The newest Four Seasons hotel in Europe is the San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel on the Italian island of Sicily.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the world’s leading luxury hospitality company, together with Gruppo Statuto, one of the leading hotel development companies, have announced that the celebrated San Domenico Palace in Taormina is under an extensive renovation program and will be unveiled as San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel.
We have seen this kind of renovation program carried out before at other Four Seasons historic properties. The Four Seasons does an extraordinary job of bringing the rooms and the communal areas up to scratch while retaining the original features and romantic ambiance of the original buildings. A prime example of this is the superb Grand Hotel Du Cap Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel.
How Will This Hotel Compare?
We expect the transformation of this hotel to be dazzling. San Domenico Palace, formerly a member of Leading Hotels of the World, is ideally placed on Taormina’s hilltop town on the eastern shores of Sicily, overlooking the Bay of Taormina and the Ionian Sea.
The hotel is ideally positioned for local explorations, right next to Taormina’s maze of narrow medieval streets with their shops, bars, and restaurants, and a 10-minute walk to the hilltop town’s famous ancient Greek theatre.
The Hotel features multiple terraces with clear views of the surrounding waters, as well as Mount Etna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a beach club, lush gardens containing a pool, and several restaurants and bars, including the two-Michelin star restaurant, Principe Cerami.
It is worth mentioning that Four Seasons does romantic evenings on the terrace extremely well. Tinkling tunes hang in the air, immaculate gardens emanate scents into the warm evening air, and the staff caters to your every whim. An evening on the terrace of Grand Hotel Du Cap Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, is probably our favorite place to spend time in the world, and I have no doubt that an evening on the terrace at San Domenico Palace will be just as blissful.
The hotel itself comprises an ancient Dominican monastery from the 15th century and a Grand Hotel Wing that was added in 1896. Guest rooms and public spaces feature original architecture and facades from the historic building. A highlight of the rooms is their exclusive terraces, so you can step out and enjoy the sunshine on your own private sun lounger with views of the gardens and the sea.
In the morning, breakfast is served on the terrace. You can expect your usual exquisite Four Seasons buffet breakfast, but the fact that you will enjoy it outside with the view will make it taste even better.
Regarded as one of the most famous hotels in the world, San Domenico Palace welcomed notable guests, including Oscar Wilde, Elizabeth Taylor, and DH Lawrence, among many others. Along with idyllic natural surroundings, Taormina is also home to countless historical attractions, including an ancient Greek Theatre and the Corvaja Palace from the medieval era.
“San Domenico Palace is an extraordinary property in one of Italy’s most historic and charming destinations, and to extend our presence in the region with this iconic property is a privilege,” says John Davison, President and CEO, of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “Following many years of successful partnership with Gruppo Statuto through our hotel in Milan, it is an honor that they have chosen Four Seasons to manage this beautiful hotel, and we look forward to collaborating on this new project and welcoming guests to a new Four Seasons experience at the San Domenico Palace.”
San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel, will be led by Lorenzo Maraviglia as General Manager. Lorenzo joined Four Seasons in 2015 at Four Seasons Resort Dubai Jumeirah Beach as the Director of Food and Beverage before moving to Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre as Hotel Manager. Lorenzo has been on the ground in Taormina for the past several months, overseeing the Hotel’s preopening and building a team to soon welcome guests to the newest Four Seasons experience in Italy.
Following extensive renovations, the Hotel will reopen with 111 guest rooms and suites, a new beach club and restaurant, the two-Michelin star restaurant, Principe Cerami, and enhancements to the current facilities and public areas. The Hotel will also include a state-of-the-art spa with seven treatment rooms, an indoor pool, and a Turkish bath. Guests can look forward to exceptional service and updated amenities when visiting San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel while retaining the atmosphere and allure of the Hotel’s historic surroundings.
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