Luxury Travel

San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel (Sicily)

October 11, 2023

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Wednesday newsletters at all times characteristic a lodge or flight overview.

Today: Review of San Domenico Palace, Taormina a Four Seasons Hotel (Sicily, Italy)

Perched on a rocky promontory excessive above the Ionian Sea, San Domenico Palace welcomes its company to a 14th-century convent with panoramic views of Mount Etna and the traditional Greek theater. Following an intensive renovation, the long-lasting property reopened as a Four Seasons lodge in 2021. The magnificent resort enjoys an idyllic location within the hilltop city of Taormina on the japanese shores of Sicily, overlooking the Ionian Sea. The lodge contains an historical Dominican convent from the 14th century, in addition to a Grand Hotel Wing that was added in 1896. The 111 visitor rooms and suites characteristic unique structure and classy furnishings. Facilities embrace an onsite spa, an out of doors infinity pool, magnificent Italian gardens, and several other bars & eating places, together with the Michelin star restaurant Principe Cerami. The fabulous lodge was used because the setting for season two of the hit HBO present The White Lotus.

San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel options in my high 10 lists of the greatest luxurious resorts in Italy, the greatest luxurious resorts in Sicily, and the greatest resorts made well-known by Hollywood films & TV reveals.

Have you ever stayed at San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel? If so, what was your expertise? Leave a remark.

In this overview (extra data and photographs under my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel is one probably the most luxurious properties in Sicily, the most important island within the Mediterranean Sea. Sitting proper off the underside of the Italian mainland, Sicily is a unprecedented island filled with pure riches and cultural landmarks. Mother Nature has bestowed a various pure panorama upon the island, from mountains, bays, seashores, canyons and rivers to the Etna volcano with its fertile soil. Three Mediterranean seas meet round Sicily – the Tyrrhenian, the Ionian and the Sicilian Canal – making a spectacle of shades of the blue and inexperienced. The island has tons of of seashores of sand or pebbles, usually framed by majestic cliffs. It can be a cradle of Mediterranean tradition – a land that has been influenced by many cultures from Ancient Greek and Roman to Islamic-Arab, Norman and Spanish. It is dwelling to a plethora of architectural and inventive treasures, lots of that are UNESCO World Heritage websites.

San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel is situated in Taormina, a spectacular clifftop village on Sicily’s east coast. In the 1800s, after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe praised the fantastic thing about the village in his guide Italian Journey, Taormina turned a well-liked vacation spot for painters, together with French and German vacationers who had been attracted by the city’s repute for sexual freedom and wild events. The village additionally turned a compulsory cease on the Grand Tour – the lengthy journey made in continental Europe by the younger European aristocracy of the time to counterpoint their very own tradition. Since then many celebrities visited Taormina, and D.H. Lawrence, Truman Capote, Oscar Wilde and Greta Garbo all spent pleased moments right here (extra on that under). Today, Taormina is the vacationer capital of Sicily with guests marvelling on the vibrant colors of the ocean and sky, the traditional monuments and the majestic views of Mount Etna, Europe’s most lively volcano.

One of Europe’s most storied resorts, San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel has a wealthy historical past. Its origins attain again to the yr 1203, with the founding of the Dominican spiritual order by Saint Dominic in Toulouse, France. One of a very powerful spiritual organisations within the historical past of the Catholicism, the order unfold throughout Europe, resulting in the institution of a San Dominican convent in Taormina in 1374. In 1866, greater than 400 years later, the convent was remodeled right into a lodge by the constructing’s new proprietor, Prince Cerami (for whom Principe Cerami restaurant is called). In 1896, he added a big wing within the Liberty architectural model, creating one among Europe’s first grand resorts. Capitalising on the celebrity of Taormina, the lodge quickly discovered success, changing into one of the famend locations on the planet. Since 2021, the property has begun a brand new period as a Four Seasons lodge, promising to proceed its legendary repute for a brand new era.

