A noble house belonging to one of the oldest aristocratic families of Sicily since 1200, Villa Altera was recently brought back to its ancient splendors by its owners. The property, located 45-minute drive south from the International airport of Catania, consists of a main patronal villa and two annexes, surrounded by a wonderful four-hectare park awarded as one of the best contemporary ornamental gardens in Italy.
Few places in Sicily match the charm and allure of Villa Altera. This luxury getaway offers complete privacy, sophisticated lifestyle catered by its staff, traditional style and modern amenities. It is located just 15 minutes by car from the beaches of Brucoli, half an hour from Siracusa and approximately one hour from Taormina. The estate produces its own extra virgin olive oil and artisanal jams grown by traditional organic farming methods.

BEDS & BATH: 9 BDR/9 BTH
Main villa – first floor:

• Queen bedroom with four-poster bed, views of the volcano Etna, fireplace and en-suite bathroom with double sink, and separate shower and Jacuzzi tub
• Queen bedroom with views of the volcano Etna, fireplace, and en-suite bathroom with double sink, tub, and separate shower
• Queen bedroom with garden views and en-suite bathroom with shower and tub
• Queen bedroom with garden views and en-suite bathroom with tub and separate shower
• Queen bedroom with garden views and en-suite bathroom with separate shower and Turkish bath

Annex – facing the courtyard:

• Queen/twin bedrooms, independent entrance, en-suite bathroom with double sink, tub, and separate shower
• Queen/twin bedroom, independent entrance, en-suite bathroom with shower
• Queen/twin bedroom, independent entrance, en-suite bathroom with tub and separate shower

Guesthouse on two floors, facing the courtyard:

• Living room on the ground floor, queen bedroom on the upper floor, private bathroom with double sink and tub

All bedrooms have A/C; bathrooms are all are provided with a hairdryer and welcome courtesy set

LIVING SPACES: Ground floor:
Feel yourself drift into the old aristocratic Sicilian life. The family coat of arms, sculpted in white marble, is positioned in a corner of the entrance to greet the guests entering the villa. Beautifully maintained dramatic and spacious interiors include formal dining and very generous living rooms. Separate comfortable TV room. The elegant décor of all rooms is attained by using heirloom antique furniture combined with cheerful fabrics and high-end upholstery, achieving a very well-balanced timeless style. The original tiled floors and the vaulted ceilings were left intact to preserve the historic home’s original architectural details. The villa features a well-equipped kitchen and the chef to hire offers a delightful typical Sicilian cuisine.

OUTSIDE FEATURES:
The gates of the villa open to a fantastic exotic park. The outdoor space is completely manicured offering plenty of areas for dining, lounging, and sunbathing. Relax and entertain around the private pool that sits in a secluded oasis, or to be active, enjoy the tennis court and the several relaxing and quiet walking trails amidst exotic plants, fragrant citrus trees, and timeless olive orchards, organically grown.

AMENITIES:
A/C in all bedrooms, heating, satellite flat-screen TV with DVD, Wi-Fi internet access, barbeque, dishwasher, stereo system with CD, salt-water private pool (18m x 8m) with changing room and outdoor shower, pizza oven, private tennis court, vegetable garden, private parking up to 4 cars.

SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Discover the rich Sicilian culture while enjoying this luxury and full of attendance country villa where vacation living is at its finest. The villa is ideal for large groups or special occasions. Once you stay at Villa Altera you really understand the uniqueness of this property and this special part of the island. This villa is ideal also for environmentally conscious guests, in fact, the property uses renewable sources to minimize environmental impact. A vegetable garden supplies produce to the home kitchen.