La Fucina di Vulcano — Restaurant in Bronte

Fucina di Vulcano‘s location is unbeatable and it is the main attraction to this property. And it is really the only one. As an overnight guest you are basically an afterthought as the owners main focus is organizing large events in the restaurant and now it seems launching a pool club for the local community. As a Bronte resident, you might view this place as a real asset but as a visitor there are much better options out there.|Much of what we experienced was mentioned in other reviews so ours is confirmation that the points are still valid. While dinner was decent, breakfast was very sad. Two cakes on a table with some granola. Again the view of Etna makes dining a nice experience.|As with others, we also had plumbing problems and had no water for half of our stay. It was eventually fixed but no offer to let us use another room or any type of compensation. And this is the crux of the Fucina di Vulcano. They claim to be a resort but it is, as the title suggests, a restaurant with a few rooms above. There are no common areas and no amenities. Several booking and review platforms show a lovely photo with a lounge area in a glass-walled room with a view but this area is not open to guests and has instead been converted to an extension of the restaurant on the upper floor. It sat empty while we were there. |Then there is the pool. When we arrived after a long hot drive from the other side of the island we were told it is an „extra service“ and there is a fee. I have traveled extensively in Italy and while the hotels are rather unique in charging an entry fee to wellness areas, this is the first time I have ever encountered a charge to use an outdoor pool. As we had an evening flight the next day, I paid the fee and we spent the afternoon at the pool. It is nicely done but certainly not worth €20 per person per day. They seem to be targeting external guests to come and spend the day there given that Bronte is a good hour from the coast. |In sum, Fucina di Vulcano was a disappointing end to a lovely stay in Sicily. We are planning to visit Bronte during the Pistachio Festival but will not be staying...

AMAZING VIEW OF MT. ETNA!! ||Just a few minutes north on main road from Bronte, this is a lovely hotel with a good restaurant.||* NOTE: They do weddings (A LOT!) so there is a possibility the quiet night you are expecting will NOT be quite at all - as there may be many guests walking around. Some previous posts saying there were loud music from a DJ until very late night - so check that BEFORE you book.|| Luckily on our stay the wedding was in the afternoon and early evening, so we did not enjoy the grounds in the daytime (we chose to go for a drive into smaller roads closer to Mt. Etna) but we did enjoy our time with a drink between 8pm-9pm before dinner. ||The hotel rooms are basic, not luxurious. We did have to change rooms as the toilet overflowed three times...which was nasty. (luckily as it was refilling). They did put us in a new room because of that - but no offer of compensation or even a glass of wine to make us feel better about it.||Bedding was fine. Towels were basic. Wifi was good. Service staff were all very nice especially the two younger women at the front desk - very kind. They even offered to take our picture. Free parking right by the place. there were safes in the room. ||We also ate at the restaurant which although the dining room is really too sterile, the service (by an older gentleman) was excellent and the food was really VERY good. Though once again, it has to be said, there was no charm to the dining room.||The grounds by the fountain with the big ball lights was lovely. The small train that encircles Mt. Etna goes by and honks every few hours (Charming) and the view of Mt. Etna from this hotel is unsurpassed. SIMPLY A STUNNING VIEW - which is why you really want to be there anyway. ||It is our hope that they realize this could be a great hotel location, and though the money made on weddings is important to their business, if they could compartmentalize the weddings from the hotel guests somehow (perhaps another out building) it would make your experience and stay here better - and I bet hotel reservations would go up.||Despite the weddings - we would...

AMAZING VIEW OF MT. ETNA!! ||Just a few minutes north on main road from Bronte, this is a lovely hotel with a good restaurant.||* NOTE: They do weddings (A LOT!) so there is a possibility the quiet night you are expecting will NOT be quite at all - as there may be many guests walking around. Some previous posts saying there were loud music from a DJ until very late night - so check that BEFORE you book.|| Luckily on our stay the wedding was in the afternoon and early evening, so we did not enjoy the grounds in the daytime (we chose to go for a drive into smaller roads closer to Mt. Etna) but we did enjoy our time with a drink between 8pm-9pm before dinner. ||The hotel rooms are basic, not luxurious. We did have to change rooms as the toilet overflowed three times...which was nasty. (luckily as it was refilling). They did put us in a new room because of that - but no offer of compensation or even a glass of wine to make us feel better about it.||Bedding was fine. Towels were basic. Wifi was good. Service staff were all very nice especially the two younger women at the front desk - very kind. They even offered to take our picture. Free parking right by the place. there were safes in the room. ||We also ate at the restaurant which although the dining room is really too sterile, the service (by an older gentleman) was excellent and the food was really VERY good. Though once again, it has to be said, there was no charm to the dining room.||The grounds by the fountain with the big ball lights was lovely. The small train that encircles Mt. Etna goes by and honks every few hours (Charming) and the view of Mt. Etna from this hotel is unsurpassed. SIMPLY A STUNNING VIEW - which is why you really want to be there anyway. ||It is our hope that they realize this could be a great hotel location, and though the money made on weddings is important to their business, if they could compartmentalize the weddings from the hotel guests somehow (perhaps another out building) it would make your experience and stay here better - and I bet hotel reservations would go up.||Despite the weddings - we would...