Mangia’s Brucoli is a big, sporty, family-minded resort on a sheltered inlet on Sicily’s east coast, with Mount Etna on the horizon and Ortigia within easy driving distance. A 27 million euro renovation in 2023 turned a long-running holiday village into a five-star resort that now flies the Marriott Autograph Collection flag. My one-line verdict: arguably one of the best-equipped resorts in eastern Sicily for active families and tennis players, provided you are happy with a large resort rather than a historic palazzo.
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Quick facts: Mangia’s Brucoli, Sicily, Autograph Collection
- Location: Contrada Gisira, beside the fishing village of Brucoli in the municipality of Augusta, province of Syracuse, on the east coast of Sicily.
- Rooms and suites: 402 rooms in total, including suites and swim-up suites with a private pool section.
- Price level: upper mid to high, with an all-inclusive rate available alongside room-only and half board style options.
- Season: seasonal, closed in winter. Marriott states the resort will reopen in April 2027. Exact 2027 opening and closing dates are not yet published, so ask the hotel.
- Nearest airport: Catania Fontanarossa, about 39 km, or roughly 40 minutes by car.
- Best for: families with children of all ages, tennis and padel players, and couples who want sun, sport and easy day trips to Syracuse and Noto.
Check prices and availability
Swim-up suites and sea view rooms go first in July and August. Compare dates and board options before you commit.
Location and getting there
Brucoli is a small fishing village with an Aragonese castle at the mouth of its harbour channel, a few kilometres north of the industrial port town of Augusta. The resort sits just outside the village on a stretch of low rocky coast, set in roughly 18 hectares of Mediterranean gardens according to tour operator listings. A natural inlet shelters the shoreline, which keeps the sea calm on most summer days, and on clear mornings you can see Etna from the gardens and many of the rooms.
Getting here is refreshingly easy. Catania Fontanarossa airport is about 39 km away, roughly 40 minutes by car outside rush hour. Syracuse and the island of Ortigia are roughly 40 to 45 minutes south by road, Noto about an hour, and Taormina around an hour and a quarter north depending on traffic. Our guide to Catania airport transfers covers private drivers and car hire. A car is useful, since most of the sights are a short drive away.
One honest note: Augusta is home to one of Sicily’s largest industrial ports and refinery areas, which sit further south along the bay. You do not see them from the resort grounds, but you will drive past parts of them on the way to Syracuse.
Rooms and suites
With 402 rooms, this is a large resort. The rooms were redesigned during the 2023 works by the Madrid studio Estudio Caramba under Tomás Alía, in a light, contemporary style. The renovation announcement mentioned 69 suites and 16 swim-up suites; Marriott does not currently publish a category-by-category breakdown, so if a precise suite count matters to you, ask the hotel.
- Standard and Deluxe rooms: the core of the resort, with garden or sea views. Many have a small private garden or terrace.
- Premium rooms and suites: the most recently refreshed categories, set between the park and the low cliffs above the sea.
- Swim-Up Suite: around 47 m² with a terrace that steps straight into a private pool section, garden view. This is the category to book if you want something that feels more exclusive than the main resort.
All rooms have air conditioning, a smart TV and Wi-Fi. Confirm cots, extra beds and connecting rooms when you book. The resort accepts pets, one per room up to 10 kg, but the official listing shows the fee inconsistently (both per day and per stay), so ask the hotel for the current rule.
Dining
The main restaurant is buffet-led, and smaller venues add variety in the evening. The resort sells an “All-Inclusive Sublime” rate, which, according to the hotel, covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and drinks at the resort bars, but not room service or the minibar. Which à la carte venues are included, and how often, is not clearly published, so ask the hotel before you choose your board.
- Mediterra: the main restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a daily buffet, live cooking and some à la carte dishes.
- Donna Floriana: the group’s signature bistro, serving traditional Sicilian dishes with a modern touch, dinner only and closed on some weekdays.
- Kaigan Sushi Bar: local seafood prepared the Japanese way, with sea and Etna views. Smart casual dress.
- Al Grano: a wood-fired pizzeria, mainly for dinner, with weekend lunches in high season.
- Scausu: a grill for meat, fish and vegetables. In late 2026 Marriott listed it as temporarily closed, so check whether it is operating on your dates.
- Lime Bar and Riva’s Pool Club: drinks and light meals by day, with cocktails into the evening at Lime.
On Michelin: none of the resort’s restaurants appears in the Michelin Guide 2026 as far as I could find, and no head chef is named on the official pages. This is good resort dining, not a destination tasting menu. For a special evening, Augusta’s Capriccio is listed in the Michelin Guide 2026, and Ortigia has a far deeper restaurant scene.
Check rates at Mangia’s Brucoli
Spa and pools
Water is where the resort feels most generous. There are three outdoor pools: a main infinity pool facing the sea, a quieter adults-only pool, and a children’s pool with water slides. Slides come with height and age rules, so check them if you travel with small children. On the shore, the 2023 renovation added beach huts and sunbeds by the sea, and the press material describes a natural sea pool and a small secluded bay.
Do not expect sand. This is a rocky coastline with lawns running down to the water, so bring water shoes and treat the pools as the main event if you have toddlers.
Wellness is modest compared with the sport offer. The resort has a wellness centre with massage treatments and a Technogym gym, plus yoga sessions in season. It is not a destination spa with a large thermal area, so if a serious spa is high on your list, this is not the right choice.
