Nearby
Clear sea and mixed sand and fine gravel beach characterize Finale di Pollina’s bay, where the maisonette is located, but there’s a lot more of beauty to discover in Pollina and in the surrounding areas. Beacuse of its suggestive and unique placement between the sea and the mountains, there’s a wide variety of attractions and paces to visit.
Pollina (7km from Beachouse)
Situated in the Madonie Regional Natural Park, the territory of Pollina is well known for its ash tree fields assigned to the production of the rare manna ash, a Slow Food Presidia to which is dedicated the Manna Ash Museum in Piazza Matrice. One of the most beautiful historical testimony of Pollina is the coastal Fire Tower of the Spanish Fortress, overlying the shoreline where the “scoglio grande” stands out. Near the tower a seaside terrace offers an amazing overview from Cefalù to Capo d’Orlando; from here in the clearest days you might spot di Aeolian Islands. The historical outline includes San Giuliano Church, San Pietro Church, the “Matrice” Church, Pietra Rosa Theater and Ventimiglia Castel’s ruins.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Finale di Pollina
Market: via Cesare Battisti 16, Finale PA
Butcher’s shop and local cheeses: Scialabba Giuseppe- via libertà 107, Finale PA
Greengrocer: Ticli Isidoro, via libertà 126, Finale PA
Bar/Pastry shop: Eden Bar – Piazza del Popolo, 1 Finale PA
Pizza: Il Casolare – Lungomare Marco Polo Finale PA
Pollina
Pizzeria: Alla Torre – via Castello 27 Pollina
Cefalù(15km from Beachouse)
Laying at the foot of a rocky promontory and ranked amongst the “Borghi più belli d’Italia“ chart, with its sandy beach and its historically and culturally relevant city center, the charme of Cefalù makes it one of the most important resort town in Sicily. By taking a walk in this territory gives you can enjoy its natural environment, its archaeological sites and megalithic temples, and its monumental complexes. Douring the summer season Cefalù hosts many gastronomic and music events; from 2th to 6th August there’s the “Festa del SS. Salvatore“, the folkloric celebration of the main Saint of the town, to which is dedicated the famous “Duomo“(the Cathedral, declared World Heritage Site by Unesco committee). Among the other attractions there is the Palazzo Vescovile, the Lavatoio Medievale, the Rocca and the Temple of Diana.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Restaurant: Lo Scoglio Ubriaco – Via Carlo Ortolani di Bordonaro, 24 Cefalù
Restaurant: Vallegrande Resort – contrada vallegrande Cefalù
Ice cream shop: Di Noto – Via Bagni Cicerone, 3 Cefalù
Tusa & Castel di Tusa(8km from Beachouse)
Rewarded in 2018 for the fourth year in a row with the Blue Flag by FEE, Tusa is placed on the edge between Palermo And Messina. It lays among olive groves, cork oak stands and chestnut forests, on a ventilated hill characterized by pure air and mild temperatures throughout the year. Its Historic centre preserve nowadays its tipical medieval hamlet look and its precious architectural balance. By moving towards the coast you can admire one of the most important Archaeological Area in Sicily, the Area of Halaesa Arconidea, where legend has it that the Greek population escaped from the Trojan war found shelter, and the Antiquarium Museum of Halaesa Arconidea that contain artifacts from the area. By the coast you can find Castel di Tusa, the seaside part of the town, and its renowned beach areas “Le Lampare” and “Marina“, in addition to the “Atelier sul Mare” Modern Art Museum, well known for its collection “Fiumara d’arte“.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Restaurant/Pizza: Damatusa- via delle Stazioni Castel di Tusa
Ice cream/Water ice shop: Porto Marina- via Nazionale 61 Castel di Tusa
Gorges of Tiberius(11km from Beachouse)
Located amongst Pollina, Castelbuono and San Mauro Castelverde, the Gorges of Tiberius are the ideal destination for those who love nature and want to experience the unique emotion that this small canyon (a recognized UNESCO Geopark Site) can give. Here you can join in excursions on rubber boat and river trails, and discover this 200 million years old ecosystem that is still preserve today as very few places are. Along its calcareous rocks, crossed by Pollina river, you can appreciate some fossils of gastropods, flora and fauna of a tipical riverine environment, and numerous nests of birds even a few centimeters of water. At the end of the path you’ll find the “laghetti“, small lakes you can bath in.