San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel is a large property which is comprised of two adjoining buildings: a Garden Wing from the unique medieval monastery and the Grand Hotel Wing, added in 1896. The entrance of the lodge faces the village whereas the again of the property runs all the way down to the cliff’s edge overlooking the ocean. In between are the visitor rooms and suites, the lodge’s three eating places and bars, health club, spa, gardens and out of doors pool space. Guests enter the property through a statue-filled courtyards that results in an intimate foyer with a vaulted ceiling. Beyond the foyer is a maze of nave-like hallways, impeccably restored lounges and two historical cloisters, the place one may simply get misplaced whereas wandering and exploring. Medieval work, frescos, and statues in addition to interval architectural particulars, akin to columns and arcades are a relentless reminder of the lodge’s earlier life as a hub of artwork, tradition and faith. The former convent eating room even serves as a gallery-esque show of the works.

The social middle of the lodge is the Grand Cloister, Bar & Chiostro, which serves because the welcome level for company upon arrival, an all-day eating space and an enthralling aperitivo setting. The venue is comprised of three adjoining areas: a formidable indoor bar with piano, the place a number of the White Lotus’ most well-known scenes befell (extra on that under); a powerful lounge space the place a Fifteenth-century wood apothecary cupboard and a spectacular floral show take middle stage; and the Grand Cloister, an out of doors cloistered courtyard that includes palm bushes, unique vegetation and flowers. Here, company can take pleasure in an ideal atmosphere at nightfall, and the venue’s cocktail listing intrigues with references to the lodge’s historical past. Take for instance Gelosia e Mandolino (“Jealousy and Mandolin”) with Vodka Giovi and purple garlic and oregano distillate, a reference to a legendary episode that befell between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in 1967. During one among their stays on the lodge the pair had such a livid quarrel that Taylor allegedly broke a mandolin over Burton’s head.

San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel boasts a magnificent design, with two ladies taking part in a key function within the constructing’s multimillion greenback makeover: architect Valentina Pisani, who oversaw the design of each the inside and out of doors areas, and Rosaria Catania Cucchiara, head of the historic restoration challenge. The lodge’s interiors characteristic a up to date model, balanced with historic structure, frescoes, and unique relics from the convent. Light colours and impartial tones are sometimes peppered by vivid colors, such because the coral purple in the principle corridor. Smoked mirrors and bronze particulars enrich the areas, as does using prestigious supplies, akin to marble from Patagonia for the rooms, marble from Breccia Carrara for the loos, and Modica stone flooring within the reception space mixed with black marble from Port Laurent in Morocco. Contemporary art work can be on show, together with Georgian artist Sophie Koe’s set up created from Mount Etna ash.

San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel options 111 visitor rooms, 43 of that are suites (some with non-public terraces and plunge swimming pools). The rooms within the historic monastery wing are onerous to beat for sense of place and environment; a few of these rooms even served as monks’ cells up to now. In the Nineteenth-century wing, which was added when the constructing turned a lodge, rooms have a extra up to date really feel. During my go to, I stayed in a sea-view premium room with terrace within the new wing. The room got here with a king-sized mattress, a settee with espresso desk, a closet, a toilet with a bathe, and a terrace balcony with a surprising views of the ocean. The room’s fashionable decor paid homage to the lodge’s storied previous. Welcome facilities within the room included a bowl of fruit, a bottle of glowing wine, water, a guide about Taormina, and a complimentary chocolate deal with that was designed within the form of the Teatro Greco, the traditional theater in Taormina.

The actual wow issue of San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel comes whenever you step out of the monastery constructing into the magnificent Italian backyard designed by panorama architect Marco Bei. The Alto Giardino (excessive backyard) remembers an impressionist portray with brushstrokes of lilac, mild blue, white and silver. Russian sage (salvia subgenus perovskia), lilac hibiscus (alyogyne), society garlic (tulbaghia violacea) and gaura develop in numerous heights in a jumble of choreographed wildness. An Italian backyard can’t be termed such with out that includes citrus bushes, and due to this fact, the lodge’s backyard includes a myriad varieties – 40 to be exact – starting from lemons, mandarins, grapefruit to calamondin, often known as miniature orange bushes. A mattress of white Mexican daisies (erigeron karvinskianus) enhances the intense colours of the citrus, whereas frangipani (genus plumeria) and orange blossoms give off an intoxicating perfume.

