RELAIS SAN GIULIANO: TRANSPORTED FROM AN 18TH-CENTURY COUNTRY RESIDENCE TO AN OASIS OF RELAXATION AT THE FOOT OF THE VOLCANO

Relais San Giuliano is a delightful Boutique Hotel that has been transformed from a historical residence in the heart of the Mount Etna area and is completely immersed in nature and culture. The tasteful buildings of the main Villa, the farmhouse and the traditional ‘palmento’ wine press, all of which have been restored to their former splendour while respecting their original identity, surround the inner courtyard. Relais San Giuliano offers comfortable, refined rooms, spa facilities, an infinity pool nestled in the private garden area, three meeting rooms, a home fitness area, a restaurant and a lounge bar serving delicious Sicilian cuisine and wines. The unspoilt magic of the ancient residence, the refined choice of furnishings and a meticulous attention to detail all go to make San Giuliano the ideal boutique hotel for a charming and relaxing holiday, while discovering Catania and the suggestive territory all around Mount Etna.

Guests are warmly welcomed to this modern hotel, where charm and elegance are the order of the day. The skilful use of natural materials, the original forms of the furniture and the coordinated colour scheme all combine to create a harmonious atmosphere of past and present which visitors cannot fail to appreciate. The main residence hosts the bright reception and lounge areas, the comfortable bedrooms and the gazebo. The Relais’s wine cellar or so-called ‘Grottino’, is to be found on the lower level. The "I Palici" restaurant and "Palmento del Serra" lounge bar have been created in the spacious area near to the Palmento, which still preserves part of the enormous ancient wine press, and there are now additional rooms together with the "Sabbia Nera" spa where the stables, carriage house and farmer’s house once used to be positioned. Outside, a large infinity pool immersed in the garden completes the appealing picture of this authentic oasis of relaxation.

THE HISTORY OF RELAIS SAN GIULIANO

From an 18th-century country home to a haven of relaxation at the foot of the volcano: Relais San Giuliano is a historical residence with a fascinating history, a place where nature and culture converge timelessly. This summer residence of the Marquises of San Giuliano was built in the early 18th century in the midst of a fertile hilly territory cultivated with vineyards. The façade of the property and its scenic staircase overlooked the wide inner courtyard that housed the rustic buildings of the wine press where the large cooper's house, the foreman’s home, the carriage house and the stables were situated. Within the walls of this noble dwelling, the slow and patient daily life of cultivating the vineyard was apparent: it was at once a place of work for the ‘massari’ foremen managing the estate and a place of leisure for the noble families who would spend the warmer months of the year here. Today, the Relais aims to provide its guests with the same gentle rhythms of life in a bygone era, combined with and the undiminished splendour of one of the most authentic settings in Sicily.

To quote Angelo Gruttadauria, owner of Relais San Giuliano:

"When I stepped foot into the Relais for the very first time, I could so easily imagine what it must have been like here in the past, with men and women dedicating their lives to cultivating the vineyards, making the house sparkle, families living in the sunshine at the foot of the volcano... and yet all around me at that moment there was only ugliness. I decided there and then that the place just had to be restored to its former glory, and be transformed from its decadent state to one of beauty. I realised that its restoration had to be complete and not only architectural, bringing back the sense of infinite humanity this site had gifted me, and carrying it forward through the present and into the future. In effect, I had to create a bridge spanning 200 years, almost as if two centuries of destruction had never taken place..."

FACILITIES AND SERVICES AT RELAIS SAN GIULIANO

The interior spaces include a lounge bar on two floors located within the former Palmento wine press with 106 seats made up of repurposed wine vats, sofas, and comfortable armchairs, with a large bar and a room where up to 120 people can comfortably be accommodated.

Staying in one of the rooms at the Relais or having exclusive use of the entire Villa, guests can enjoy the many services the House has to offer, such as the outdoor swimming pool, the home fitness area, the "Sabbia Nera" wellness centre and spa, free Wi-Fi, daily room cleaning with evening turndown service, air conditioning for cooling or heating the rooms, hairdryer, satellite TV, customised Relais San Giuliano toiletries, safe, minibar, and a kettle with herbal tea. Pets are allowed, subject to prior agreement.

The receptionist at the Relais organises pastry and gastronomic-themed workshops with the house chefs so that you can learn all the secrets of the limitless Sicilian culinary world.

The possibilities offered by Relais San Giuliano are infinite: our Concierge service is pleased to organise excursions to Mount Etna in off-road vehicles or to cultural and artistic sites such as Taormina, Siracusa, Agrigento, Scicli and many other artistic destinations. Boat tours and fishing trips with local fishermen in the sea of Trezza are also available. Its location makes it easy to reach various seaside spots, such as the nature reserve of Timpa di Acireale with the lava rocks of Mount Etna or the sandy Playa in the city of Catania. Guests can also enjoy transfer services to and from airports or transportation for excursions.

A warm welcome is extended to all our guests at Relais San Giuliano. Just like when you enter a real home, the sentiments we espouse are those of friendliness, inclusion and affection. We do not have clients, but consider our visitors Guests who have decided to leave their own house for a few days to experience life in another home with a very ancient history. A history that is indeed a story with a happy ending.

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