Location. The Excelsior Palace Hotel is a converted 19th-century grain mill situated on the banks of the River del Limoni in the Baroque town of Acireale, 300 metres from the therapeutic waters of the Terme di Santa Venera natural spa. Catania Fontanarossa airport is 30 kilometres away, and takes around 40 minutes by car.
Hotel Features. The hotel offers a range of organised activities, and family entertainment such as cabaret, live piano music and tropical dancing takes place during the evenings from mid-July to mid-September. A shuttle service runs to and from the hotel's private beach during the summer months. The outdoor pool is open during summer, and the hotel's terrace offers views of the sea. Other amenities include massage treatments, a 24-hour front desk with multilingual staff, room service (limited hours) and a concierge desk. Complimentary parking is available on site, and airport transfers can be arranged on request (surcharge).

The Excelsior Palace Hotel serves breakfast every morning and offers a choice of dining options for lunch and dinner, including the Bouganville and Agavi restaurants, both of which offer both a la carte menus and buffets of Sicilian and Italian dishes made with seasonal ingredients. The Il Moro lobby bar is open throughout the year, while Bar Piscina is a poolside bar open during summer only.

From mid-July to mid-September, the hotel's entertainment staff organise a daily activity programme including archery, a water gym, aerobics and dancing. The hotel also houses a diving centre that arranges daily scuba- diving trips.

Guestrooms. The Excelsior Palace Hotel offers 229 air-conditioned guestrooms over four floors, all of which have simple, modern decor and include cable television, direct-dial phones, minibars and bathrooms with showers and complimentary toiletries.

Expert Tip. Guests can stroll a 1.5 kilometres to the bustling Piazza del Duomo (cathedral square) and sip an espresso while admiring the impressive Baroque architecture.

17 N CATANIA25 S TAORMINA35 S ETNA VULCANO60 N SIRACUSA