The lush backyard results in an insanely stunning infinity pool on a cliff overlooking the infinite blue of the Ionian Sea, with Mount Etna standing beautifully to the suitable whereas Taormina’s Ancient Theater frames the view from the left. The colours of the pool’s tiles come within the shades of the ocean from blue to inexperienced, every in a barely totally different hue in order that the pool blends completely with the Ionian Sea and the sky. During my go to, the lodge’s iconic pool space was decked out in Dolce&Gabbana’s “Blu Mediterraneo” motif, a deep blue and white sample impressed by majolica pottery. Deeply rooted within the Italian south, this motif pays homage to Italy’s heritage in craftsmanship. The takeover concerned a spread of merchandise from Dolce&Gabbana together with umbrellas, towels, cushions, pillows, cabanas, trays, coasters and different ornamental objects. The setup additionally included a Granita Trolley wearing blue and white from which the lodge’s company may take pleasure in an icy granita in basic flavours akin to almond, espresso and lemon.

The culinary crew of San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel is led by Sicilian-born Executive Chef Massimo Mantarro, whose signature model is showcased on the property’s two glorious eating places:
- Principe Cerami is the lodge’s signature restaurant, awarded with one Michelin star. It is called after Sicilian nobleman Prince Domenico Rosso di Cerami, who inherited the convent round 1866, creating the circumstances for it to turn out to be a Hotel in 1896. Here you may take pleasure in a culinary journey, curated by chef Mantarr, who presents quintessential Sicilian delicacies showcasing native components and traditions. Guests can take pleasure in their meal exterior, on the restaurant’s spectacular terrace overlooking Taormina Bay, or inside, surrounded by the grandeur and magnificence of the principle eating room.
- Though it affords a extra laid-back and informal eating expertise in comparison with its Michelin-starred counterpart, Anciovi – the lodge’s second restaurant – retains the Four Seasons’ signature hallmark of painstaking consideration to element. Located proper subsequent to the pool, overlooking the ocean, the venue affords mild dishes highlighting Mediterranean seafood, together with a uncooked bar, Sicilian sushi and sharing plates. Anciovi is open for lunch and dinner.

When you keep at San Domenico Palace, a Four Season Hotel, you’ll comply with within the footsteps of many celebrities, together with film stars, writers, presidents and royals. Some examples:
- Among the primary company to remain the lodge had been enterprise tycoons akin to John Pierpont Morgan Junior and the second Baron Rothschild, in addition to celebrated writers, together with Oscar Wilde, Anatole France and Thomas Mann, the German writer of Death in Venice.
- The writer D.H. Lawrence and his spouse had been company at San Domenico Palace within the early Twenties, and the story was apparently impressed by a sexual liaison between Lawrence’s spouse and a neighborhood donkey driver.
- After World War II, San Domenico Palace once more turned a gathering place for intellectuals akin to Henry Miller, Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams. The lodge additionally served as a trendy place to see and be seen for the movie and theatre world. A Los Angeles newspaper described Taormina as a “Disneyland of sin” – and Americans arrived in droves.
- Hidden behind the pseudonym of Miss Harriet Brown, Greta Garbo visited San Domenico Place incognito, whereas she stayed at a close-by villa for 29 years of holidays in Taormina. Other film stars got here to the lodge hoping to satisfy Garbo, together with Joan Crawford and Marlene Dietrich – however she denied their each strategy. Countless starlets had been drawn by the lodge’s magical social whirlwind, amongst them Ingrid Bergman, Maria Callas, Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth, Sophia Loren and Anna Magnani.
- Author Vladimir Nabokov stayed at San Domenico Palace in 1956 in the course of the city’s movie pageant, the place the film of his novel Lolita was screened to nice success. About Taormina, he declared, “Discovering it was the greatest emotion of my life.”
- The early Sixties introduced visits by Audrey Hepburn and England’s Princess Margaret. The most well-known cinematic couple of the period, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, got here to San Domenico Palace for a romantic escape after assembly in the course of the filming of Cleopatra in 1963.
- More well-known company adopted within the subsequent many years because the lodge’s repute flourished. Roberto Benigni and Walter Matthau stayed right here whereas capturing the 1988 Italian movie, The Little Devil, and the 1988 French movie, The Big Blue, directed by Luc Besson, was filmed partly at San Domenico Palace.
- Politicians have additionally performed a task within the lodge’s historical past. In 1999, George and Barbara Bush held a luncheon for 60 pals on the lodge, whereas holidaying on a yacht. In May 2017, San Domenico Palace hosted world political leaders throughout a G7 summit assembly, furthering the lodge’s repute as a world gathering place.

