For three nights we stay at the three star Hotel Orange d'Alcantara in the village of Francavilla 20 km from Taormina in the North Eastern region of Sicily. Francavilla is a village with a population of 4000 and is set in a quiet valley amid mountains and forests. The 50 room hotel is family run and very comfortable with a pool, restaurant serving great Sicilian food (it has its own wood-burning pizza oven) and an open-air terrace for breakfast. Most rooms have mountain views. All have private bath and air conditioning. 

For four nights we stay at the four star Villa Favorita in southeastern Sicily located near the baroque town of Noto and just a few kilometres from the sea. The hotel is an atmospheric restored country estate set amid orange groves. It has an excellent and atmospheric dining room offering a choice of menu. There is a large swimming pool, a sun terrace and lovely gardens with huge palm trees. Rooms are spacious with private bath (shower only), TV, hair dryer and air conditioning. We have dinner in the excellent hotel restaurant. http://www.villafavoritanoto.it/en/