Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & SPA
Il Picciolo is one of Italy's most singular courses for the simple reason that it is play...
Il Picciolo is one of Italy's most singular courses for the simple reason that it is played on the slopes of Mount Etna. Here golf meets lava, woodland, volcanic light and a mountain Sicily that surprises anyone who imagines the island only through sea and baroque towns. The course has strong character, with elevation change, unusual vistas and a powerful environmental identity that makes every round immediately recognizable. It should not be compared to classic coastal resorts; its charm lies precisely in its difference, in the physical material of the landscape and in an atmosphere that can feel almost dramatic. For elite travelers, it is memorable because it offers something not found elsewhere: highland Mediterranean golf with the volcano as a constant presence. Integrated into an Etna itinerary of wine, nature and refined hospitality, Il Picciolo becomes much more than a round. It becomes a true encounter with place.
Combinalo con un itinerario sull’Etna e non con la sola costa: il campo parla la lingua del vulcano e va vissuto dentro quel contesto.
One of the most original Italian golf experiences
Strong volcanic and territorial identity
More character experience than universally easy layout
Climate and altitude greatly change the round's perception
Il Picciolo is one of Italy's most singular courses for the simple reason that it is played on the slopes of Mount Etna. Here golf meets lava, woodland, volcanic light and a mountain Sicily that surprises anyone who imagines the island only through sea and baroque towns. The course has strong character, with elevation change, unusual vistas and a powerful environmental identity that makes every round immediately recognizable. It should not be compared to classic coastal resorts; its charm lies precisely in its difference, in the physical material of the landscape and in an atmosphere that can feel almost dramatic. For elite travelers, it is memorable because it offers something not found elsewhere: highland Mediterranean golf with the volcano as a constant presence. Integrated into an Etna itinerary of wine, nature and refined hospitality, Il Picciolo becomes much more than a round. It becomes a true encounter with place.
On the technical side, the course is a mountain layout of 18 holes playing to a par of 72 with a slope rating of 133. Visitor ratings underline the point: outstanding course standard, striking natural setting.
The best time to visit Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & SPA is May, June, July, August, September. Among its most appreciated strengths: One of the most original Italian golf experiences; Strong volcanic and territorial identity.
The facilities include putting green, driving range, restaurant, pro shop, cart rental, caddy on request.
The nearest airport is Palermo Falcone-Borsellino (PMO), approximately 1 hour by car.
What is the best time to play?+
The best time to play is May, June, July, August, September. Outside this window the club may be closed or operating with reduced services.
Is a handicap certificate required?+
Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & SPA does not specify a mandatory minimum handicap for visiting players. We recommend contacting the club to confirm their current policy.
How do I get to the club?+
The nearest airport is Palermo Falcone-Borsellino (PMO), approximately 1 hour by car. Car rental is recommended for maximum flexibility.
Is there on-site accommodation?+
Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & SPA does not have on-site accommodation. There are various lodging options in the surrounding area; contact the club for partner recommendations.
How many holes does the course have, and how challenging is it?+
The course has 18 holes playing to a par of 72 with a slope rating of 133. It is a demanding course best suited to experienced players.
Exclusive Experiences
Secrets found in no guidebook, curated by our concierge.
Benanti: Nerello Mascalese dell'Etna Verticale
Giuseppe Benanti was the pioneer who in the 1990s proved Etna could produce internationally-ranked wines. The Serra della Contessa — Nerello Mascalese from pre-phylloxera vines of 1904 at 900 metres on Etna's north slope — is Sicily's longest-lived wine. The private cellar vertical begins from 1991 and spans thirty years of lava and nerello.
“Antonio Benanti leads to the pre-phylloxera vineyard at 6:00 AM at dawn: the 1904 ungrafted plants grow directly on solidified lava — the roots have perforated basalt rock for 120 years. Nothing comparable exists elsewhere in the world.”
Etna Nord: le Sciare dell'Alba Vulcanica
Etna's north slope — the Sciare di Santa Venera — is Italy's most lunar volcanic landscape: expanses of 1981 lava still black and devoid of vegetation with the smoking summit craters on the horizon. At dawn with vulcanological guide Alberto Ruffino you walk on the 1981 flows in the carbonised beech forests.
“Alberto Ruffino has mapped the lava caves of the north slope that no tourist guide knows: the Grotta delle Palombe is an 800-metre lava tube with basalt stalactites hanging like candles. Bring only a head torch.”
Zash Hotel: la Spa della Lava
Zash Country Boutique Hotel on Etna is an 1800s farmhouse transformed by Antonio Minutella using Etna basalt as the primary material: the spa floor, pools, and walls are Etna basalt. The Lava e Terra treatments use volcanic stone heated to 60°C for massages and local volcanic clay for wraps. The spa has a direct view of the craters.
“Chef Giuseppe Raciti organises private dinners in the torch-lit vineyard on full moon nights: Zash's Nerello Mascalese paired with contemporary Sicilian cuisine with a view of the smoking volcano creates an impossible-to-replicate sensory experience.”
San Giorgio e il Drago — Cucina Etnea a Palazzo
Tucked inside Randazzo — the medieval city Etna has never touched despite looming above it for centuries — this restaurant occupies a Norman palazzo where every dish maps the volcano's terroir: hand-rolled pasta alla norma, Nebrodi lamb, wild porcini gathered on the upper slopes in October. The cooking is authentic without being folksy, as rooted in its landscape as the black basalt underfoot.
“Book the table in the vaulted stone room and ask for the house wine — it comes from small Etna Nord growers you won't find on any other list.”
Abbazia di Maniace — Il Castello del Duca Nelson
In 1799 the King of Naples gifted this Norman abbey to Admiral Horatio Nelson after the Nile — a gesture of gratitude that quietly stitched Sicily into the fabric of European history. Set among chestnut groves at the Nebrodi foothills, the estate still holds the original Nelson Bridport family furniture, a formal English garden, and an intact 12th-century chapel. It is the kind of place where History slips in through the side door.
“Go early morning before anyone else arrives — an English garden in the middle of Sicily with Etna rising behind it is a sight that stays with you.”
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