HERITAGE

Puleera Boutique
Hotel

Giarre - Italy

A seven-room Sicilian villa near Giarre, with frescoed ceilings, an old wine cellar, Etna views and the Ionian coast just down the road.

Beach 3km

Pet Friendly

Pool

Wine Cellar

Hike

BIke Rental

THE SETTING

Puleera Boutique Hotel sits near Giarre, in that fertile strip of eastern Sicily between Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea. The volcano is behind you, the coast is close, and the land around the house still carries the old agricultural rhythm of vineyards, citrus trees, almonds and family estates.

“Puleera” means vine leaf in Sicilian, and the house is closely tied to the D’Amico family’s long relationship with this land. The wider story reaches back to the old Piana di Mascali, a plain once given to the bishop of Catania by Count Roger I and later divided among local families who farmed it for centuries.

Wine is part of that history. In the 19th century, after phylloxera devastated vineyards in France, the Piana di Mascali became an important wine-growing area. From the port of Riposto, local wines were shipped to Trieste and Marseille. Nerello Mascalese was grown here, and the grape still gives the hotel’s cellar its quiet importance.

The villa as it stands today was shaped over time, with a major 19th-century renovation and later family chapters layered into the building. During the recent restoration, early 20th-century Art Nouveau decorations revealed older 18th-century frescoes beneath them. In some rooms, those layers are still visible, giving Puleera its character: the house has been restored, but its past has not been flattened.

THE ROOMS

Puleera has seven rooms and suites, each with a different layout and atmosphere. Some are upstairs in the villa, with frescoed ceilings, Etna views and old family details. Others sit closer to the garden or pool, with terraces and a more independent feeling.

Evoca has the D’Amico family coat of arms frescoed on the ceiling. Aura shows the meeting of Art Nouveau decoration and older 18th-century details. Puleera and Celeste have that classic villa feeling, with living areas, antique pieces, high ceilings and views towards Etna. Magnolia brings a softer, more private side, with chestnut, terracotta tones and its own terrace. Nostos is the most recent grand suite, set on the ground floor with a separate living area and a private hot tub. Koraki is an independent cottage, designed for privacy and accessibility, with its own terrace and step-free access.

THE FOOD

Breakfast is served on the terrace when the weather allows. That is the best place for it: Etna on one side, sea air in the distance, citrus and garden around the house. The breakfast is Sicilian in the right way. Homemade cakes, soft brioches, pastries, jams, marmalades, coffee, fruit and savoury options.

Food at Puleera can go further if you plan ahead. Dinner is available on request, with a fixed menu featuring seasonal Sicilian ingredients, usually starting at 7:30pm and requiring a minimum of 1 day’s notice. It makes sense for a first evening, especially if you arrive tired from Catania or after a day on Etna.

The wine cellar is the more memorable experience. Nerello Mascalese is kept in old chestnut barrels, and sommelier-led tastings can be arranged for small groups. For guests staying as a family or renting the villa, Puleera can also organise more private food moments: a barbecue at sunset, a bartender evening by the pool, or a pasta workshop using old D’Amico family recipes.

THE STAY

The garden gives the house its softness. Lemon, olive, pomegranate, almond, and vineyard views surround the property, with the pool tucked into the greenery. It is not a resort pool scene. It is more of a quiet place to cool down after the heat, read for an hour, or have a drink before going out. One detail worth noting is accessibility. Puleera has made a real effort here, with tactile maps, floor signs and dedicated paths for visually impaired guests. Koraki, the pool path and the garden path are wheelchair accessible. That is rare enough in historic Sicilian properties to warrant mention.

The place also works well for full-house stays. With seven rooms, a pool, garden, cellar and event-friendly spaces, it can become a private Sicilian villa for families, small celebrations, retreats or groups who want the house entirely to themselves.

AROUND PULEERA BOUTIQUE HOTEL

Puleera’s location is practical for exploring eastern Sicily. You are between places rather than trapped inside one of them: close to the sea, close to Etna, close to Taormina, close to Acireale and within reach of Catania.

Etna is the obvious first excursion. Puleera can arrange jeep tours, summit experiences, hikes to lateral craters, cableway-based excursions and horseback riding on the volcano. The landscape changes quickly as you climb: citrus groves, vineyards, chestnut woods, black lava, old craters and views back to the Ionian coast.

Taormina is an easy day trip, with its Greek-Roman theatre, Corso Umberto, sea views and Isola Bella. It is beautiful, busy and worth timing carefully. Going early or avoiding the most crowded hours changes the experience completely. The Ionian coast gives you a different day: Riposto, Acireale, Santa Maria La Scala, Aci Trezza, lava-rock beaches, small harbours and seafood stops. The Alcantara Gorge is also within reach, with cold river water cutting through dark volcanic basalt.

For wine, this side of Etna is especially interesting. The old Mascali plain, Riposto’s wine-trading past and the Etna DOC villages higher up the volcano all make the area more than a simple base for sightseeing. Puleera gives you a softer way into that story: sleep in the old villa, taste Nerello in the cellar, then drive up towards the vineyards the next day.

THE OWNERS

Puleera is run by Paola D’Amico and her family, with a team that keeps the atmosphere personal and hands-on. The house belongs to their family story, and that changes how the hospitality feels. That care is visible in the restoration. The frescoes were not covered over. The old cellar remains part of the experience.

Paola and the team help with the useful things too: Etna guides, wine tastings, Taormina visits, dinners, transfers, beaches, restaurants and the small timing advice that matters in Sicily. The style is warm, practical and proud of the house without making the stay feel formal.

GOOD TO KNOW

Some rooms can be connected, and the entire villa can be rented privately for families, events, meetings, retreats or special occasions. Dinners, wine tastings in the old cellar, pasta workshops, Etna tours, Taormina visits, Alcantara excursions, boat trips, transfers, car rental, chauffeur service, massage, yoga and special events can be arranged on request.

Rates usually start at €180–€200 per night, depending on the room, season and booking conditions.

THE ADDRESS