... afternoon tea at EtnaHub












There are many ways that you can experience the beauty of Mount Etna.

One of the things I love most about writing my Blog is the lovely invitations I receive to visit amazing places and so I was delighted through the wonders of social media to be invited last month to EtnaHub.

With 2019 approaching what could be a better new year resolution than learning a new language, ie Italian in a fun and cultural way in a beautiful location.


Positioned in the countryside just outside the beautiful town of Acireale, EtnaHub is nestled between the slopes of Mount Etna and the sparkling Ionian Sea.

EtnaHub is located in an old winery dating back to the 19th century. It has been reclaimed and redeveloped as an open space with multi-purposed rooms linked together, located on two levels and equipped for flexible use. There is an outdoor area, immersed in a private garden in the charming Sicilian countryside set amongst fragrant lemon trees, green olive trees, lava stone terraces, ancient canals and Mediterranean vegetation.

EtnaHub offers Italian language courses for overseas visitors. The courses are open to all students interested in learning about the Italian language and its culture. The courses are aimed at students of all levels and ages and available all year round.

There are individual courses suitable for those who prefer to interact directly with a native speaker, group courses and courses online via Skype. There are also language courses designed to deepen your knowledge of the Sicilian and Italian culture.

At EtnaHub you will discover the Italian language through travel and activities that allow you to get in close contact with Sicily, its nature, history and culture.

They also offer 'Sicilian Cookery a Casa' cooking classes, wine tasting and yoga classes, so it sounded like my kind of place and last month we excitedly went to EtnaHub to meet founders Carlo and Anita with our lovely English friends Norma and Teresa who also live in Giardini Naxos (I knew it would be their kind of place too) and of course with Daisy our dog.

EtnaHub is set in a beautiful location with breathtaking views of Mount Etna. On arrival we were met by the delightful Carlo who gave us a tour of the gardens. The property and gardens are a typical traditional Sicilian country estate with a palmento and we could smell the scents of wild mountain herbs and the sound of goats bells in the distance.


Inside the old winery we were greeted by Carlo's partner Anita and straight away we were made to feel at home. The interior has been beautifully restored retaining the original features from the old 'palmento' (wine press).

Carlo and Anita are teachers with many years of experience and are both certified in teaching Italian as a foreign language which they do in a fun and creative way and can also include visits to Sicily's most notable and beautiful towns and cities an activity which they have lovingly named "Sicilianesimo".

After a tour of the 'palmento' we proceeded back upstairs where we were joined by Roberta whose family own the estate and who is also the maestro behind EtnaHub's amazing cooking classes.

Upstairs we were treated to an English afternoon tea Sicilian style. The upper level is where the 'grape stomping' used to take place where the grapes would be crushed by having barefoot participants repeatedly stomping on them to release their juices that would drain on the slightly sloped floor to the lower level where fermentation would then begin.

What a wonderful place to sit and have afternoon tea.

We all sat around a large table talking all things Sicilian and all things British enjoying jasmine tea from a huge teapot and devoured Sicilian sweets such as Cubbaita which is a sesame nougat, Bianco Mangiare which is like a blancmange made with either lemons or almonds and Rame di Napoli which are a cross between a cake and a biscuit from the region of Catania that are covered in chocolate and traditionally eaten at this time of year to celebrate 'U jornu ri morti' (the day of the dead) on 2nd November. Everything was absolutely delicious as always in Sicily.

Aside from language courses, yoga classes, cooking classes and wine tasting experiences EtnaHub is also available as a co-working space encouraging like minded professionals to work by themselves but not alone in a beautiful environment with free wifi. There is also 'La Casina' which is a self catering café providing food, coffee and tea for the EtnaHub community and language students complete with a kitchen.

Carlo and Anita can also arrange accommodation for your stay in either luxury villas, bed and breakfasts, private houses or local farms.

EtnaHub is also perfect for hosting private events and special occasions.


After our delicious afternoon tea Roberta showed me her kitchen where the magic happens for her Sicilian cooking classes. Her kitchen is gorgeous in a traditional Sicilian way with beautiful tiles, rustic features and it really has the family touch. I fell in love with Roberta's kitchen and I am excitedly looking forward to joining her in a cookery class, so watch this space.

Unfortunately as is always the way it was soon time to leave the tranquillity of EtnaHub.

EtnaHub is an oasis away from the hubbub of Sicily's eastern towns and cities and the perfect relaxed location to learn your new language.

The nearby town of Acireale is a Baroque gem which boasts interesting architecture, monuments, myths and legends and there are many seaside villages along the 'coast of the cyclops' to discover.

Taormina and Giardini Naxos are approximately a 30 minute drive away.

Carlo and Anita were the perfect hosts, they are amazing, fun, vivacious and full of life and I cannot think of anyone better to learn Italian with. Daisy was totally spoilt and we left EtnaHub knowing as is always the Sicilian way that we had made new friends for life.


For more information visit www.etnahub.it
and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram


If you enjoyed this Blog post then you will love
my previous post
"22 Ways to Experience Etna"

Also from my Blog archive
"Acireale ... Myths, Legends and Carnival"
"The Coast of the Cyclops"
Photo Gallery 

 (Photo Credits: EtnaHub)

































  

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