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Cefalu bed & breakfast accommodation in Sicily, Italy

COUNTRY:
Italy
LOCATION:
Via Saponara, Sant’Ambrogio, Cefalů, Sicily
PRICE:
From €35 - €45 per person per night
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Cefalu bed & breakfast accommodation in Sicily, Italy

Cefalu bed & breakfast accommodation in Sicily, Italy

How this holiday makes a difference

Environment

The benefit of your stay in Sant’Ambrogio and the surrounding area is through the rental of existing accommodation that is not been lived in due to emigration of people to more prosperous areas.

By staying in the accommodation you sustain the environment by creating employment to enable people to remain in the village and continue with their traditional way of life, which is far more environmental and sustainable than modern life which is beginning to encroach on the village. During your stay you will experience traditional village life and in some of the accommodation the owners will be on hand to host you in the true Sicilian style.

My aim is to help the environment as much as I am able to, taking into account the very few ecological resources that are available in the region. In the accommodation there are re-cycling bins, low-voltage light bulbs, eco products for cleaning, washing, hand liquid and toilet paper. The restored or newer homes have half flush toilets, to help save water. A copy of the certificate verifying that the tap water is drinkable is available in the accommodation to discourage buying bottled water. Linen and towels changes limited to once weekly, to encourage conservation of water.

Guests are encouraged to use the local buses that come into the village 4 times a day and trains for trips to main cities or airports, timetables are provided. I provide information on fauna/flora that is found the Park of the Madonie Mountains where the properties are located.

I organise frequent meetings with the locals to clean the streets of the village and surrounding area. In the office we print on recycling paper, using re-cycling printing cartridges, where possible we send information to guests via email and direct them to the website, to obtain further information.

Community

Guests are provided with samples of local products such as oil, wine, jams etc., made by different people in the village, which also can be purchased in the village. The women in the village will be able to cook for you or if you wish provide a cooking course (with local translator) at your rental accommodation. So provides valuable employment, passing on and maintaining traditional cooking knowledge and the women will feel pride in their skills. Visits to the local shepherd, guided walks, horse riding, culture tours etc., are available with local guides and local transport.

In the accommodation there’s an extensive information file with local history, culture, things to do and visits in the area plus a list of restaurants, bars and mini-market that are in the village, where one can have a coffee, dine and do their shopping. My local staff that speak English will be on hand to assist guests with any information that they may require. This helps the staff to practise their English and hospitality skills.

My company has recently set up projects in the village to conserve the local traditions and to encourage young people to participate and interact with the visitors. One of these projects is to restore the old olive press creating a museum “Museo dei Contadini” with traditional farming equipment. Funds are raised by charging a small fee for independent walking itineraries ; direct donations from visitors; from celebrations that are frequently organised in the village. A percentage of the money raised by these charges also goes towards helping children in India and other under privileged countries.

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Cefalu bed & breakfast accommodation in Sicily, Italy

Cefalu bed & breakfast accommodation in Sicily, Italy

Reviewed 01 Nov 2010 by Susanne Fuchsberger4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


The location is fantastic, quiet, very pretty, close to the sea and close to the mountains. From the balcony you have a wonderful view over the bay of Cefalu. There is a big garden with orange trees as well as a very nice court yard right in front of the house. It is only a 15 minute walk down to the non touristy town of 'Sant'Ambriogio' where you can have an excellent pizza for very little money and a 10 minute drive to the very touristy, but picturesque town 'Cefalu'. A number of hikes start right from the house.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


It is difficult to explore the region without a car. The house is very well equipped. The kitchen is fully furnished and there is a washing machine.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


We live in Sicily and have friends in Sant'Ambriogio who told us that Carmelina and her team are doing a wonderful job promoting eco tourism in the area.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Great! We would immediately go again.

