Picciolo Etna

The Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa is one of two venues on the NCG Top 100s: European Resorts that is situated on the Italian isle of Sicily, and it is a resort that oozes elegance and beauty throughout. Located in the foothills of Mount Etna, the resort has a stunning golf course that rolls through the countryside, along with a Hilton brand hotel and a sublime spa and wellness facility. 

The golf course at Picciolo Etna is of championship quality, having played host to both the Ladies European Tour and the European Legends Tour in its history. Designed by Luigi Rota Caremoli, the Il Picciolo Golf Club was home to the first ever 18-hole golf course on the island of Sicily when it opened in 1989. The course works its way through the Sicilian hills, offering views of Mount Etna at times, and providing a stern but fair test of golf for players of all abilities. The venue also has some great practice facilities, with a driving range, short game area and a putting green to boot.

In terms of accommodation, there are not many venues on the NCG Top 100s: European Resorts list that can say they provide views of mountains or volcanoes. The Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa is one of those though, with many of the rooms in the hotel, one that is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, looking out to Mount Etna. There are 100 rooms in the hotel, with a vriety of options, many of which also have their own terraces, patios or balconies to relax on in the evenings. The hotel also has its own wellness facility, the Sorgente Lavica Spa, for guests to use when they want to relax and unwind. 

Visit the Picciolo Etna website here.

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The golf course at the Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa was only founded in 1989, but that was still far enough back in history to make it the island’s first ever 18-hole golf course. It was designed by Luigi Rota Caremoli, who made the most of the 44 hectares of rolling Italian countryside. The venue played host to the European Legends Tour in 2010, when Domingo Hospital won the only edition of the Sicilian Senior Open. It has also hosted the Sicilian Ladies Italian Open on four occasions, most recently in 2011. 

Coming in at around 6,400 yards, Il Picciolo Golf Club is not too long, but the undulating terrain in the foothills of Mount Etna add to the challenge of a round. It begins with a gentle start as well, with two par 4s of just 330 yards sandwiching a short par 3 – giving you the chance to get off to a scoring start, all while winding your way through tree-lined fairways, and catching the odd glimpse of the volcano in the distance. 

It is the back nine where water comes into play, with two hazards to avoid on the 11th. The first of those should not be in the way, as it sits to the side of the tee box, but the second, that might well cause some more trouble. It is the Stroke Index 1 for a reason, pushing to 470 yards from the tips, and only as a par 4. Water comes in down the right side of the green, and with thick trees left, it requires an accurate approach. Another hazard is in play on the approach to the par 4 14th as well. This is a hole that moves from right to left around the trees, and depending on how far you hit your tee shot, the approach may well be played over the water to find the putting surface. Get through all that, and you come to the last, a challenging dog-leg left, 560-yard par 5, with OOB down the entirety of the left side. Birdie this, and you’ll be buying the drinks in the clubhouse!

The accommodation at the Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa comes under the Hilton brand, with the rooms and suites as part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. In total, the hotel has 100 rooms overlooking the Sicilian countryside and Il Picciolo Golf Club, and of course, some come with a view of Mount Etna. 

There are five types of King Guest Rooms, all of which come with their own rainfall shower. Four of them come with outside areas, with Terrace, Patio and Balcony options, with some of those Balcony options coming on the side of the building which offers up that stunning view of Mount Etna. There are also Twin Club House Rooms, along with both King Deluxe and Twin Deluxe Rooms, with some of those options having sofabeds to sleep a third person, perfect for your families. 

The Curio Collection by Hilton at Picciolo Etna also has a sublime range of suites for an even higher level of luxury. The King One Bedroom Suite sleeps four, with some options having a patio for outdoor relaxation. There are also the Golf and Etna Suites, both of which are two-bedroom offerings and can sleep four, with the King Duplex Room being the most luxurious option for couples, with the living room and bedroom across two floors.

As part of the Curio Collection at the Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa comes the Sorgente Lavica Spa facility. The centre has a Finnish sauna, heated indoor pool with hydromassage facilities, aromatherapy and chromotherapy, and a Turkish bath. There is also a gym and fitness centre for those that want to keep up an active lifestyle during their time in the Sicilian hills. 

A range of massages and treatments are also available at the Sorgente Lavica Spa, with facial treatments, full-body and deep tissue massages all on offer, and all given by qualified therapists and masseuses.

Where is the Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa located?

The Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa is based on the Italian island of Sicily, located to the south of the mainland. The resort itself is based in the northeast of Sicily, and at the base of Mount Etna. The city of Catania is around 55km to the south, and it is the closest major city to Picciolo Etna. Palermo the largest city on the island, is 260km to the west of the resort, around a three-hour drive.

What is the nearest airport to Picciolo Etna?

The closest airport to the Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa is also the biggest and busiest airport on the island of Sicily. That is the Vincenzo Bellini Catania Airport, which sits to the south of the city of Catania, and is around 65km by road from the resort. Palermo Airport – the second busiest airport on the island – is almost 300km from Picciolo Etna.

What golf facilities does Picciolo Etna offer?

Along with the championship golf course, the Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa is also home to a 16-bay driving range, with five of those bays being covered to provide the space for training in inclement weather. There is also a short game area and a putting green to fine tune your skills before you take to the course.

Does Picciolo Etna offer golf lessons?

The Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa offers coaching and tuition for both members and guests alike. PGA professionals are on hand, making the most of the golf club’s facilities, to provide lessons to beginners and more advanced golfers.

What are the green fees at Picciolo Etna?

The price of a green fee at the Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Picciolo Etna, visit their website here.

What accommodation is on offer at the Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa?

There is a wide range of stunning accommodation on offer at the Picciolo Etna Golf Resorts & Spa, thanks to the hotel being part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. Many of the rooms and suites available at the hotel offer guests either a balcony or terrace, and with a view of Mount Etna.

Are there any other venues on the NCG Top 100s: European Resorts list nearby?

The Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa is one of two venues on Sicily to claim a place on the NCG Top 100s: European Resorts list. The other is Verdura, one of the best resorts on the continent, which is 275km to the southwest. San Domenico is the closest resort on the mainland, around 500km to the northeast, with the journey requiring a ferry crossing from Sicily to the mainland.