San Domenico Palace, a 4 Seasons Lodge (Sicily)

October 11, 2023

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

Right now: Assessment of San Domenico Palace, Taormina a 4 Seasons Lodge (Sicily, Italy)

Perched on a rocky promontory excessive above the Ionian Sea, San Domenico Palace welcomes its visitors to a 14th-century convent with panoramic views of Mount Etna and the traditional Greek theater. Following an in depth renovation, the enduring property reopened as a 4 Seasons lodge in 2021. The magnificent resort enjoys an idyllic location within the hilltop city of Taormina on the jap shores of Sicily, overlooking the Ionian Sea. The lodge contains an historic Dominican convent from the 14th century, in addition to a Grand Lodge Wing that was added in 1896. The 111 visitor rooms and suites characteristic unique structure and trendy furnishings. Services embody an onsite spa, an out of doors infinity pool, magnificent Italian gardens, and a number of 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 4 Seasons Lodge options in my high 10 lists of the finest luxurious resorts in Italy, the finest luxurious resorts in Sicily, and the finest resorts made well-known by Hollywood films & TV reveals.

Have you ever ever stayed at San Domenico Palace, a 4 Seasons Lodge? If that’s the case, what was your expertise? Go away a remark.

On this overview (extra data and pictures beneath my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

San Domenico Palace, a 4 Seasons Lodge is one essentially the most luxurious properties in Sicily, the biggest 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. Mom Nature has bestowed a diversified 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, typically framed by majestic cliffs. Additionally it is a cradle of Mediterranean tradition – a land that has been influenced by many cultures from Historic Greek and Roman to Islamic-Arab, Norman and Spanish. It’s residence to a plethora of architectural and inventive treasures, lots of that are UNESCO World Heritage websites.

San Domenico Palace, a 4 Seasons Lodge is positioned in Taormina, a spectacular clifftop village on Sicily’s east coast. Within the 1800s, after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe praised the fantastic thing about the village in his e-book 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 complement their very own tradition. Since then many celebrities visited Taormina, and D.H. Lawrence, Truman Capote, Oscar Wilde and Greta Garbo all spent glad moments right here (extra on that beneath). Right now, 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 among Europe’s most storied resorts, San Domenico Palace, a 4 Seasons Lodge has a wealthy historical past. Its origins attain again to the 12 months 1203, with the founding of the Dominican spiritual order by Saint Dominic in Toulouse, France. Some of the essential 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 fashion, creating one in all Europe’s first grand resorts. Capitalising on the celebrity of Taormina, the lodge quickly discovered success, turning into one of the vital famend locations on the planet. Since 2021, the property has begun a brand new period as a 4 Seasons lodge, promising to proceed its legendary repute for a brand new technology.

San Domenico Palace, a 4 Seasons Lodge is a big property which is comprised of two adjoining buildings: a Backyard Wing from the unique medieval monastery and the Grand Lodge 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. Visitors enter the property through a statue-filled courtyards that results in an intimate foyer with a vaulted ceiling. Past the foyer is a maze of nave-like hallways, impeccably restored lounges and two historic cloisters, the place one may simply get misplaced whereas wandering and exploring. Medieval work, frescos, and statues in addition to interval architectural particulars, similar to columns and arcades are a relentless reminder of the lodge’s earlier life as a hub of artwork, tradition and faith. The previous convent eating room even serves as a gallery-esque show of the works.

The social heart of the lodge is the Grand Cloister, Bar & Chiostro, which serves because the welcome level for visitors upon arrival, an all-day eating space and an enthralling aperitivo setting. The venue is comprised of three adjoining areas: a powerful indoor bar with piano, the place a number of the White Lotus’ most well-known scenes befell (extra on that beneath); a powerful lounge space the place a Fifteenth-century picket apothecary cupboard and a spectacular floral show take heart stage; and the Grand Cloister, an out of doors cloistered courtyard that includes palm timber, unique vegetation and flowers. Right here, visitors can take pleasure in an incredible atmosphere at nightfall, and the venue’s cocktail record 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. Throughout one in all 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 4 Seasons Lodge boasts a magnificent design, with two ladies enjoying 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 mission. The lodge’s interiors characteristic a up to date fashion, balanced with historic structure, frescoes, and unique relics from the convent. Gentle colours and impartial tones are sometimes peppered by vivid colors, such because the coral purple in the primary corridor. Smoked mirrors and bronze particulars enrich the areas, as does using prestigious supplies, similar to marble from Patagonia for the rooms, marble from Breccia Carrara for the bogs, and Modica stone flooring within the reception space mixed with black marble from Port Laurent in Morocco. Up to date paintings can also be on show, together with Georgian artist Sophie Koe’s set up made out of Mount Etna ash.

