This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.
10/10 Excellent
25 Oct 2016
A traditional, comfortable and unique home.
Our fourth visit to C'era una Volta, and probably not the last! We just feel so at home in this beautiful traditional Sicilian house tucked away in one of the older parts of Scicli. with friendly neighbours and a view across to the caves. Everything is exactly as it says on the web site.
The house is always immaculate. and homely. it's uniqueness sets it apart from other holiday homes. Other years we have always eaten out in the evening. however this year, my wife had a swollen knee so I did the shopping and cooked. It was simple fare, but the local supermarket - Deco - and the butcher just down towards Piazza Italia are really helpful, have wonderful fresh produce and really good prices. Everyone is so helpful, and someone even brought round some home made massage oil for Cath's knee.
Once she was more mobile we went to Donnalucata by bus. We enjoyed lunch at Mezzaparola and a stroll along the sea front in the sunshine.
We wanted to venture further afield than we could manage on the bus, and we booked a day trip, by taxi, with Elios in Piazza Italia. We chose to go to Piazza Armerina. We went along the coast toward Gela and then up to the Roman Villa, about a 2 hour drive. Amazing and well worth a visit. Afterward, the three of us went for lunch and then he took us on a scenic route back to Scicli. The driver was brilliant and by the end of the day, I think my poor Italian was a bit better and he had learnt some more English!
We ate out on the last two nights, firstly at Quore Matto ( not impressed) and then at Baqqala which was very good. We also went to Millenium for coffee, cakes and Internet. There are a couple of small bars just past San Bartolomeo church which serve excellent coffee and pastries at an extremely cheap price.
I revisited "a rutti ri Ron Carmelu" the museum depicting life in the caves, it is very good.
It was sad to say good bye on the Saturday, and used EliosTaxis again to go to Catania.
Francesca really makes the stay at Piedagrotta something special. We will be back, hopefully at an earlier time in the year, to see one the amazing festivals that take place.