Hotel Villa Schuler

The hotel is situated in a restored historic villa and has a refined yet cozy atmosphere. Natural light pours into the spacious, contemporary lobby through a large skylight. A modern wood front desk with curved carvings and a large painting of a wooded scene evoke a natural setting. Beautiful, panoramic views can be had from the large rooftop terrace, and the grounds provide various outdoor sitting areas, among 16,000 square feet of botanical gardens. The property is filled with shaded walkways, vine-covered pergolas, fish ponds, and fragrant flowerbeds. 

This hotel overlooks the bay of Giardini Naxos. The hotel is a short walk from Coro Umberto, which has tons of restaurants, shops and bars. Here are a few approximate distances:

• Five-minute walk to Badia Vecchia, the Church of San Domenico, and the Museum of Art and Popular Traditions
• Seven-minute walk to Greek Theater
• 10-minute walk to Saraceno Castle and Cathedral of Taormina
• 20-minute drive to Taormina Archaeological Museum
• 25-minute drive to Giardini Naxos Beach
• 55-minute drive to Catania Fontanarossa Airport

The hotel has 21 Double Rooms, five Suites, and one Garden Villa Suite. The rooms are pleasant with wood furniture, patterned tile floors, and bare white walls. They include desks, a small table and chairs, flat-screen TVs,  mini-fridges, safes, air conditioning, and orthopedic beds. Guests are also given a bottle of Villa Schuller wine when they arrive. The rooms have small, furnished balconies, or patios, while the Suites have larger balconies with lounge chairs. There is a small divider separating the balconies between rooms, although they don't provide much privacy. The bathrooms have off-white tiles, bidets, and shower/tub combos. Some of the showers are curtained, and others have small glass doors. Phones are next to the toilet.

The Garden Villa has a different layout than the rest of the rooms, as it is spread throughout two floors. The top floor houses the bedroom, lounge area, small kitchenette, and smaller bathroom. A small spiral staircase leads to the bottom floor, which has a large open bathroom that doesn't have a door closing it off. The Garden Villa also has a small patio with a table and lounge chairs surrounded by a stone wall. Wi-Fi is free in all of the rooms.

The gorgeous botanical gardens that surround the property are definitely a stand-out feature. The hotel also has a solarium that overlooks the bay, which has comfy lounge chairs and a telescope to take advantage of the spectacular view. The solarium sits outside the rooftop breakfast room, which is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows and has light wicker chairs, which contribute to the bright, airy atmosphere. Made-to-order breakfasts get solid reviews from past guests. However, the hotel doesn't have a restaurant for lunch and dinner. There is also an outdoor dining area on the large rooftop terrace, which provides a fantastic panoramic view. The indoor dining area, with crystal chandeliers and dark-wood furniture, is more formal and can feel a bit stuffy when compared with the other dining areas. The small room has large glass doors that open to a gravel balcony, where guests can dine. The hotel also has free on-site parking, which is a plus given that spaces can be tough to find in Taormina. For a fee, the hotel can arrange a beach shuttle to nearby clubs. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Mountain bikes are available for guests to borrow.