Reviewed 16 Apr 2009 by Catherine Kane5 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


My Sicilian experience was, quite simply, exhilarating. Weeks later, I still reflect upon the time I spend in Sant'Ambrogio daily. The brief sojourn touched a vein and spoke a truth to me. The most memorable part, if you can call her that, was my host, Carmelina. Not only is she personable and flexible, but it's clear that she cares deeply about her work and about her place. And that was the second most memorable part - the connection the people I met have to Sicily and to their town. It's so clear that they know where they ought to be and that they focus on making it the best possible place to be. Many of us search our whole lives for that connection, that sense of place. The rooms are quite lovely, only surpassed by the views of the sea and the Madonie Mountains. I also had the pleasure of visiting a shepherd making cheese on a hillside and of visiting the local Santa Anastasia Winery, where they give an outstanding tour. The vineyard provides work for many local families... and most delightfully exports right to my home town. And I cannot recommend the horse riding enough (n.b. the Italians ride English). What a stunning way to see the mountains, vineyard and sea. We rode through a herd of cows (mucca), early blooming meadows, cork trees, and more, and so many unique natural elements were beautifully and lovingly described by the cavallero. Do check on tours of Cefalu and the surrounding area! The Sicilian holiday is earth-bound, yet heavenly. I yearn to go back.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


It's so easy to try to check places off when touring a new place, but don't try to do too much. Relax and soak in the warmth and ambiance of this lovely Sicilian town and its neighbors. Go to the cafes and have a caffe to the giggles and admiring glances of the young men (and not so young), Walk by the water and up the cobblestone streets. Go to the winery and give it a try, following a tour. Try horse-riding, if you know horses, or do a guided walk. I don't usually do guided tours, but I had the pleasure of really feeling as though I were getting to know some of the local people and seeing the beauty through their eyes. And try some freshly made cheese. But truly, Carmelina & her friends will draw you in and make this experience more than a simple tourist venture. Ask for suggestions, relax, and eat a mandarin from the tree.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


During my stay, I was picked up from the train station and did very little driving thereafter, with the exception of an evening excursion, when it was a bit too chilly for scooters. I rode a scooter to the horse barn and a horse to the vineyard and ate food out of the gardens. There's no nasty diesel trucking of ingredients for the cheese-making. The goats hang out right next to the cheese shed. And Carmelina uses natural cleaning products as much as possible. Cooking evening used locally grown ingredients (and wine!), and low wattage bulbs graced the sconces (could be rather romantic). I do yearn after one of those clever eco-water heaters! Obviously, all garbage is sorted to compost, recyclables and true waste. Although I'm loathe to have too many people discover my secret place and not be able to find space for myself in future, I cannot help but recommend this magical corner, as it will bring additional funds to a unique area that must be preserved, both in natural and human resources.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Five. Without a doubt, five.

Reviewed 25 Jun 2009 by Marcia Grima4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Picking lemons in the lemon grove by the house with my four year old and making lemonade with her in the kitchen upstairs. The kitchen has beautiful views of the mountains. The place is extremely safe and we were lucky that another family with children our's age (almost two and four) were staying within the b&b at the same time. It was very safe for the children to play outdoors. The peak of our holiday was definitely discovering Fiasconaro in Castelbuono which made the most delicious ice cream and panettone we have ever tasted.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


A car is a must at this b&b. It is great for families with kids as one feels so safe. The place is also a great refuge buried as it is high up in the mountains. Make sure to ask for the information folder which is packed with tips on things to do and see in the area.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


There are recycling bins in the kitchen. We ate at the local restaurants in Sant' Ambrogio and used their grocer. The place is very clean as is the village itself. The water in the shower takes some time to regulate which leads to some wastage. The water need not be so hot.

Reviewed 17 Sep 2009 by Sarah Anderson3 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


The views from the terrace every morning for breakfast were wonderful. Having some insider tips on which beaches to visit and where to park for free in Cefalu was useful, but the location was a bit out of the way. We had more memorable days staying close to sights like Selinunte and Riserva Naturale della Zingaro.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


A car is absolutely essential (and a small one at that for the narrow village streets) as the B&B is up the steep hill from St. Ambrogio and quite far from tourist sights and swimming beaches. Basic Italian is necessary for communication as the hosts speak very little English, especially if you are picky about what you want for breakfast.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


We ate in St. Ambrogio twice so that benefited the local people. It seems a popular place to escape the hordes in summer, which I guess makes the business viable. September is much quieter, so we were the only people in the B&B some nights. We drank the tap water, and there was environmentally friendly handsoap, but otherwise the environmental impact wasn't particularly lessened.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


It was a nice stay in a lovely part of Sicily, but we were disappointed not to meet Carmelina at all during the seven days we were there and it wasn't clear how far the B&B was from the coast. Also the directions to arrive need revising as the toll road route is different and twice as much money as indicated, and the name of the street to turn out of the village piazza doesn't match the instructions.
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Accommodation Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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Cefalu bed & breakfast accommodation in Sicily, Italy
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