Castelbuono(14km from Beachouse)
Situated in the slopes of Milocca hill, this distinctive medieval village owns a valuable artistic and architectural legacy, thanks to the influence of multiple populations (Greek, Roman, Arabic and Byzantine). The Castle of Ventimiglia, where you can find the famous Palatine Chapel of Sant’Anna decorated by the Serpotta brothers, and the Church of the Most Holy Assumption, called “Old Matrix“, are two excellencies among all the most significant monuments of the town. Not to be missed are also the Civic Museum, including permanent and temporary contemporary art exhibitions, and the Natural Museum “Francesco Minà Palumbo”. Many enogastronomic and music events take place in here all year round and especially during the summer season.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Restaurant/Pizza: Vecchio Palmento – via Failla 2, Castelbuono
Restaurant: Abbazia Sant’Anastasia – contrada Sant’Anastasia, Castelbuono
Pastry shop: Bar Fiasconaro – Piazza Margherita 10, Castelbuono
Madonie Regional Natural Park(Piano Zucchi 42km from Beachouse)
Located between Imera and Pollina rivers, in the northen coast of Sicily, the Madonie Park is included in the European Geopark net since 2003 and in the Global Unesco Geoparks net since 2015. In this nature reserve there is the biggest flora and fauna varieties of the Island, and lots of charming places where you can see breathtaking views on Mount Etna, on the Nebrodi Mountains and on the Aeolian Islands. There’s a lot of activities to enjoy: excursions in equipped paths, horse rides, mountain biking, visits to caves, natural cavities and geological sites, birdwatching, and even high altitude hikes. There is also an Adventure Park providing acrobatic paths, excursions and activities for kids.
Taormina(168km from Beachouse)
Suspended between the rocks and the sea, Taormina is located on the side of Monte Tauro at an altitude of 200 metres above sea level in the Province of Messina. Its origins are uncertain, however, it is likely that the first settlement dates back to the period prior to the establishment of Naxos, the first Greek colony founded in Sicily in 753 B.C.. Over the centuries Taormina was occupied by the Greeks, the Romans, the Goths, the Byzantines, the Arabsand finally the Bourbons. Since then many famous writers and artists (Goethe, Maupassant, Rouel and others) were attracted by its amenities and by its archaeological beauties. From that day on, Taormina began to develop into a tourist resort for the élite, initially attracting travellers from England such as Lady Florence, daughter of Baron Spencer Trevelyan, whose paternal grandmother was Lady Maria Wilson, first cousin of Queen Victoria, who decided to live in Taormina where she married Salvatore Cacciola, a wealthy philanthropist who was mayor of Taormina and a friend of the Duke of Kent. Other visitors to Taormina included King Edward VII, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Friedrich Nietzsche, Kaiser William II of Germany, Oscar Wilde and Tsar Nicholas I. So Taormina became the social tourist resort par excellence in Sicily, thanks to its natural beauties and stunning views over Etna and
the gulf of Isola Bella.
Numerous aristocratic villas, palaces and luxurious hotels were constructed during this period. Mass tourism arrived at the end of the 1960’s and led to excessive construction in the surrounding area. Nowadays Taormina attracts thousands of travellers from all over the world. Its small historic town centre welcomes tourists who can admire its architectural jewels, shop at one of its numerous small shops and enjoy wonderful views over the gulf below from one of the numerous cafés and restaurants that can be found in the town. The heart of the town, however, is the unique and magnificent Greek theatre which overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and offers breathtaking views of Etna. Every summer the theatre stages numerous theatre productions and concerts. Taormina is a small town which is difficult to reach, especially in summer, and the best means of access is either the cable car which takes you right into the centre of the town or one of the shuttle buses which run between the various car parks and the town centre. The coast of Taormina has some beautiful beaches such as Isola Bella, Lido Spisone, Mazzarò and Giardini Naxos, however, these become very crowded in August. Taormina is around 30 minutes rom Catania and Messina by car and close to the Etna nature reserve.