San Domenico Palace, a 4 Seasons Lodge 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 exhausting to beat for sense of place and ambiance; a few of these rooms even served as monks’ cells previously. Within the Nineteenth-century wing, which was added when the constructing turned a lodge, rooms have a extra modern really feel. Throughout 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 shocking views of the ocean. The room’s trendy 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 e-book about Taormina, and a complimentary chocolate deal with that was designed within the form of the Teatro Greco, the traditional theater in Taormina.

The true wow issue of San Domenico Palace, a 4 Seasons Lodge comes while you step out of the monastery constructing into the magnificent Italian backyard designed by panorama architect Marco Bei. The Alto Giardino (excessive backyard) recollects 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 several heights in a jumble of choreographed wildness. An Italian backyard can’t be termed such with out that includes citrus timber, and subsequently, the lodge’s backyard contains a myriad varieties – 40 to be exact – starting from lemons, mandarins, grapefruit to calamondin, also referred to as miniature orange timber. 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 plush 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 fitting whereas Taormina’s Historic 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 completely different hue in order that the pool blends completely with the Ionian Sea and the sky. Throughout 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 variety 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 visitors may take pleasure in an icy granita in basic flavours similar to almond, espresso and lemon.

The culinary staff of San Domenico Palace, a 4 Seasons Lodge is led by Sicilian-born Govt Chef Massimo Mantarro, whose signature fashion is showcased on the property’s two glorious eating places:
- Principe Cerami is the lodge’s signature restaurant, awarded with one Michelin star. It’s named after Sicilian nobleman Prince Domenico Rosso di Cerami, who inherited the convent round 1866, creating the circumstances for it to turn into a Lodge in 1896. Right here you may take pleasure in a culinary journey, curated by chef Mantarr, who presents quintessential Sicilian delicacies showcasing native components and traditions. Visitors can take pleasure in their meal outdoors, on the restaurant’s spectacular terrace overlooking Taormina Bay, or inside, surrounded by the grandeur and class of the primary eating room.
- Although 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 4 Seasons’ signature hallmark of painstaking consideration to element. Positioned 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.

Whenever you keep at San Domenico Palace, a 4 Season Lodge, you’ll observe within the footsteps of many celebrities, together with film stars, writers, presidents and royals. Some examples:
- Among the many first visitors to remain the lodge had been enterprise tycoons similar 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 creator of Loss of life in Venice.
- The creator D.H. Lawrence and his spouse had been visitors at San Domenico Palace within the early Twenties, and the story was apparently impressed by a sexual liaison between Lawrence’s spouse and an area donkey driver.
- After World Struggle II, San Domenico Palace once more turned a gathering place for intellectuals similar 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 People 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. Different film stars got here to the lodge hoping to satisfy Garbo, together with Joan Crawford and Marlene Dietrich – however she denied their each strategy. Numerous 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.
- Creator Vladimir Nabokov stayed at San Domenico Palace in 1956 throughout 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 best emotion of my life.”
- The early Sixties introduced visits by Audrey Hepburn and England’s Princess Margaret. Essentially 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 throughout the filming of Cleopatra in 1963.
- Extra well-known visitors 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 Satan, and the 1988 French movie, The Massive 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 Might 2017, San Domenico Palace hosted world political leaders throughout a G7 summit assembly, furthering the lodge’s repute as a global gathering place.

Although 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 Struggle II – it solely rose to worldwide fame in 2022 due to the second season of Mike White’s critically acclaimed sequence The White Lotus. The super-rich characters within the sequence had scandalous affairs and precipitated loads of drama whereas vacationing on the Sicilian luxurious resort. The present – which I extremely suggest in case you haven’t seen it but – was so fashionable 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 sequence’ 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 could be very a lot much like what you see and really feel in The White Lotus, so if you’re a fan of the sequence, you’ll love an in a single day keep right here.

San Domenico Palace is managed by 4 Seasons, most likely the most effective identified 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 best of requirements. 4 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 4 Seasons London. Though the corporate went public in 1986, the Sharp household – together with a gaggle of like-minded buyers similar to Invoice Gates and Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal – took the corporate non-public once more in 2007 to guard the integrity of the model nicely into the long run. 4 Seasons at present manages greater than 120 resorts and resorts worldwide. The corporate additionally affords non-public jet journey onboard its personal Airbus A321 (with Enterprise Class format), and can quickly launch non-public ultra-luxe yacht itineraries.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

Whereas positioned in a wonderful backyard setting and having fun with a powerful view, the lodge’s swimming pool is a bit on the small facet. Additionally, there are solely a restricted variety of solar loungers accessible across the pool and most of them are taken by early morning, which will be irritating (understand 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 ground above the pool (known as the solarium), which nonetheless provide superb views of the Ionian Sea (however the setting will not be as spectacular as in comparison with the front-row seats on the pool).