Though San Domenico Palace has stood proudly upon the rugged cliffs of Sicily’s east coast for hundreds of years – even withstanding a horrific bombing throughout World War II – it solely rose to worldwide fame in 2022 due to the second season of Mike White’s critically acclaimed collection The White Lotus. The super-rich characters within the collection had scandalous affairs and induced loads of drama whereas vacationing on the Sicilian luxurious resort. The present – which I extremely advocate in case you haven’t seen it but – was so well-liked that it put Sicily, and particularly, Taormina, on the world stage. For a very good a part of the filming within the winter of 2022, the collection’ solid and crew – together with the fantastic Jennifer Coolidge – had the glamorous five-star lodge all to themselves. The resort’s genuine decor and actual vibe may be very a lot much like what you see and really feel in The White Lotus, so if you’re a fan of the collection, you’ll love an in a single day keep right here.

San Domenico Palace is managed by Four Seasons, in all probability the perfect recognized luxurious lodge model on the planet. The Toronto-based firm has remodeled the hospitality trade in a story of continuous innovation, outstanding growth and a single-minded dedication to the very best of requirements. Four Seasons was based in 1960 by the younger architect Isadore Sharp, however the actual breakthrough of the model got here within the seventies with the opening of the Four Seasons London. Although the corporate went public in 1986, the Sharp household – together with a gaggle of like-minded buyers akin to Bill Gates and Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal – took the corporate non-public once more in 2007 to guard the integrity of the model properly into the long run. Four Seasons at the moment manages greater than 120 resorts and resorts worldwide. The firm additionally affords non-public jet journey onboard its personal Airbus A321 (with Business Class structure), and can quickly launch non-public ultra-luxe yacht itineraries.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

While situated in a wonderful backyard setting and having fun with a powerful view, the lodge’s swimming pool is a bit on the small aspect. Also, there are solely a restricted variety of solar loungers accessible across the pool and most of them are taken by early morning, which could be irritating (remember that the resort has 111 rooms and there are lower than 40 sunbeds on the pool deck). That stated, there are dozens extra of solar loungers on the terrace one flooring above the pool (known as the solarium), which nonetheless provide superb views of the Ionian Sea (however the setting shouldn’t be as spectacular as in comparison with the front-row seats on the pool).

San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel doesn’t have its personal seashore membership, however the property does collaborate with the three greatest seashore golf equipment within the space of Taormina: Nuova Spiaggia Paradoso, La Caravella and Caparena. A day on the seashore gained’t come low cost although: the charges at these seashore golf equipment vary from 80 euro (for 2 sunbeds) to 400 euros (for a cabanna) per day and a switch from the lodge to the seashore membership (which takes round 15 to 25 minutes) will price you round 25 euro every approach (shuttles are organized by the seashore membership). This is a distinction with the one different luxurious lodge on the town – Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo (which I reviewed right here), whose company have complimentary entry to the seashore of its sister property Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea (together with a free shuttle experience). I’d be good if San Domenico Palace would open its personal Taormina seashore membership within the close to future (with Four Seasons requirements).

