Agriturismo Pardo

If you want to experience the sensational food, charming hospitality and remarkable landscape of rural Sicily, this is a great place to come!||We enjoyed a splendid few days in this idyllic rural retreat, hiking during the day and feasting on the delicious and plentiful food prepared by Mariella and Sabrina. Before dinner we would enjoy sitting out on the terrace taking in the sensational view of the Nebrodi mountains, down the valley to the Aeolian Islands and the Mediterranean (we hadn't appreciated how amazing the views would be!). ||Upon our arrival we were welcomed by the charming owner who served us refreshing tomato juice and amarena cherry cordial and in the subsequent days, little snacks when we returned from our hikes. The bedroom was spacious and had a balcony from which we gawped at the same great views. But the highlight of the stay was definitely the amazing dinners prepared for us each evening by Mariella and Sabrina. We didn't speak any Italian and they didn't speak much English, but we connected through the international language of good service and brilliant Sicilian food. Each night we were offered classic Sicilian antipasti: cheeses (some with honey), salami, caponata, arancini, grilled aubergine, marinated vegetables and other delicious morsels. For primi and secondi, we enjoyed a different pasta each night (like pasta alla norma and ravioli with sage - this was some of the best pasta we had anywhere in Sicily) and a meat dish (like lamb in tomato sauce and little roasted cheese filled pork morsels - not sure what they were but they were AMAZING!) followed by a dessert which all left us extremely full but very satisfied. Each meal is accompanied by a local red wine which was truly delicious - it wasn't sweet but seemed to taste like the amarena cherries!||Agriturismo Pardo is of course a working farm and we stayed in early September when the hazelnuts were being dried out on the terrace each day. On the final morning, a small bowl of hazelnuts was included in our breakfast! Given it is a working farm, you can expect the usual noises of farm life (e.g. machinery, dogs and vehicles) which we thought added to the experience!||Thanks to all at Agriturismo Pardo. We hope to return soon!

This is a working farm. Enjoyed seeing the hazelnut harvest with nuts drying on the terrace. The Professor was friendly and ensured we visited the best sights. Great Sicilian food freshly cooked. Greats views from our bedroom and terrace of the Nebrodi hills and aeolian islands on a clear day. We just about managed with our poor Italian!

While still amazed at the beauty of the Nebrodi's park with its variety of rocks, plants and animals, finding a place like Agriturismo Pardo was really the cherry on the cake. Welcomed by extremely kind staff, spoiled by the abundance and quality of food, and pampered by a beautiful environment, I highly recommend the place for your staying in Sicily. Rooms are clean and comfortable, and the place is centrally located to access the most beautiful locations in Parco dei Nebrodi. We will certainly come back!

Such a wonderful experience throughout our stay. The owner Professor Matteo gave us a warm welcome, showed us around and explained the history of the location and the surroundings. Mariella also gave us some hints of the attractions close to Ucria and helped us settling in our room. ||Delicious food by the inhouse chef Sabrina was prepared from their own produce. ||We truly recommand this agriturismo in this beautiful Nebrodi park. Keep it up.

A recommendation in Palermo led me to stay at this quite new Agriturismo which sits high in a valley on the edge of the Nebrodi National Park. It is outstanding of its type in three respects: location; hospitality and food; and tranquillity, and at 70 euros per night for half board, represents excellent value.||||The Nebrodi mountains are suprisingly green for Sicily - often snow-covered, I gather, in winter. The Pardo sits on a hillside with a magnificent panorama down a long valley to the sea, with the closest of the Aeolian islands just visible at sunset. So tranquillity in inspiring and beautiful natural surroundings are guaranteed.||||The Agriturismo is presided over by Professore Matteo Florena - a retired medical professor who now dedicates his life to running the estate, which specialises in growing nut trees, and another estate closer to the coast which produces olives and olive oil. Though clearly a modern farmer, Prof Florena is something of an expert on rural traditions and customs. His staff (I met two, housekeeper and cook) are wonderfully hospitable, and the cuisine, using local produce simply prepared, is delicious and very plentiful. Rooms are lofty, comfortably but simply furnished; mine was also filled with sunlight, having two large windows including french window to small balcony. ||||A car is needed. Driving anywhere from Agriturismo Pardo means navigating mountain roads. However, a few days spent in this delightful corner of Sicily is well-rewarded by visits to mountain villages, many with open views to Etna; and the coast is half-an-hour away. For the more energetic, extensive mountain paths permit excellent walking and biking.

The house is located close to the road of Capo d'Orlando-Ucria and it's impressive by its traditional architecture. The rooms are nice and clean, having the conditions of three stars hotel. The personnel is kind and friendly and they offer a large variety of Italian food. It's an excellent location to spend few days in its quiet and intimate atmosphere, alternating with few days spent at the beach of Capo d'Orlando.

The agriturismo is in a gorgeous 100-year-old farmhouse built by the family who owns the hazelnut orchards on the property. The owner is Matteo, an octogenarian retired surgeon in a very dapper jacket and hat who will greet every guest; his manager, Mariella, will take care of all your paperwork and will serve you an exquisite home-cooked meal in the lovely little dining room. ||||The dinner we were served was a huge appetizer spread--perhaps 15 different dishes of vegetables, cheeses, meats, eggs, sausages, greens. The pasta featured zucchini greens--unusual and tasty--and the main course was Nebrodi black swine two ways (chops and cutlets). All the vegetables were grown on premises. ||||Breakfast is an array of home-made jams and toast. ||||We had a magical 24 hours here. We wished we'd had more time.

Charming Matteo welcomed us to his peaceful retreat set amid the Nebrodi mountains. Delicious dinner with local produce including his hazelnuts was a highlight. ||||Comfortable rooms and delicious breakfast on the terrace with fresh mountain air and wonderful views that include some of his olive trees.||||Highly recommend.||||James, Berenice and Helga