Il Picciolo Etna Golf
Sicily's oldest course and the island's first eighteen, opened in 1989 to a Luigi Rota Caremoli design on the dark volcanic slopes of Mount Etna. A par 72 of about 6,430 yards runs through vineyards and hazelnut groves with the smoking summit above and the Ionian Sea below.
Photo: Picciolo Etna Golf Resort and Spa via Google.
The verdict
Il Picciolo holds a place in Italian golf history as the first eighteen hole course built in Sicily, opened in 1989 to a design by Luigi Rota Caremoli, and it remains the most characterful golf on the island. The setting is the draw: the course climbs the northern flank of Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe, on the dark, mineral rich soil that also grows the Etna wines, with the snow capped or smoking summit on one horizon and the Ionian coast toward Taormina on the other.
The golf itself is honest, scenic resort parkland rather than a brutal championship test, a par 72 of about 6,430 yards that asks for placement and a feel for the slope more than raw power. With a comfortable hotel and spa now wrapped around it under the Curio Collection by Hilton banner, Il Picciolo works best as a relaxed, sun and scenery golf base, the eastern Sicily counterpart to a beach and culture holiday in Taormina.
Il Picciolo at a glance
- Designer
- Luigi Rota Caremoli
- Opened
- 1989
- Type
- Volcanic parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,430 yds
- Region
- Mount Etna, Sicily
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the resort and leading course databases. Il Picciolo was designed by Luigi Rota Caremoli and opened in 1989 as the first eighteen in Sicily; it plays to par 72 of about 6,430 yards. The course is open to visitors and hotel guests, and green fees in 2026 are indicatively in the region of 60 to 90 euros, with resort stay and play packages available. Always confirm the current fee and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
What makes Il Picciolo memorable is the ground it is built on. The fairways tumble across the volcanic shelf in a series of changes in elevation, so stance and lie are rarely flat and judging the run of the ball on the firm, free draining soil becomes part of the challenge. Old hazelnut trees, vines and the occasional weathered lava wall frame the holes, and almost every tee offers a view, either up to the great cone of Etna or down toward the sea.
The short holes are the highlight, played across folds in the terrain to greens cut into the hillside, where club selection has to account for the slope and the mountain breeze as much as the yardage. The longer holes reward a player who keeps the ball in play and uses the contours, rather than one who simply hits it hard; this is a course to think your way around and to enjoy for its setting as much as its scorecard.
It is walkable for the fit, but many take a buggy to enjoy the views and save the legs on the climbs, and the round is best taken at a relaxed pace with the camera close to hand.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course open to visiting golfers and hotel guests; tee times are straightforward to book and stay and play packages are common |
| Green fee | Published seasonally; indicatively in the region of 60 to 90 euros in 2026, with twilight and package rates lower |
| Booking | Reserve ahead in spring and autumn, the most popular Sicily golf seasons; the resort can bundle rooms, golf and spa |
| On the day | 18 holes of volcanic parkland; walkable for the fit, buggies recommended for the climbs; hotel, spa, restaurant and pro shop on site |
| Getting there | Near Castiglione di Sicilia on the slopes of Etna, about an hour from Catania airport and within easy reach of Taormina |
| Best months | March to June and September to November; summer is playable but hot, so early tee times are wise |
Access and fee structure verified June 2026; green fees change by season, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The simplest plan is to stay at the resort itself, where the hotel and spa sit beside the first tee and a stay and play package keeps everything in one place. For a richer trip, most golfers split their nights between Etna and Taormina, the cliff top town half an hour away whose Greek theatre, terraces and beaches give the holiday its culture and its evenings.
Catania, the lively baroque city on the coast, makes an easy arrival and departure point, and the Etna wine road on the doorstep is a memorable non golfing day. Il Picciolo is the only true championship eighteen on this side of the island, so it tends to anchor an eastern Sicily trip rather than form part of a multi course tour.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Il Picciolo Etna Golf.
Build a Sicily golf trip
We book Il Picciolo and the best of southern Italy, pair the golf with Etna, Taormina and the wine and food of Sicily and arrange the lodging around it. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Il Picciolo questions
Who designed Il Picciolo Etna Golf and when did it open?
Il Picciolo was designed by Luigi Rota Caremoli and opened in 1989 as the first eighteen hole championship course in Sicily, on the northern slopes of Mount Etna.
What is the par and length of the course?
Il Picciolo Etna Golf plays to par 72 of about 6,430 yards from the back tees, a parkland and resort layout on volcanic terrain between vineyards and hazelnut groves.
Can visitors play Il Picciolo?
Yes. Il Picciolo is a resort course open to visitors and hotel guests, and tee times are straightforward to book. Green fees are published seasonally, so confirm rates and availability directly before booking.
Where is Il Picciolo and how do I get there?
It sits near Castiglione di Sicilia on the slopes of Etna, about an hour from Catania airport and within easy reach of Taormina, an easy base for an eastern Sicily golf trip.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.