My husband and I stayed one night at the Hotel Ventimiglia in Geraci Siculo in mid May of 2008 while on a walking tour of the central mountains of Sicily. The hotel is located five minutes up the road from the famous Saracen fountain where nearby residents come to fill their jugs with its famous fresh mountain stream water. The hilltop town of Geraci Siculo is about a 10 to 15 minute walk uphill and well worth visiting for it’s authentic Sicilian ambience.

The hotel has a lovely lobby (newly painted with a dramatic mural on the walls and ceiling) and nice dining area with wood burning stove. The bedrooms are fairly plain with en suite bathrooms and two beds (a double and a single). If you would like a view of the valley, ask for a room on the valley side of the third floor. Below that, tall trees hide the view. There is an elevator for those who prefer to avoid walking up steps.

The five hikers in our group were the only people staying at the hotel. All of our needs (checking in, dinner service etc.) were taken care of by the hospitable owner (whose English was limited). Dinner was Spartan, but tasty. The only complaint was that the hotel was rather chilly at night because the heat was not turned on and the outside air temperature rather cold.