Palermo(78km from Beachouse)
Palermo, the quintessence of Sicily, is capable of being chaotic, elegant, fascinating, secretive and a little decadant, all at the same time. The main centre on the island since the 9th Century B.C., its current appearance derives mainly from its past rich in influence and foreign domination and demonstrates the typical Sicilian fusion of art, architecture and way of life on which the past invaders have left their impression. In the small streets and alleys of its huge historic centre elegant Baroque and Norman monuments stand side-by-side with arabic domes, the Byzantine street markets of the “Ballaro“, “Vucciria” and “Capo” invade the populated medieval quarters of the city and some of the most important Italian brands can be found on the elegant Via Libertà in the city centre. Palermo has undergone a number of changes during the past thirty years. First its suburbs were “assaulted” by a mass of concrete and subsequently the city has been “salvaged” in various stages from the embarassing state of degradation in which it was left for some time after the end of the second world war. The city’s slow and laborious resotoration locked horns with the various layers of bureaucracy in the government, with speculation and with negligence resulting in a city that has two sides: its fascinating and undisputed architectural treasures set against its poor standards of maintenance and crumbling services. Despite this fact, its fascination is unquestioned and there is not a corner of the historic centre of the city that will not provide you with a pleasant surprise: alleys, markets, squares that provide you with an opportunity to admire the city’s architectural treasures, some of which are stiil in a state of disrepair, and to sample the real essence of the city, its inhabitants and their Byzantine and Arabic origins which continue to flourish today in the gestures and voices of the stall holders in the colourful and picturesque street markets where they sell everything from fresh fish to clothes, spices to typical local dishes cooked and eaten on the street. An experience for all the senses.
A visit to the city’s numerous and famous monuments, churches, squares, cathedrals, villas and aristocratic residences is an absolute must. In particular we recommend the Cathedral, the Palazzo Reale, the Cappella Palatina, the Martorana, San Giovanni degli Eremiti, the Spasimo church in the Kalsa district (the oldest district in Palermo), the church of Santa Maria della Catena, Casa Professa, the Chiesa della Magione, the Chiesa della Gancia, Palazzo Aiutamicristo, Palazzo Conte Federico, lo Steri, Abatellis, Chiaramonte, the Palazzina Cinese and Villa Giulia, the 19th century Botanical Garden, the Giardino Inglese, the Parco d’Orleans, the Villa Malfitano Whitaker and the city’s famous squares such as Piazza Marina, Piazza delle Vergogna, the Quattro Canti, Piazza Magione, Piazza Indipendenza and Piazza Politeama. All need to be visited with care and attention, however, we recommend that you go looking for some of the less tourist-orientated sights by consulting a good alternative guide book which should also help you to discover the gastronomic traditions of the city which contain surprises of their own. You should try to penetrate on foot the small, hidden alleys of the historic centre or ask one of the carriage drivers to take you on a tour of less tourist-orientated parts of the city. If you still have time, it is well worth visiting some of the sights near the city and in particular we recommend Monreale with its Benedictine Cloisters, one of the finest examples of Arab-Norman architecture in Sicily, and Mondello where examples of some of Sicily’s finest art-deco villas can be found.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Hotel: Palazzo Natoli Exclusive Rooms- via SS Salvatore 6 Palermo
Restaurant: La Galleria – Salita Ramirez, 2 Palermo
Pastry shop: Costa – via Maqueda 174 Palermo
Pollina(7km from Beachouse)
Situated in the Madonie Regional Natural Park, the territory of Pollina is well known for its ash tree fields assigned to the production of the rare manna ash, a Slow Food Presidia to which is dedicated the Manna Ash Museum in Piazza Matrice. One of the most beautiful historical testimony of Pollina is the coastal Fire Tower of the Spanish Fortress, overlying the shoreline where the “scoglio grande” stands out. Near the tower a seaside terrace offers an amazing overview from Cefalù to Capo d’Orlando; from here in the clearest days you might spot di Aeolian Islands. The historical outline includes San Giuliano Church, San Pietro Church, the “Matrice” Church, Pietra Rosa Theater and Ventimiglia Castel’s ruins.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Finale di Pollina
Market: via Cesare Battisti 16, Finale PA
Butcher’s shop and local cheeses: Scialabba Giuseppe- via libertà 107, Finale PA
Greengrocer: Ticli Isidoro, via libertà 126, Finale PA