Sport and activities
Sport is the real reason this resort stands out, and it is why Mangia’s Brucoli is one of our picks in the guide to tennis hotels in Sicily, where we name it the best choice for families.
Tennis and padel
There are six tennis courts and two padel courts, arguably one of the largest racquet set-ups at any resort on Sicily’s east coast. The official partner is the Sunball Tennis & Padel Academy, which runs individual, partner and group lessons, junior and teen coaching and tournaments, and offers racquet rental and sales. The hotel does not publish the court surface or whether courts are floodlit, and lesson prices are not online, so ask the hotel before you travel. In high summer, play early or late.
Everything else
- Team sports: a five-a-side football pitch and a basketball court, with beach volleyball and bocce mentioned in the renovation material.
- Running: a running path along the coast, ideal at sunrise.
- Water sports: sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding were listed at the 2023 relaunch. Availability depends on the season and the sea, so ask on arrival.
Kids and teens
Children are well looked after. The resort has a complimentary kids club with an outdoor playground, a teen club and babysitting on request. For 2026, Mangia’s announced a partnership with Worldwide Kids at its five-star family resorts, Brucoli among them, with a crèche from 4 months, a kids club for ages 4 to 12 and a teen club for 13 to 17. Exactly which of these age groups run at Brucoli, and in which months, was not spelled out, so confirm with the hotel.
What’s nearby
- Ortigia and Syracuse: the Greek Theatre, the Neapolis archaeological park and the island old town of Ortigia, with its cathedral built into a Greek temple. If you want to split your stay, see our guide on where to stay in Ortigia and Syracuse and our Ortea Palace review.
- Noto, Modica and Ragusa: the baroque towns of the Val di Noto are an easy day out. Our Sicily baroque road trip has a route.
- Mount Etna: the volcano you see from the gardens is a half-day trip by car, with wineries on its northern and eastern slopes.
Mangia’s Brucoli vs other Sicilian resorts
| Hotel | Location | Standout | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mangia’s Brucoli | Brucoli, east coast near Syracuse | 6 tennis and 2 padel courts, three pools, swim-up suites, kids and teen clubs | Active families, tennis and padel players |
| Verdura Resort | Sciacca, south-west coast | Golf on site, red clay tennis academy, large spa | Serious players and golfers |
| Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort | Castiglione di Sicilia, Etna | Golf course on the volcano’s slopes, wine country | Golfers and wine lovers |
| Grand Hotel Timeo | Taormina | Historic grand hotel beside the Greek Theatre | Couples and classic luxury |
In short: if tennis is the whole point and budget is flexible, Verdura on the other side of the island is the more polished sports resort, with golf as well. Mangia’s Brucoli wins on convenience for the east coast, family facilities and value, and it puts Ortigia and the baroque towns within easy reach.
Who it suits, and who it does not
It suits:
- Families who want a kids club, teen club, slide pool and an adults-only pool for the parents.
- Tennis and padel players who want to play every day with coaching on site.
- Travellers who like an all-inclusive option with several restaurants to rotate between.
- Anyone who wants a resort base for Syracuse, Noto and Etna, 40 minutes from Catania airport.
It does not suit:
- Couples looking for a small, quiet hideaway: with 402 rooms, this is a busy resort in summer.
- Beach lovers who want soft sand. The shore is rocky, with swimming from platforms and the inlet.
- Spa devotees. The wellness centre is fine for a massage but not for a spa holiday.
- Food lovers who want a Michelin-starred restaurant in-house.
- Winter travellers: the resort closes for the off-season.
Charlotte’s tip: go in June or September and book a swim-up suite
Aim for early June or September. The sea is warm, the courts are playable without the August heat, and the resort feels noticeably calmer outside the Italian school holidays. If the budget allows, the swim-up suites are the upgrade that changes the experience, giving you a private splash right outside the door when the main pools are busy.
Practical tips
- Booking: reserve tennis lessons, padel sessions and treatments when you book the room in July and August. Ask exactly what the all-inclusive rate covers, including which à la carte restaurants.
- Best rooms to request: a swim-up suite for privacy, a sea view room for Etna and the lighthouse, or a room with a private garden if you travel with small children.
- Season: the resort is seasonal and closed in winter. Previous seasons opened around the beginning of April, and Marriott says it reopens in April 2027. Some outlets, such as the pizzeria at lunch, run only in high summer.
- Dress: relaxed resort wear by day, smart casual for Kaigan and Donna Floriana in the evening.
- Kids: bring water shoes for the rocky shore, and confirm kids club ages and opening hours for your dates.
Check prices and availability
Compare room-only and all-inclusive rates, and check swim-up suite availability for the 2027 season as soon as dates open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mangia’s Brucoli open all year?
No. It is a seasonal resort that closes in winter. Marriott states it will reopen in April 2027. Ask the hotel for exact opening and closing dates.
Does Mangia’s Brucoli have a sandy beach?
Not in the classic sense. The resort sits on a rocky stretch of coast with a sheltered inlet, sunbeds and lawns by the sea. Most guests swim in the three pools or from the rocks.
How many tennis courts does Mangia’s Brucoli have?
Six tennis courts and two padel courts, with lessons, junior coaching and tournaments run by the Sunball Tennis & Padel Academy. Ask the hotel about surface and floodlights.
How far is the resort from Catania airport?
About 39 km, or roughly 40 minutes by car. Syracuse is around 40 to 45 minutes south.
