned as a boutique hotel. It offers guests elegant and contemporary rooms and suites that have been personally crafted by the hands-on owners, along with an excellent restaurant and pool in a tranquil setting between Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea. The attention to detail and personal touches are frequent throughout the hotel, and the friendly and welcoming staff are delighted to organise day trips, suggest nearby beaches, and give personal recommendations for local restaurants and bars.
luxury and relaxtion combined
Donna Carmela Courtyard
aurora from just sicily recounts her STAY AT donna carmela in march 2025:
I was fortunate enough to visit this wonderful resort in March. Donna Carmela Resort & Lodges is a beautiful and very well-kept hotel in the Mount Etna region of Sicily. The owners are very proud of their hotel and grounds, and this is reflected in the presentation. Its unique location allows you to see both the sea from one side and the volcano on the opposite side of the hotel. We could see the top of Mount Etna covered in snow from the main garden!
Whether you are in one of the suites in the main building or in one of the gorgeous lodges around it, you have easy access to all the hotel facilities and main area with the absolute certainty you are only being surrounded by quietness and immaculate stunning gardens. I would personally recommend one of the lodges to couples, especially for a special occasion, because the tranquil and modern atmosphere you experience is unrivalled.
Romantic Lodge Garden & Pool
what is the food like at donna carmela?
The food at Donna Carmela was divine. Every single meal there, whether breakfast, aperitivo or dinner, is perfection. At breakfast, an amazing buffet table welcomes guests with an array of delicious cakes, biscuits, fruit, croissant etc. They are all delicately made by the exceptional Pastry Chef who personally prepares these amazing treats every morning. There is also have an à la carte menu (free of charge) if you would like to order hot dishes such as eggs, pancakes etc.
For the evening aperitivo I recommend taking suggestions and being guided by the amazing and knowledgeable bar staff, who can provide you with the best cocktails. They often use local wines and prosecco – ‘Sicilian bubbles’- to make them extra special. The main restaurant ‘La Cucina di Donna Carmela’ is spacious and elegant and is the ideal treat for a special dinner or lunch. The chefs focus on local products to create traditional Sicilian dishes with a modern touch, with the menu changing depending on the season.
Donna Carmela Cuisine
what can you do at donna carmela?
Due to its strategic position, Donna Carmela is an ideal location to explore the local area with a Concierge service to suggest and arrange excursions. The one I personally recommend, and that I was lucky enough to experience is the hike to Mount Etna followed by a great wine tasting session at the Pietradolce winery. A specialised and knowledgable guide picked us up from the Donna Carmela and took us to Piano Provenzana, located at an altitude of 1800m in the northern slope of Mount Etna. The hike took us approximately 2200m up and was easy going. The panorama from the top is stunning, and the guide explained to us the peculiarities of Mount Etna including the most recent eruptions but also the older ones, which we learned have shaped the landscape as we see it today.
From there you can continue the hike to the top of the volcano, but this may become more challenging depending on how far up you wish to go. However, you also have the option to continue your day at the Pietradolce winery for lunch and wine tasting, which is what we decided to do. We visited both the winery and the cellars and understood why the wine they produce in the Mount Etna region is so unique, due to all the minerals of the land surrounding the volcano. We then had a special lunch with local and traditional Sicilian dishes and of course, the glorious wine tasting! It’s not all about food and wine however – there is also a unique attention to art. They have commissioned local artists to make some special installations for them, all representing the Peitradolce philosophy and a celebration of the power of Mount Etna.
Another fantastic excursion is to Taormina, which we visited on our last day. It is only 30 minutes by car from Donna Carmela and we enjoyed the town with its colourful streets. We visited the Greek Theatre in the morning and then treated ourselves to a nice lunch in a restaurant in the town. Another lovely town to visit, local to the hotel just a short drive, is Acireale, a typical small Sicilian town which has all the charm and wonder of the surrounding towns in the area.
Mount Etna, Sicily
is donna carmela worth a visit?
Donna Carmela is open 10 months of the year, and March and April along with October and November are a fantastic time to visit if you want a more relaxed and peaceful visit. You can enjoy excursions and town visits with a comfortable not too hot temperature. All the Donna Carmela staff are amazing, smiling and welcoming. They went above and beyond for us all to make sure our trip was exceptional and were always ready to help and make the best suggestions. I am very grateful for being able to spend these days at Donna Carmela, it’s a real gem in one of the most attractive and famous areas on the island.
An exciting exclusive preview:
Something new and upcoming is happening at the resort: they are building a Spa and a new Restaurant! The Spa is going to make this place even more perfect in low season, and the new restaurant/pizzeria is going to be a more casual and informal alternative to the main restaurant ‘La Cucina di Donna Carmela’ which is oriented toward fine dining. We are very much looking forward to this new expansion of the resort!
Grounds and Exterior
Author: Aurora Ferreri – Reservations Supervisor
I am from Sicily, and I started to work at Just Sicily in April 2015, thinking that it would have been just a summer internship but now I know that those first 6 months were just the beginning. I am based in Palermo but one of my favourite places I enjoy going to is the charming and historic town of Cefalù with a beautiful beach, Medieval Cathedral, shops and good restaurants. If it’s a romantic getaway I want to plan, I go to Taormina: unique and romantic, overlooking Mount Etna, it is a place you will fall in love with, especially at sunset. But also Ortigia holds a special place in my heart.
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