Grand Hotel San Pietro Taormina, Taormina, Italy

A timeless escape above Taormina and the Ionian Sea 

Set inside a finely restored early-20th-century villa, Grand Hotel San Pietro looks out across one of Taormina’s most recognisable panoramas. The Ionian Sea stretches below, Mount Etna rises in the distance and Isola Bella sits just offshore, giving the hotel a setting that needs very little embellishment. Behind the historic façade, the rooms and suites balance the character of the original villa with a more contemporary Sicilian mood, sharpened further by a new phase of restyling unveiled in 2026.

Colour, light and local references carry through the interiors without overpowering the views. Several room categories open onto terraces or balconies, while the Isola Bella Penthouse Suite occupies the top floor with 90 square metres, two bedrooms, a living room and a large sea-facing terrace. From here, Taormina Bay and Etna become part of the room itself, best taken in slowly over breakfast or as the light begins to soften across the coast.

Much of the day naturally gathers around the panoramic pool. Framed by white loungers, parasols and Mediterranean greenery, it looks toward Isola Bella and the Ionian horizon, with Etna visible beyond. A new Bisazza mosaic brings soft aquatic tones to the water, while a redesigned grand staircase leads gently into the pool. Rizza sits nearby, serving contemporary Mediterranean dishes, light lunches, fresh snacks, cocktails and sunset aperitivi without asking guests to stray far from the view.