Filippo's description is exactly what we got. We liked the idea of staying somewhere that we could relax in, be in an area where we could take a step back to but be close to other reasons that we wanted to go to Sicily for. We got all of this in Filippo's apartment in Giardini. We could sit of an evening watching the passengerie, as the people walked along the pavement beside the beach and the locals drove along the beachside road proudly showing off the prized cars. We were a short walk from the Lido's where we were able to relax and enjoy the sun and, in 15 minutes, by public transport, we were up in the magnificent Taormina. Also close was the Railway Station from which we went to the beautiful Syracusa and Catania.
Yes, loved it all, we would definitely recommend both Filippo's apartment and Sicily itself