The lodge spa is fairly small for a property of this caliber. There are solely 3 remedy rooms tucked away deep within the corridors of the Grand Hotel Wing and there are not any different wellness services. It is my understanding although that San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel is at the moment constructing a brand new spa, which is able to open subsequent season.

San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel doesn’t have a youngsters solely space, so whenever you go to the property in the course of the faculty holidays (which was the case throughout my keep), you may need to share the pool space with households with younger kids (and whenever you’re a bit unfortunate, the kids may take over the pool for the reason that pool shouldn’t be that huge, probably ruining the tranquil expertise you had been wanting ahead to). IMHO, the lodge’s services and atmosphere doesn’t cater properly to households with younger kids and I’d recommendation Four Seasons to think about making San Domenico Palace an adult-only retreat (or at the least implementing an age restrict for kids, for instance 10 years or older) to ensure a tranquil and serene ambiance in all company areas).

As already talked about above, San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel is the playground of the actors within the massively well-liked collection The White Lotus. The lodge is as a lot a star of the present as its solid of Hollywood and Italian A-listers and the vibe of the actual Four Seasons Hotel matches its fictional White Lotus counterpart. That stated, for those who’ve watched the collection, it’s essential to notice that there just a few discrepancies between what’s proven within the collection and the actual lodge. First, as already talked about, San Domenico Palace doesn’t have its personal seashore membership (the collection’ seashore membership scenes had been shot on the village of Cefalu in northern, Sicily, a 2 hour drive from Taormina). Second, company within the collection arrive by boat, however in actuality, the resort, which is perched 400 m (1300 ft) atop Taormina’s excessive rocky plateau, has no sea entry. And final, a number of the collection’ pool scenes weren’t filmed at close by Unahotels Capotaormin, a 4-star resort which includes a breathtaking sea-front infinity pool carved into the cliffs.

Due to The White Lotus, San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel has turn out to be word-famous and immensely well-liked in only a few weeks time. The property is so well-liked that it at the moment sells out a number of months upfront. For instance, a number of weeks are already unavailable for the 2024 summer season season, so good look discovering a lodge room right here. Also, due to its recognition, the lodge is astronomically costly, with room charges in excessive season beginning at a number of 1000’s of euros per evening. That stated, whenever you do discover an accessible room and are keen to pay the excessive charge, you may be rewarded with an excellent White Lotus-esque expertise.

MY VERDICT

Location: 10/10
Design: 10/10
Pool: 9/10
Rooms: 8/10
Food: 10/10
Breakfast: 9/10
Spa: 7/10
Service: 9/10
Wow issue: 10/10
Value for cash: 7/10
Overall expertise: distinctive 9/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Save cash: get complimentary VIP perks at San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel when reserving your keep through Virtuoso (e.g. room improve, day by day breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD meals & beverage credit score).

Save cash: learn right here my ideas for getting the perfect deal at a luxurious lodge like San Domenico Palace, Taormine, a Four Seasons Hotel (and/or obtain many free perks).

Room tip: for a way of place, I like to recommend to guide at room or suite within the historic convent.

Read my ideas for making ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The greatest time to go to Sicily is from May to June or September to October. These late spring and early fall months are each thought of shoulder seasons, and provide comfy temperatures and principally sunny days, ultimate for temple gazing, seashore lazing or climbing. If you guide a July or August trip, you’ll should take care of plenty of crowds, excessive costs and the most popular temperatures of the yr.

HOW TO GET THERE

San Domenico Palace, Taormine, a Four Seasons Hotel is a 50 minute drive from Catania Airport Fontanarossa (CTA) and a 3-hour drive from Palermo Falcone-Borsellino Airport (PMO). Both airports are served by a number of European airways, particularly in the course of the summer season season.

PHOTOS

Below is a number of my photographs of San Domenico Palace, Taormine, a Four Seasons Hotel. To view extra photographs (together with breakfast in addition to dinner on the Michelin starred restaurant), click on right here.