San Domenico Palace, A Four Seasons Hotel, has reopened for its second season. The former 14th-century convent-turned-hotel overlooks the Ionian Sea, with Mount Etna to its right and Taormina’s ancient Greek theater to its left.
What's new?
The 111-room hotel is offering a “Stargazing Safari” on Mount Etna. Accompanied by a local astrophysicist, guests will learn to recognize Orion, Ursa Major, Cassiopeia, and other constellations while listening to tales of Greek mythology. In the evening, chef Massimo Mantarro will prepare a meal of local specialties paired with wines. Mount Etna and the local produce form the core of chef Mantarro’s culinary creations. He has introduced a series of items at his signature restaurant Principe Cerami, including Parmigiana 2.0, a revisited version of this Sicilian classic.
Another novelty this year is “Eat the Volcano.” Accompanied by Chef Mantarro or a member of his team, guests will journey onto the Etna making their first stop in the town of Linguaglossa to meet with a local shepherd and taste ricotta paired with freshly baked bread. Guests will then forage for seasonal wild vegetables and herbs. The next stop is the contemporary Pietradolce vineyard for lunch and wine tasting. Upon returning to the hotel, the kitchen staff will prepare the foraged vegetables and herbs for dinner, so that they can state they “ate the volcano.”
Situated in the heart of the hotel, the Grand Cloister, Bar & Chiostro offers a cocktail list with references to the property’s history. For instance, Gelosia e Mandolino 23 (Jealousy and Mandolin 23) with Vodka Giovi and red garlic and oregano distillate refers to an episode that took place between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in 1967. During one of their stays at the hotel, the pair had such a furious quarrel that Taylor allegedly broke a mandolin over Burton’s head.
The former Dominican convent was converted into a hotel in 1896 when Taormina became a popular stop on the Grand Tour, a journey throughout Italy, preferred by Europe’s royals, aristocrats, industrialists, artists and writers. The hotel is like a museum and offers an “Art Concierge” service. Guests can enjoy a guided tour which begins in the Grand Cloister and ends in the gardens.
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