Bar/Pastry shop: Eden Bar – Piazza del Popolo, 1 Finale PA
Pizza: Il Casolare – Lungomare Marco Polo Finale PA
Pollina
Pizzeria: Alla Torre – via Castello 27 Pollina
Cefalù(15km from Beachouse)
Laying at the foot of a rocky promontory and ranked amongst the “Borghi più belli d’Italia“ chart, with its sandy beach and its historically and culturally relevant city center, the charme of Cefalù makes it one of the most important resort town in Sicily. By taking a walk in this territory gives you can enjoy its natural environment, its archaeological sites and megalithic temples, and its monumental complexes. Douring the summer season Cefalù hosts many gastronomic and music events; from 2th to 6th August there’s the “Festa del SS. Salvatore“, the folkloric celebration of the main Saint of the town, to which is dedicated the famous “Duomo“(the Cathedral, declared World Heritage Site by Unesco committee). Among the other attractions there is the Palazzo Vescovile, the Lavatoio Medievale, the Rocca and the Temple of Diana.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Restaurant: Lo Scoglio Ubriaco – Via Carlo Ortolani di Bordonaro, 24 Cefalù
Restaurant: Vallegrande Resort – contrada vallegrande Cefalù
Ice cream shop: Di Noto – Via Bagni Cicerone, 3 Cefalù
Tusa & Castel di Tusa(8km from Beachouse)
Rewarded in 2018 for the fourth year in a row with the Blue Flag by FEE, Tusa is placed on the edge between Palermo And Messina. It lays among olive groves, cork oak stands and chestnut forests, on a ventilated hill characterized by pure air and mild temperatures throughout the year. Its Historic centre preserve nowadays its tipical medieval hamlet look and its precious architectural balance. By moving towards the coast you can admire one of the most important Archaeological Area in Sicily, the Area of Halaesa Arconidea, where legend has it that the Greek population escaped from the Trojan war found shelter, and the Antiquarium Museum of Halaesa Arconidea that contain artifacts from the area. By the coast you can find Castel di Tusa, the seaside part of the town, and its renowned beach areas “Le Lampare” and “Marina“, in addition to the “Atelier sul Mare” Modern Art Museum, well known for its collection “Fiumara d’arte“.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Restaurant/Pizza: Damatusa- via delle Stazioni Castel di Tusa
Ice cream/Water ice shop: Porto Marina- via Nazionale 61 Castel di Tusa
Gorges of Tiberius(11km from Beachouse)
Castelbuono(14km from Beachouse)
USEFUL INFORMATION
Restaurant/Pizza: Vecchio Palmento – via Failla 2, Castelbuono
Restaurant: Abbazia Sant’Anastasia – contrada Sant’Anastasia, Castelbuono
Pastry shop: Bar Fiasconaro – Piazza Margherita 10, Castelbuono
Madonie Regional Natural Park(Piano Zucchi 42km from Beachouse)
Located between Imera and Pollina rivers, in the northen coast of Sicily, the Madonie Park is included in the European Geopark net since 2003 and in the Global Unesco Geoparks net since 2015. In this nature reserve there is the biggest flora and fauna varieties of the Island, and lots of charming places where you can see breathtaking views on Mount Etna, on the Nebrodi Mountains and on the Aeolian Islands. There’s a lot of activities to enjoy: excursions in equipped paths, horse rides, mountain biking, visits to caves, natural cavities and geological sites, birdwatching, and even high altitude hikes. There is also an Adventure Park providing acrobatic paths, excursions and activities for kids.
Taormina(168km from Beachouse)
Suspended between the rocks and the sea, Taormina is located on the side of Monte Tauro at an altitude of 200 metres above sea level in the Province of Messina. Its origins are uncertain, however, it is likely that the first settlement dates back to the period prior to the establishment of Naxos, the first Greek colony founded in Sicily in 753 B.C.. Over the centuries Taormina was occupied by the Greeks, the Romans, the Goths, the Byzantines, the Arabsand finally the Bourbons. Since then many famous writers and artists (Goethe, Maupassant, Rouel and others) were attracted by its amenities and by its archaeological beauties. From that day on, Taormina began to develop into a tourist resort for the élite, initially attracting travellers from England such as Lady Florence, daughter of Baron Spencer Trevelyan, whose paternal grandmother was Lady Maria Wilson, first cousin of Queen Victoria, who decided to live in Taormina where she married Salvatore Cacciola, a wealthy philanthropist who was mayor of Taormina and a friend of the Duke of Kent. Other visitors to Taormina included King Edward VII, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Friedrich Nietzsche, Kaiser William II of Germany, Oscar Wilde and Tsar Nicholas I. So Taormina became the social tourist resort par excellence in Sicily, thanks to its natural beauties and stunning views over Etna and
the gulf of Isola Bella.
