Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo

Undoubtedly the most renowned hotel in Taormina, and likely all of Sicily, Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo looks like a terraced palace in Italy’s signature pink stucco, complete with green shutters. The iconic hilltop hotel is the storied site of countless celebrity getaways, romantic honeymoons, landmark anniversaries, and big moments in literary history. Grand Hotel Timeo occupies the town’s prime piece of real estate: stunning six-acre grounds with show-stopping views of Mount Etna, the turquoise Bay of Naxos below, and the town of Taormina. The hotel’s story begins in the 1860s, when a dilapidated house in an orange orchard was bought and transformed into a humble five-room guest house -- the very first hotel in Taormina. One of the home’s early guests was German artist Otto Geleng, in town on his Grand Tour. Geleng fell in love with Taormina, and his dreamy landscapes of the town and its views captivated Europe and made Taormina the It destination for elite travelers from the continent and beyond. In time the hotel attracted the likes of Oscar Wilde, Richard Wagner, and D.H. Lawrence (who holed up here in 1920 to write “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”). Truman Capote made Timeo his home for two years, and the hotel has hosted Golden Hollywood icons Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor. (The annual Taormina Film Festival holds its opening ceremony at the Greek Theater, to which the hotel is connected via a secret passageway.)

Once part of Taormina’s stunning public garden, Timeo’s parklike grounds are a sight to behold: the terraced acreage is covered in ferns, succulents; herb gardens of lettuce, onions, and parsley; jasmine, white roses, bougainvillea, and geraniums; and fig, lemon, palm, and cypress trees. The lawn is worth visiting in its own right, and the public is encouraged to wander its pathways. The interior is every bit as opulent, with tapestries, oil paintings, historical maps, chandeliers, crown moldings, and herringbone parquet wood floors buffed to a glossy finish. Many hotel common areas, including the expansive brick terrace, afford those amazing views of the Ionian Sea, the apricot-colored town, and the regal Mount Etna. Befitting the hotel’s spectacular position, rich history, and all-around opulence, Timeo attracts well-heeled couples, honeymooners, or tourist groups happy to splurge on its high rates and additional costs in exchange for the bucket-list experience.

Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo has what many consider the very best location in Taormina. It dominates a lovely hillside opposite the Giardini della Villa Comunale -- Taormina’s beautiful public garden overlooking the sea and volcano -- and next to ancient Greek Theater, Taormina’s famous hilltop ruins that date to the 3rd century BC. (Guests find it a real perk to wander over to the attraction in the early morning before the crowds arrive.) From Timeo, it is under a five-minute walk up to Corso Umberto (the town center’s main walking street), which is lined with every manner of wine bar, trattoria, upscale fashion boutique, and local shop. It's a four-minute walk down Via Teatro Greco, right outside the hotel's main entrance, to the Teatro Odeon. The drive between the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo and Catania Fontanarossa Airport takes about an hour.

The 71 rooms and suites at Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo are among the most luxurious in Sicily. All are decorated in the Sicilian Baroque style, with marble, cotto tile, or hardwood floors; substantial marquetry wood furnishings; original oil paintings in gilded framed; handmade rugs;  and intricate moldings. Most of the rooms are located in the main building, with the remainder in the adjacent Villa Flora. In the Villa Flora are the five entry-level Classic Rooms with garden views; the seven Double Superior Rooms, which have terraces with Bay of Naxos views; the 17 bi-level, two-bathroom Gallery Rooms; and the two Family Rooms, which can connect to Double Rooms for additional space. 

The main building houses the 14 Double Deluxe units, all with a balcony or terrace, and Timeo’s six suite types, which range from Superior Junior Suites to the top-floor Presidential Suite, which features two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dining room, and a 3,200-square-foot terrace with views of the bay and Mount Etna. All suites feature Nespresso machines, and every room comes with air-conditioning, LCD TV with satellite channels, Bose music system, minibar (potato chips, cheddar crackers, almond biscotti, wine, liquor, juice), safe, and free Wi-Fi. Marble bathrooms have either rainfall showers, bathtubs, or both; some have private water closets. Luxury bath products by Ortigia and C.O. Bigelow are provided, as well as locally made sweet almond soap. Wi-Fi is free in the rooms. Rooms are cleaned twice daily.

Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo’s features are as extravagant as its grounds and rooms. The main Timeo restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, served on the panoramic terrace overlooking the gardens, sea, and Etna. All rates come with free access to the ample breakfast, which includes cooked-to-order eggs, bacon, pastries, granitas, and Champagne. Guests can take breakfast in their rooms (and on their balconies) for no extra charge. Lunch and dinner dishes include red tuna tartare, veal cheek and seared veal filet, eggplant gnocchi, lobster risotto, and grilled lamb chops, as well as homemade gelato and Etna wines. The seasonal fine-dining Otto Geleng restaurant serves dinner on the terrace for just up to 16 people at a time. The Literary Terrace and Bar is open throughout the day and features live piano music at night. The heated pool has panoramic views, cushioned sunbeds, towel service, and an adjacent Pool Restaurant & Bar with simple fare like salads and grilled local fish for lunch and dinner (open May to September). Room service is available 24 hours a day.

Timeo’s spa features a sauna, steam bath, and hair salon; special packages are available for couples and honeymooners. There is a 24-hour fitness center with modern Technogym equipment and free weights, as well as chilled water, fresh fruit, and excellent views. A free hotel shuttle to Timeo’s sister property Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea departs every 30 minutes in high season (hourly in low season), on a first-come, first-serve season. Guests have access to the property features at Sant’Andrea, including the private pebble beach, free breakfast, and free boat trip to Isola Bella, the Blue Grotto, and various coves along the coastline. Parents can bring their kids to Sant’Andrea’s Smile Club, a supervised kids’ club with activities like cannoli-making. Fully catered weddings and conferences can be arranged at Timeo. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.