Two New Orient Express Hotels in Sicily

Orient Express announced the new addition of two renowned hotels in Taormina, Sicily: city centre Grand Hotel Timeo and beachside Villa Sant’Andrea.

The Mediterranean island of Sicily, located at the foot of Italy, combines an irresistible blend of ancient history, dazzling scenery and stylish cafe culture. A year-round destination, with warming sun from spring to late autumn, it offers a wealth of special pleasures that vary according to the season.

Grand Hotel Timeo, in the lively centre of Taormina, has been welcoming international visitors since 1873. The hotel enjoys an unsurpassed location: set high in the rocky hills on the east coast of the island, with views to snow-capped Mount Etna and the craggy coastline. Yet it is also in the heart of Taormina’s chic shops, restaurants and cultural attractions, and directly opposite the town’s legendary Greek Theatre.

Guests can rendezvous on the hotel’s famed “Literary Terrace” long a meeting spot for illustrious guests, laze by the pool surrounded by verdant parkland, or enjoy the incomparable vista of rocky mountains set against clear blue waters from the spacious balcony that leads from every guest room. The restaurant, Il Dito e la Luna, goes to great lengths to source regional delicacies for its cuisine – Bronte pistachios, capers from Salina and red garlic from Nubia – not to mention mouthwatering local wines and cheeses. Dine on the balcony overlooking the lights of the bay for an unforgettable experience.

The second new addition, the beautiful Villa Sant’Andrea, has a spectacular location right down by the water’s edge in Taormina Mare. This stately residence on the delightful Bay of Mazzarò was commissioned by an aristocratic family in 1830 and offers total seclusion. Guests relax on the private beach enjoying views out to the tranquil bay, which is dotted with intriguing caves and bordered by subtropical gardens. A complimentary shuttle service whisks guests up and down between the villa and Grand Hotel Timeo in the heart of the town high above.

Seafood, unsurprisingly, is the speciality of the restaurant, Oliviero, which is graced with a panoramic terrace offering heavenly views of the bay and the Calabrian coast. The charming rooms mostly have ample terraces overlooking the beach.

When you can tear yourself away, there are fascinating places to visit both in Taormina and further afield. Taormina’s medieval layout, with a mix of Arab, Norman and Baroque buildings, is a delight to explore. The main street of Corso Umberto I is lined with stylish shops, as well as jewellery stores, antiques shops and patisseries, while the well-preserved amphitheatre, Teatro Antico, hosts a variety of cultural events throughout the year. The town is also famous for its film festival each June, an event that attracts glitterati of stage and screen.

When the time comes to seek a little solitude, head upwards. The shady groves and Victorian follies of the clifftop Villa Comunale are a real pleasure. Castelmola, an enchanting mountaintop village with a medieval castle, can be reached on foot if you’re prepared for a three-mile climb (but you can also go by car) – and the views from the top are more than worth the effort. Sicily’s buzzing second city, Catania, just 30 minutes from Taormina, has fine Baroque buildings, an imposing Duomo and a famous fish market. And, of course, if you’re feeling brave, you can join a trek to the effervescent Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano.

For more details, please call us on 02 9299 0088 or email travel@firstclass.com.au.