Monaci delle Terre Nere

An absolute stunning, and, unique setting. You feel like you are living amidst the Vineyards and the rooms are scattered around the property. The main house with its pool and terraces is beautifully appointed. The staff could not have been nicer- specially, the dining service staff, including the chef. He remembered my favorite fruit, and made a dessert with it specifically for my last night! The only reason I’m giving it four stars, and not five is because, while the dining and pricing was five star (30 euro cocktails!) the room accommodations were not. The amenities in the room (Furniture, linens, towels) were not high end and it felt a bit more like a nice Airbnb than a high end room ( we stayed in a signature suite) There are a lot of rugged steps, and walking to be done, so be aware if your mobility is impaired. Typically, you’re picked up in a golf cart at your room and driven over very bumpy roads:) Hearing Mount Etna while reading overlooking the vineyards and ocean view in the distance is an experience I will always remember! Good idea to get an international license and rent a car. Taxi transfers for anything are quite expensive (140 euro Each way to Taormina, for example)

Monaci delle Terre Nere is absolutely stunning—an unforgettable property nestled in the hills near Mt. Etna. The grounds are spectacular, with gorgeous landscaping that blends effortlessly into the natural surroundings. It quickly became one of our favorite stays during our 14-day trip. The food was excellent throughout, and the setting of the main restaurant was truly special. Breakfast and dinner service were consistently very good, and we appreciated the creativity and quality of the cuisine. However, there were a few areas that didn’t quite meet the five-star standard. The bathrooms in our suite were more rustic than expected, and the overall service felt stretched. Check-in took nearly an hour—which, after 24 hours of travel, was frustrating—and the front desk and concierge team, while kind, seemed overwhelmed and understaffed for the size of the property. We also found the bar service at both the pool and Convivium bar lacking, with unfriendly bartenders and slow service. Despite these hiccups, we still really enjoyed our stay and the unique charm of the estate. With a bit more attention to staffing and guest experience, this could easily be one of the best hotels in Sicily.

While I gave it five stars I would prefer to give it 4.5 stars. The overall property is very nice with lots of different physical levels and the service is excellent and dedicated. There is definitely a lot of room for improvement as I would say this is Relais and Château Lite. The bathrooms need to be renovated and the rooms are a bit tired. The pool cushions are as hard as rocks and are literally painful to sit on after a while. The gym literally consists of three pieces of equipment. Not inspiring. The food is good, but the portions are generally expensive for dinner. Our fish consist of pieces that were about 2 1/2“ x 2 1/2”. The smallest fish entree I’ve ever had and it was still €35. Delicious but tiny. All the above deficiencies are fairly easy to fix so that it really can earn the Relais and Chateau designation.

Excellent hotel and countryside,pool chickens, Vineyard treehouse and beautiful rooms and restaurants in the hotel they’re cooking classes and golf carts that drive you for free all over and really really big and nice and fancy excellent hotel you should come

We came here for the food, the relaxing setting, and to experience Etna’s finest wines. We accomplished all three. The food at Licanda Nerello is what you expect from a high end restaurant. Chef Marco is an artist. Wines suggested by Julio were spot on pairings for our meals. We enjoyed a private wine tasting and tour of the incredible cellar. Again, Julio was a gracious wine expert happy to share his knowledge with us. Our room had a view of the sea as well as of Mount Etna. The Convivial Bar is an experience all in itself. Salvatore mixed some amazing drinks and really enjoyed talking about the fresh local ingredients in each of his cocktails. Highly recommended enjoying the extensive property. We will return one day.