Luxury villa in Letojanni, Sicily, Italy with private pool for 14 persons. The villa is situated in a hilly beach area and is 3 km from Letojanni and 2 km from the sandy beach.
Luxury villa with private pool in Letojanni, Sicily, Italy for 8 persons. The villa is situated in a hilly and residential beach area and is 3 km from the beach.
The seaside town of Letojanni is part of the Taormina tourist area and is located in the centre of a wide bay between the promontories of S. Alessio (Forza d'Agrò) and S. Andrea (Taormina), 5 metres above sea level, on the Ionian side of the Peloritani mountains, 43 km south-west of Messina and 50 km north-east of Catania.
It boasts a very mild climate, which, together with its crystal-clear waters, makes Letojanni a very popular destination during the summer. The area is particularly evocative, with the Mediterranean maquis frequently giving way to evidence of the ancient peoples who once dwelled here, such as aqueducts, dwellings, and various types of constructions. Moreover, Letojanni is a perfect base for visiting the attractions that are all within 50 kilometres of the town, such as Taormina, the two large centres of Catania and Messina, Forza d’Agrò, Savoca, Castelmola, Giardini Naxos, and Mount Etna.
Letojanni is a town of probable Greek origin, the ancient Lethaios, which later became Letum Ianum with Rome, adding the name of Janus (according to others, however, the name derives from the Arabic "yan", spring). The territory of its coast – also important because the Consular Road Valeria passed through it – until the first half of the seventeenth century was divided between Taormina and Forza d'Agrò; Philip IV had it detached to sell it to Donna Francesca Porzio, Marchioness of Gallidoro.
The settlement of Letojanni arose in the mid-seventeenth century, when the Marquis of Gallidoro, Francesco Reitano, established his residence here, building a sumptuous palace. Gradually the town began to populate, with the arrival of new families and the construction of a church. In particular, the main activity of Letojanni was always fishing, with the Torre Baglio helping the inhabitants to defend themselves from the depredations of pirates and enemies. Once feudalism was abolished and Gallodoro became an independent municipality, Letojanni continued to be a small fraction of it, until in the mid-nineteenth century the town underwent considerable growth thanks to the passage of the coastal road and the railway connecting Messina and Catania.
Letojanni has always based its economy primarily on fishing, but its excellent location and large beach have made it a popular seaside tourist destination on the Ionian Sea for many years. Agriculture is also very active, with the production of olives, wine grapes, cereals, citrus fruits and almonds. Among the most important people linked to Letojanni, the most important was certainly Francesco Durante, surgeon and senator of the Kingdom of Italy, founder of the Policlinico di Roma "Umberto I" which he directed for 40 years and the first in the world to have operated on a brain tumour; the town's main square and the scientific prize established in 1986 are dedicated to him. The writer Bianca Garufi, with whom Cesare Pavese fell in love and with whom he co-wrote the novel "Fuoco Grande", used to spend her summer holidays in Letojanni during her youth.
The patron saint of Letojanni, Saint Joseph, is celebrated on March 19th. Among the town's most important events is the sea procession on the first Sunday of August, when the saint's effigy is placed on a boat and, accompanied by a fleet of vessels, passes in front of Letojanni beach while the band plays music.
Typical dishes of Letojanni include, above all, seafood dishes and typically Sicilian desserts, from granitas to ice creams, and local specialities such as piparelle, nzuddi, and pignolata.