A rare fit for travelers who want Taormina’s layered history and Ionian-facing clifftop views within an easy walk of the old town.
San Domenico Palace occupies a former 14th-century Dominican convent, expanded by the Grand Hotel wing in 1896, on a rocky promontory above the Ionian Sea. Its 111 rooms and suites span the historic convent and later hotel wings, just off Taormina’s Corso Umberto, with views toward Mount Etna and the Ancient Theatre. Restored frescoes, cloistered courtyards and gardens give the property a strong sense of place, while its sea-facing pool terrace makes the coastal setting part of the stay.
Reddit excerpts · separate from Rex’s editorial judgment
Guests describe thoughtfully renovated rooms in the former monastery, though one notes they are smaller than at some other properties. Other reported drawbacks include a lack of beach area and, in one guest’s wing, a stale plumbing smell in the hallways.
“The biggest miss with this hotel in my opinion is lack of a beach area.”
“our wing definitely had a bit of an 'old plumbing' smell to it in the hallways”
“The rooms aren't as big as some other properties given that it is a renovated monastery, but they did an excellent job with the renovations”
“If you are no staying guest you cant go to the bar”
Taormina, Italy
A legendary clifftop palace perched above the Ionian Sea, offering unparalleled views of Mount Etna and the Greek Theatre. This iconic Belmond property seamlessly blends Belle Époque grandeur with contemporary luxury, serving as the ultimate Sicilian retreat for discerning travelers.
Rome, Italy
Orient Express La Minerva occupies the 17th-century Palazzo Fonseca on Piazza della Minerva, beside the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva and a short walk from the Pantheon. Its 93 rooms and suites pair Art Deco references with Roman architectural details, marble, teak and oak. The experience extends above the surrounding rooftops at a seventh-floor restaurant and bar with Pantheon views, while a spa offers hammam rituals and a gym provides space to exercise.
Sorrento, Italy
A legendary clifftop palace overlooking the Bay of Naples, blending Belle Époque grandeur with Mediterranean elegance since 1834. Its terraced gardens, infinity pools, and storied guest history epitomize timeless Italian luxury.
Attard, Malta
In Attard, an inland village in central Malta, Casa Bonavita reworks an 18th-century residence into a 17-room boutique hotel. The restored house opens onto gardens and courtyard dining, while its rooms retain individual character rather than a uniform hotel layout. Guests can spend time between the garden, the restaurant and tiled wellness rooms with a sauna and cold plunge. Its small scale and residential setting give the stay a distinctly house-like rhythm.
Fiesole, Italy
Villa San Michele occupies a former 15th-century Franciscan monastery high in Fiesole, above Florence and the Arno Valley. Its 39 rooms and suites sit within the historic building and its grounds, with terraced gardens opening toward the city. The appeal is the contrast between a hillside setting and access to Florence: the hotel lists a complimentary shuttle to the city centre, while the villa itself offers a quieter base among historic architecture, gardens and views.
Porto Ercole, Italy
Hotel Il Pellicano is a long-established Tuscan coast hotel on Monte Argentario, spilling down a cliff into a private cove above the Tyrrhenian Sea. Created as Il Pellicano in 1965 and later acquired by Roberto Sciò in 1979, it trades on an intimate, dolce-vita mood rather than grand-resort sprawl. Rooms and suites sit in the main house and cottages, with sea-view terraces, gardens, a private beach terrace reached by elevator, and a heated seawater pool shaping the stay.
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