Hotel Villa Angela, Taormina - Sicily hotels

Hotel Villa Angela, Taormina

For centuries, Taormina has been a magnet for writers and artists, drawn here by its history and its beautiful setting, clinging to the side of Mount Tauro, with snow-capped Etna majestic on the horizon. Goethe, DH Lawrence and countless others came to marvel at the beautifully preserved Greek-Roman Theatre, suspended over the azure Ionian Sea far below. And with its Arab-Norman building and an unspoiled main street (now pedestrianised) that effortlessly accommodates buildings from the medieval to the Victorian, Taormina is delightfully diverse.

The Villa Angela is owned by Jim Kerr, lead singer of Scottish rock band Simple Minds: it was while on tour with the group in 1995 that Kerr visited Taormina and fell in love with the place. Working with his friends Antonio and Giovanni Chemi (and family) he set to creating an intimate hotel where others could come - and fall in love with the island, just as he had. And the hotel is beautifully realised, with all the materials being local to the island. The building was made with Taormina stone, Sicilian sculpted wrought iron and chestnut wood, and decorations including the distinctive Caltagirone ceramics.

Every room has a generously sized terrace, allowing you to bask in the reliable Sicilian sun. And with glass doors and wall-sized windows throughout the hotel, a superb sense of light pervades the hotel. The swimming pool and solarium gaze down the side of Mount Tauro, over Taormina and to the ocean below. The terrace restaurant is a superb setting for your breakfast, as the sun rises on Mount Etna. And the gardens have more than 50 species of plant, including olive, carob, citrus and almond trees.

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Double room from €297