Hotel Villa Enrica - Aeolian Charme

Hotel Villa Enrica is at strada Serra Pirrera 11, in the Serra Pirrera district, the band of hillside at Santa Margherita that climbs behind the centre of Lipari, in the Aeolian archipelago. The property states that it is one kilometre from the port and from the main town: close enough to walk down, high enough to stay out of the noise. Around it lies a Mediterranean garden of citrus, almond and olive trees, and the house presents itself as a boutique hotel, much used for weddings, anniversaries and symbolic ceremonies. It belongs to the Aeolian Charme Collection, the group that also runs other hotels, restaurants and beach clubs on the island.

The rooms come in three types. The Classic rooms run from 19 to 29 square metres for two guests, the Superior from 18 to 23, the Junior Suites from 27 to 40 and sleep up to four. Two sea-view Superior rooms have an outdoor kitchenette, with the same services as the other hotel rooms, daily cleaning and breakfast included. Not every room has a sea view: the property makes clear that these are the types labelled front sea view, sea view or lateral sea view.

The pool is the strongest thing about the house. It is an infinity pool made up of two basins with hydromassage stations, looking out over the bay of Lipari, over the Castle and, in the distance, over the crater of Vulcano. Maximum depth is 1.30 metres and there is no lifeguard. Opening hours run from 9.00 to 20.00, and the pool opens and closes with the hotel's season. The water is not heated: the property states explicitly that there is no artificial heating and that the basin warms in the sun. Around it is a wide sun terrace with umbrellas and loungers, and pool towels are provided free of charge. There is no entertainment programme, and the house asks guests not to play ball games at the poolside. On wellness the property's answer is clear and negative: there is no spa and no gym, and for guests who want them it has arranged agreements with facilities elsewhere, to be booked before arrival.

The access rules need reading carefully. The figure on this page comes from the booking portal, which states that children of at least thirteen are welcome: below that threshold there is no admission. The official website publishes no age rule at all, and its own booking engine allows children to be entered in a request. Anyone travelling with a teenager around thirteen, or with a younger child, should therefore get the policy confirmed in writing before booking. Small pets are accepted on request at the time of booking, for a supplement of ten euros per day, excluding the Pool Front room category, and must be kept on a lead in the common areas such as the breakfast room and the pool area.

Parking is free, open-air and unattended. Breakfast is an international buffet served from 7.30 to 10.30, and in the summer months a snack bar operates at the poolside. There is no restaurant on site: dinner is taken at the partner restaurant Chimera, five hundred metres away, with a free shuttle and a ten per cent discount on the a la carte menu. Lipari charges no tourist tax because a landing fee is included in the ferry ticket instead. It suits anyone who wants a panoramic pool and quiet a short walk from the centre of Lipari. It suits less anyone looking for a spa, a gym or a restaurant inside the hotel.