AZIENDA AGRICOLA "ARIONE"
Owner: Emanuele Nicolosi Manager: Ettore Costagliola
Address: C.da Pozzetti -
Collesano PA
Tel.: +39 0921427703 - 3474763738
Rating ***
The Site

At a short distance from the Madonie Regional Park, sunk deep in the green hills that face the Tyrrhenean sea, is a real farm with an exceptional and memorable panorama. The 7 ha `Arione' homestead produces organic oil and table olives, artichokes, fruit and fodder used for breeding Oriental horses, sheep and goats and courtyard animals. It is the perfect destination for those who love nature, and are in search of a relaxing holiday. Extra virgin olive oil, olives, genuine local cheese, jams and organic vegetables can be bought direct from the homestead.
How to Get There:


By car, from A19 Palermo-Catania highway, exit at Buonfornello junction and go on towards Messina until the fork to Lascari. Here take the SP 128 provincial road to Collesano, arriving a few km further at the homestead, that is well sign posted. On request, from Cefalù bus or train station a courtesy car will take you to the homestead. The homestead is 70 km from Palermo airport.

Accomodation:


The old rustic style of the building has remained intact. Guests are put up in a converted old barn, carefully restored in every way. There are 6 comfortable rooms, furnished in the typical local style and all with heating, sleeping 20 in total. The homestead is open all year round; guests have a comfortable lounge and an elegant dining room at their disposal.

Sport & Activities:


There are lots of activities on offer at the homestead for those who love the open air, for example trekking or simply going for walks along the Madonie tracks with an expert guide. For young people the homestead organises weekly horse riding courses with expert instructors and, in summer, sailing courses, boats leaving from Cefalù A swimming pool is available at the homestead for relaxing swims. A tennis court and a five-a-side pitch are nearby.

The Cuisine:

Guests can enjoy typical Madonie cooking, dishes prepared with genuine homestead produce. The menu includes house antipasti with sun dried tomatoes, olives, fried and breadcrumbed courgettes, and artichokes prepared in a thousand different ways. Among the pasta courses, you can find the gnocchi with borage, risotto with pumpkin and fresh ricotta cheese, home made pasta with mutton sauce, and lasagne with artichokes and ricotta cheese. Main courses are mainly meat, from the farm: couscous with lamb and artichokes, mixed roast and sausage with orange. A real must are the wild fennel balls in tomato sauce and the desserts, namely the 'testa di turco' and the `sfoglie' from Polizzi.

What to See:

The patron saint festivals of neighbouring villages are worth a trip (e.g., Gratteri, 15 km, and Collesano, 12 km), still keeping old Sicilian traditions alive. Another interesting thing to look at are the ruins at Himera, only 10 km from the homestead, and Cefalù with its famous Norman Cathedral and splendid beaches, a popular tourist destination.