Mount Etna, Sicily’s proud and magestic active volcano. Some Sicilian’s refer to her as “La Grande Dama” (The Great Dame). In this photo she is wearing her winter Ermine and puffing away on her ol’ cigar! Or, at least that’s what some locals may tell you! There are probably as many tales and nicknames for Etna as there are inhabitants on the island. One thing is sure, she never gets tiring to look at and no two days are ever the same.
Imagine waking up to this view every morning. Minus the snow, in summer, of course! Well, you could do just that!!! Welcome to just one of the stunning views from Vista Alcantara Villa Valview – Mountain Top Retreat.
Vista Alcantara Villa Valview is a privately-owned retreat perched at roughly 700 meters above sea level, atop a mountain overlooking the renowned Gole Dell’Alcantara Valley. Set within almost 15,000 square meters of untouched land, the property offers guests breathtaking 360-degree views which, along with the peace and tranquillity, invite deep relaxation and rejuvenation. It has been likened to being on top of the world and it is ideal for retreats away from the hustle and bustle of city living.
The property is a labour of love, built brick by brick by Carmelo Conti, a hard working man whose lifelong dream was to live on the top of a mountain. He envisioned a place where he could cultivate abundant gardens and plant trees, preserving a piece of Earth’s natural beauty for future generations. He feared people would one day neglect the land, so he made it his mission to care for a corner of it, ensuring its vitality endures. In order to make this dream a reality, he spent may years living and working abroad; working his way through the ranks from bottle washer to waiter to hotel manager and, finally, restaurant owner.
The Property & History
In the late 1990s, to reach the mountain peak where the house is now built, Carmelo had to climb a large section of the mountain on his hands and knees. The terrain was completely rugged and wild, there were no roads or access and there was no flat land. After a decade of intense labour, the land was flattened, the rock was levelled, a road was made and this house was built. After another decade, abundant fruit trees started to thrive, an olive grove and a vineyard were established, and the property became almost what it is today.
In 2023, the property changed hands and has, since, undergone extensive renovation work. Sadly, Carmelo Conti passed away on the 19th March 2024, which is father’s day in Sicily. So, he only saw a few photographs of the beginning of the improvements while he was lying in a hospital bed. However, if he could see all the improvements, we think he’d be happy and proud of the changes. For decades, his wish was to share this corner of the world with others by opening it to the public. Our intention is to make his dream a reality.
Prehistoric Artefacts on the Property
This seemingly unremarkable rock is, in fact, a prehistoric altar recently dated to around 3000 B.C. The rock bears strange carvings and mysterious holes, which suggest it may have once been used for sacrificial rituals. The arrangement of the holes indicates they were possibly designed to bind someone—or something—to the altar. Notably, a carved ridge on the top appears to serve as a channel, perhaps for the flow of liquids during ancient rites.
Beyond its intriguing features, the altar’s position is remarkable for its alignment with the sun during the spring equinox. At dawn, sunlight strikes the altar and illuminates a specific part of an adjacent mountain, signalling the arrival of spring. At sunset, light passes through a hole, carved out of a nearby rock in front of our property, (photo below,) shining directly onto the altar and illuminating the opposite side of the mountain.
This ancient altar, along with our palmento, (photo below,) —also dating back to 3000 B.C.—has recently garnered attention, being featured in a book written by a local geologist and astronomer who are also passionate about sacred geometry. A palmento is where mosto was traditionally made using one’s feet to stamp on the grapes. However, since ours dates back to 3000 B.C. and the art of making wine wasn’t around in those days, we think it was used as part of a sacred sacrificial ritual. Apparently, ours is one of the oldest and most intact in this region.
Breathtaking Views
The view over Motta Camastra from the front terrace.
A winter view over Francavilla di Sicilia and surrounding mountains from the front terrace.
A winter view over Montagna Grande from the back terrace.
The House & Accommodation
Vista Alcantara Villa Valview is accessible via a private and secluded lane that leads to a big solid steel gate. Inside the gate, to the left, is a parking area near an unfinished structure. To the right, there is an incline that leads up to the house, and straight on there is a path that leads to the swimming pool area, the raised bed garden, the fruit trees and the beautiful natural surrounding land. It also leads to our prehistoric altar.
The house itself is built on two floors. On the ground floor, there’s a kitchen with a large external terrace and views over Montagna Grande; famous for its trekking and the surrounding mountains. On that same floor, there are also two double bedrooms, one triple room, two bathrooms, a spacious entrance come hallway and a large lounge come dining area.
Between the lounge and the dining area, there is a marble staircase that leads to the first floor. On this floor, there is a double room with a sofa bed, 1 twin room and 1 Twin/Double room with a sofa bed.
The Lemon Room
The Green Room
Donna Enna
Name | Beds and combination | Bathroom | Maximum no. of people |
The Lemon Room | 1 x Double Bed and 1 x Sofa Bed. | The blue bathroom is | 3 |
The Green Room | 2 single beds and 1 x | The green bathroom is | 3 |
The Twin Room | 2 x single beds OR they | A second blue bathroom | 2 |
Papa’s Room | 1 x Double Bed | A Green Bathroom is | 2 |
Nana’s Room | 1 x Double Bed | The Green Bathroom is | 2 |
Master Bedroom | 1 x Double Bed and 1 x Sofa Bed | The large Pearly | 3 |
Please Note:
Due to our mountain-top location and taking into account necessary safety precautions relevant to our terrain, we are unable to accommodate toddlers. This is simply because we wouldn’t like to see any end up in a heap at the bottom of the mountain. Toddlers do have a tendency to be curious and run off in the bat of an eyelid and no matter how careful we are, every one of us gets distracted at times. So, we feel it’s better to be safe than sorry.
On the flip side of the coin, we whole-heartedly welcome your fur babies. With almost 15000 m2 of land, there is plenty of space for them to run freely and live their best holiday life!!!
Massage Room, Treatments & Packages
Our In-House Therapist
Events & Retreats
Given the uniqueness of our location, the tranquility and the breathtaking views, Vista Alcantara is ideal for all kinds of retreats. Whether it’s Yoga, Qigong, Tai Chi, Buddhist, Vipassana or any type of spiritual retreat, photography, writing, painting, drawing, rambling, hiking, trekking or even music composing, we think you’ll find the right conditions here to suit your group’s needs.
We also welcome small private events like weddings, anniversaries, renewal of vows, engagements and special occasions.
Useful Information
The nearest airport to us is Catania Fontanarossa. If you’re planning on driving here, we recommend renting a car at the airport. There are plenty of companies to choose from. Google Maps will indicate the best way to get to us.
If you’re not driving, there are two other options to get here. The first is to get a bus from Catania airport to Catania train station. Then, take a train to Taormina / Giardini-Naxos. From there, we can either pick you up for a small fee or you can get a bus to Motta Camastra and we can pick you up from the bus terminal there.
The second option is to get a coach from Catania airport to Recanati in Giardini-Naxos. From there, we can either pick you up for a small fee or you can get a bus to Motta Camastra and we can pick you up from the bus terminal there.
There are direct flights from most European cities and a number of low cost airlines fly here. However, some only operate seasonally. If necessary, Rome, Milan and Naples are good options for connecting flights to Catania.