The best Italian boutique hotels combine familial warmth, historical splendor, and contemporary design and comfort — a description that perfectly suits Relais San Giuliano, set in the village of Viagrande, at the foot of Sicily’s Mount Etna. Each of the hotel’s eleven rooms and suites is tastefully and distinctly decorated with its own individual character, using the wood and terracotta which are customary to the region. The hotel also boasts its own restaurant serving the cuisine of southern Italy, as well as a lounge bar, a gym and wellness center featuring a sauna and steam room, and an outdoor pool. The surrounding area offers many diversions, including beaches and boating trips, visits to local vineyards, and hiking in Etna Park, and it’s just a few miles to Catania, and within driving distance of Taormina and Syracuse.