San Domenico Palace, a 4 Seasons Lodge doesn’t have its personal seashore membership, however the property does collaborate with the three finest seashore golf equipment within the space of Taormina: Nuova Spiaggia Paradoso, La Caravella and Caparena. A day on the seashore received’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 manner (shuttles are organized by the seashore membership). It is a distinction with the one different luxurious lodge on the town – Belmond Grand Lodge Timeo (which I reviewed right here), whose visitors have complimentary entry to the seashore of its sister property Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea (together with a free shuttle journey). I’d be good if San Domenico Palace would open its personal Taormina seashore membership within the close to future (with 4 Seasons requirements).

The lodge spa is slightly small for a property of this caliber. There are solely 3 remedy rooms tucked away deep within the corridors of the Grand Lodge Wing and there are not any different wellness amenities. It’s my understanding although that San Domenico Palace, a 4 Seasons Lodge is at present constructing a brand new spa, which is able to open subsequent season.

San Domenico Palace, a 4 Seasons Lodge doesn’t have a children solely space, so while you go to the property throughout the faculty holidays (which was the case throughout my keep), you might need to share the pool space with households with younger kids (and while you’re a bit unfortunate, the youngsters would possibly take over the pool because the pool will not be that large, doubtlessly ruining the tranquil expertise you had been trying ahead to). IMHO, the lodge’s amenities and atmosphere doesn’t cater nicely to households with younger kids and I’d recommendation 4 Seasons to think about making San Domenico Palace an adult-only retreat (or no less than implementing an age restrict for kids, for instance 10 years or older) to ensure a tranquil and serene ambiance in all visitors areas).

As already talked about above, San Domenico Palace, a 4 Seasons Lodge is the playground of the actors within the massively fashionable sequence 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 4 Seasons Lodge matches its fictional White Lotus counterpart. That stated, if you happen to’ve watched the sequence, it’s essential to notice that there a number of discrepancies between what’s proven within the sequence and the actual lodge. First, as already talked about, San Domenico Palace doesn’t have its personal seashore membership (the sequence’ seashore membership scenes had been shot on the village of Cefalu in northern, Sicily, a 2 hour drive from Taormina). Second, visitors within the sequence 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 sequence’ pool scenes weren’t filmed at close by Unahotels Capotaormin, a 4-star resort which contains a breathtaking sea-front infinity pool carved into the cliffs.

On account of The White Lotus, San Domenico Palace, a 4 Seasons Lodge has turn into word-famous and immensely fashionable in only a few weeks time. The property is so fashionable that it at present sells out a number of months prematurely. For instance, a number of weeks are already unavailable for the 2024 summer time season, so good look discovering a lodge room right here. Additionally, 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, while you do discover an accessible room and are prepared to pay the excessive charge, you can be rewarded with an excellent White Lotus-esque expertise.

MY VERDICT

Location: 10/10
Design: 10/10
Pool: 9/10
Rooms: 8/10
Meals: 10/10
Breakfast: 9/10
Spa: 7/10
Service: 9/10
Wow issue: 10/10
Worth for cash: 7/10
General expertise: distinctive 9/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Get monetary savings: get complimentary VIP perks at San Domenico Palace, a 4 Seasons Lodge when reserving your keep through Virtuoso (e.g. room improve, every day breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD meals & beverage credit score).

Get monetary savings: learn right here my suggestions for getting the most effective deal at a luxurious lodge like San Domenico Palace, Taormine, a 4 Seasons Lodge (and/or obtain many free perks).

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

Learn my suggestions for making ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The very best time to go to Sicily is from Might to June or September to October. These late spring and early fall months are each thought-about shoulder seasons, and provide snug temperatures and principally sunny days, superb for temple gazing, seashore lazing or mountaineering. Should you e-book a July or August trip, you’ll should cope with plenty of crowds, excessive costs and the most well liked temperatures of the 12 months.

HOW TO GET THERE

San Domenico Palace, Taormine, a 4 Seasons Lodge is a 50 minute drive from Catania Airport Fontanarossa (CTA) and a 3-hour drive from Palermo Falcone-Borsellino Airport (PMO). Each airports are served by a number of European airways, particularly throughout the summer time season.

PHOTOS

Under is a number of my pictures of San Domenico Palace, Taormine, a 4 Seasons Lodge. To view extra pictures (together with breakfast in addition to dinner on the Michelin starred restaurant), click on right here.