Numerous aristocratic villas, palaces and luxurious hotels were constructed during this period. Mass tourism arrived at the end of the 1960’s and led to excessive construction in the surrounding area. Nowadays Taormina attracts thousands of travellers from all over the world. Its small historic town centre welcomes tourists who can admire its architectural jewels, shop at one of its numerous small shops and enjoy wonderful views over the gulf below from one of the numerous cafés and restaurants that can be found in the town. The heart of the town, however, is the unique and magnificent Greek theatre which overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and offers breathtaking views of Etna. Every summer the theatre stages numerous theatre productions and concerts. Taormina is a small town which is difficult to reach, especially in summer, and the best means of access is either the cable car which takes you right into the centre of the town or one of the shuttle buses which run between the various car parks and the town centre. The coast of Taormina has some beautiful beaches such as Isola Bella, Lido Spisone, Mazzarò and Giardini Naxos, however, these become very crowded in August. Taormina is around 30 minutes rom Catania and Messina by car and close to the Etna nature reserve.
Palermo(78km from Beachouse)
Palermo, the quintessence of Sicily, is capable of being chaotic, elegant, fascinating, secretive and a little decadant, all at the same time. The main centre on the island since the 9th Century B.C., its current appearance derives mainly from its past rich in influence and foreign domination and demonstrates the typical Sicilian fusion of art, architecture and way of life on which the past invaders have left their impression. In the small streets and alleys of its huge historic centre elegant Baroque and Norman monuments stand side-by-side with arabic domes, the Byzantine street markets of the “Ballaro“, “Vucciria” and “Capo” invade the populated medieval quarters of the city and some of the most important Italian brands can be found on the elegant Via Libertà in the city centre. Palermo has undergone a number of changes during the past thirty years. First its suburbs were “assaulted” by a mass of concrete and subsequently the city has been “salvaged” in various stages from the embarassing state of degradation in which it was left for some time after the end of the second world war. The city’s slow and laborious resotoration locked horns with the various layers of bureaucracy in the government, with speculation and with negligence resulting in a city that has two sides: its fascinating and undisputed architectural treasures set against its poor standards of maintenance and crumbling services. Despite this fact, its fascination is unquestioned and there is not a corner of the historic centre of the city that will not provide you with a pleasant surprise: alleys, markets, squares that provide you with an opportunity to admire the city’s architectural treasures, some of which are stiil in a state of disrepair, and to sample the real essence of the city, its inhabitants and their Byzantine and Arabic origins which continue to flourish today in the gestures and voices of the stall holders in the colourful and picturesque street markets where they sell everything from fresh fish to clothes, spices to typical local dishes cooked and eaten on the street. An experience for all the senses.
A visit to the city’s numerous and famous monuments, churches, squares, cathedrals, villas and aristocratic residences is an absolute must. In particular we recommend the Cathedral, the Palazzo Reale, the Cappella Palatina, the Martorana, San Giovanni degli Eremiti, the Spasimo church in the Kalsa district (the oldest district in Palermo), the church of Santa Maria della Catena, Casa Professa, the Chiesa della Magione, the Chiesa della Gancia, Palazzo Aiutamicristo, Palazzo Conte Federico, lo Steri, Abatellis, Chiaramonte, the Palazzina Cinese and Villa Giulia, the 19th century Botanical Garden, the Giardino Inglese, the Parco d’Orleans, the Villa Malfitano Whitaker and the city’s famous squares such as Piazza Marina, Piazza delle Vergogna, the Quattro Canti, Piazza Magione, Piazza Indipendenza and Piazza Politeama. All need to be visited with care and attention, however, we recommend that you go looking for some of the less tourist-orientated sights by consulting a good alternative guide book which should also help you to discover the gastronomic traditions of the city which contain surprises of their own. You should try to penetrate on foot the small, hidden alleys of the historic centre or ask one of the carriage drivers to take you on a tour of less tourist-orientated parts of the city. If you still have time, it is well worth visiting some of the sights near the city and in particular we recommend Monreale with its Benedictine Cloisters, one of the finest examples of Arab-Norman architecture in Sicily, and Mondello where examples of some of Sicily’s finest art-deco villas can be found.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Hotel: Palazzo Natoli Exclusive Rooms- via SS Salvatore 6 Palermo
Restaurant: La Galleria – Salita Ramirez, 2 Palermo
Pastry shop: Costa – via Maqueda 174 Palermo