Taormina

Taormina has been seducing visitors for centuries, and geography has done much of the work. Perched high above the Ionian Sea, the town looks across to Mount Etna while its ancient Greek theatre frames both volcano and coastline with almost suspicious perfection. Greek, Roman, Arab, Norman and Baroque layers sit within a compact maze of stone streets, palazzi, churches and gardens. From the 19th century onwards, writers, artists, aristocrats and assorted eccentrics turned Taormina into one of Europe’s original glamorous escapes. The 20th century added another architectural layer, including remarkable Modernist experiments such as the concrete Hotel Monte Tauro, proving that Sicily’s past doesn’t always need to be treated with reverence.

Food reflects eastern Sicily’s abundance. Swordfish, tuna, anchovies, aubergines, tomatoes, citrus and pistachios appear alongside pasta alla Norma, arancini, granita and cannoli, while nearby Etna has become one of Italy’s most exciting wine territories. Nerello Mascalese and Carricante grown in volcanic soils bring a distinctly mineral character to the wines, and vineyard visits on Etna provide an excellent counterpoint to Taormina’s polished terraces and restaurants. Catania’s more unruly food culture is close enough for an excursion, but lingering over seafood and Etna wine with the Ionian Sea below remains difficult to argue with.

Taormina has an unusually rich hotel history, from converted monasteries and aristocratic villas to grand hotels, Modernist landmarks and contemporary retreats hidden in subtropical gardens. Some embrace the town’s cinematic glamour; others deliberately retreat from it. At DNA Hotels, we curate the places where architecture, history, food and that extraordinary Sicilian landscape come together—hotels with enough personality to compete with a destination where even breakfast can come with views of an active volcano.