Just in time for the much-anticipated return of the high season in southern Italy, San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel is now open. We have already reviewed San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel as well as outlining a few options to get a discount at this Four Seasons hotel.
Spoiler alert! To get the best deal or discount at a Four Seasons hotel, book via our luxury travel concierge. Our prices are identical to the offers on the Four Seasons website, but when you book with us, you’ll also benefit from our official Four Seasons partner agency perks, which are added in for free. We’re not cheaper than FourSeasons.com, we are the same price, but the free perks we offer are massively valuable.
We offer similar free upgrades, free breakfasts, and free perks at other luxury hotels, including Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria, Hyatt, Andaz, Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, InterContinental, and more.
With spectacular views in every direction, San Domenico Palace is uniquely situated between the majesty of Mount Etna above, the deep blue waters of the Ionian Sea below, and the beautiful south-eastern coast of Sicily as far as the eye can see.
With just 111 guest rooms and suites, the atmosphere is intimate, as though returning to a treasured friend’s seaside home each year. The most coveted room is the Royal Suite, with principal rooms all opening onto a large terrace and plunge pool with views of Mount Etna, the ancient Greek Theatre, and the Ionian Sea. Terraces are lined with glass for infinity views, and in all, there are 19 rooms with private plunge pools.
Built on the site of a 14th-century Dominican convent, the San Domenico Hotel first came to life in 1896 with the addition of a new building in Italian Liberty style (today’s Grand Hotel Wing) adjacent to accommodations converted from former quarters in the Ancient Convent Wing. It soon became a highlight on the Grand Tour, favored by royalty and nobility and increasingly, a colorful cast of artists, writers, and Hollywood stars. Set amid lush gardens reimagined by acclaimed Italian landscape architect Marco Bay with sweeping sea views, the Hotel pairs contemporary art with antiquities and architectural relics throughout.
Travelers will find that most of Sicily has reopened, from the designer shops and charming outdoor trattorias in the town of Taormina to artistic venues such as the steps-away ancient Greek Theatre, where a full calendar of musical performances is planned throughout summer. Beach clubs are open, with guests of Four Seasons receiving special access to one of the most popular clubs. The concierge team is happy to offer recommendations or arrange bespoke itineraries for guests who wish to explore, including wine tastings, scenic hikes, architecture and history tours, and boat excursions to the famous Grotta Azzura of Isola Bella with a chef-prepared picnic spread to enjoy along the way.
“We’ve also created a number of very special experiences for our guests, including day-long helicopter and yacht tours of the fascinating Aeolian Islands north of Sicily, including Panarea, Stromboli, and Salina,” says Assistant Chef Concierge Roberta Maria Cariola. “Within the Hotel, our Art Concierge will take guests on a journey through 700 years of art, architecture, and fascinating stories. Our Sala della Grande Madia, the former convent’s refectory, is now a gallery displaying San Domenico’s most important treasures.”
More to look forward to San Domenico Palace opens annually from April through to the end of October, with spring and fall offering milder weather and fewer crowds.
“The annual wine harvest on the Etna is always cause for celebration, and our concierge team can arrange opportunities for guests to join in the fun,” says Roberta. “In addition to trekking on Mount Etna, we recommend spring as the ideal time to explore other towns along the coast. In the port city of Catania, food lovers won’t want to miss the weekly fish market and the surrounding seafood restaurants. Further down the coast, Syracuse is known for its ancient ruins, with the Archaeological Park Neapolis in the center of town being a great place to start. Another lovely day trip – don’t worry, we’ll pack a lunch for you! – is Noto, with its historic palaces and Baroque cathedral.”
Buon Appetito: San Domenico Palace as a Culinary Destination. The rebirth of the San Domenico Palace also heralds the return of Principe Cerami to Sicily’s thriving culinary and viticulture scene, where Executive Chef Massimo Mantarro’s menu is inspired by the very land where he grew up on the slope of Mount Etna.
True to his roots but always experimenting, Chef Massimo’s genius can be savored best in his #FSMasterdish, pasta e seppia. This clever combination of fresh ingredients marries sea and earth in marinated cuttlefish tagliatelle perched atop homemade spaghetti with cuttlefish ink afloat courgette blossom fondue. Paired with a glass of local wine selected by Head Sommelier Alessandro Malfitana, it’s Sicily on a plate.
Additional dining experiences include Rosso, where a large terrace affords panoramic views of Mount Etna and Taormina Bay as a setting to enjoy local specialties and international classics, and the poolside Anciovi, where the menu celebrates the bounty of the sea, and where creative cocktails can be enjoyed long after the sun goes down. In the garden setting of Bar & Chiostro, drinks are best paired with light fare, including the must-try pennette served in the local “Norma” style with aubergine and ricotta cheese.
Not to be missed are the exquisite creations of Chef de Patisserie Vincenzo Abagnale, who joins Four Seasons following four years with Chef Mauro Colagreco at three Michelin-starred Mirazur in France, which was ranked #1 on the list of World’s Best Restaurants in 2019.
In a captivating setting that combines hundreds of years of history with the drama of an active volcano, events at San Domenico Palace are always memorable. Now, with the expert touch of Four Seasons event planners and the catering team, it’s a fantastic choice for inspired corporate retreats, fairy-tale weddings, or simply gathering family and friends for a much-needed reunion in the sun.
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