San Domenico Palace, Taormina, a Four Seasons Hotel

Had an amazing stay at the Four Seasons San Domenico Palace. The historic hotel is absolutely beautiful, they did a great job keeping artefacts and some furniture from the original building that really made the hotel feel special. However what really stood out was the service. From the all-female leadership team and guest services team who greeted us and looked after us, to everyone we met throughout the hotel, the entire team really went above and beyond. They knew our plans, were always there when we needed anything, and every request was taken care of with a smile. We really couldn’t have asked for better service. Our room was beautiful, with its own pool and garden. The food was great, breakfast had lovely touches like the granita and cannoli stations, and of course the main pool with the Dolce & Gabbana sunbeds is iconic. Looking forward to returning

The Four Seasons San Domenico Palace in Taormina is truly spectacular, with impeccable service from beginning to end. Before our arrival, I had reached out to ask whether the room we booked might have a balcony or terrace so that we would have somewhere to relax while our three-year-old napped. I had also mentioned a preference for the Grand Hotel wing. Instead, the hotel did even better and surprised us with a beautiful, spacious suite in the Convento area overlooking Mount Etna, with a partial sea view and a private jacuzzi that our daughter happily used as her own little swimming pool. It turned out that the Convento wing was incredibly beautiful, peaceful, and full of character, and we absolutely loved it. Beyond the room, the hotel itself is phenomenal. The restaurants were excellent, with wonderful food, gorgeous views, and plenty of gluten-free options for me. We also did the tasting menu at Principe Cerami and really enjoyed it. I especially appreciated that there was an option for a somewhat lighter tasting experience rather than an overwhelmingly long meal. The main pool is spectacular and remarkably serene. Even when the hotel was busy, there always seemed to be plenty of loungers available, and the complimentary granita served by the pool was such a nice touch. There were not many young children staying at the hotel, so we were conscious of not spending too long at the main pool with our toddler in case we disturbed the peaceful atmosphere. For families with young children, I would strongly consider booking a room or suite with its own pool or jacuzzi—it gave us the best of both worlds and allowed our daughter to splash around without us feeling uneasy about disturbing other guests. The spa is relatively small but beautiful and extremely relaxing, and my massage was excellent. One of the loveliest touches came the day before my husband’s birthday, when the hotel surprised us with a bottle of sparkling wine and a cake. Sitting by our private pool, watching the sunset with Mount Etna in the distance, was a highlight of our entire trip. There was genuinely almost nothing imperfect about our stay. The only experience I would approach differently was a wooden sunset boat tour we booked through the concierge. We had expected something more in keeping with the Four Seasons experience, but it turned out to be a standard tour boat operating from the pier rather than a private service. The boat itself was quite worn, with peeling finishes, and the water was very choppy, which made us uncomfortable traveling with our three-year-old. We were a little surprised that this particular experience had been recommended by the hotel, and I would advise families with young children to ask for more details about the vessel and conditions before booking. That one experience aside, the San Domenico Palace is an absolutely impeccable hotel. The setting, service, food, atmosphere, and attention to detail were extraordinary. It is a very special property and one we would happily return to.

We have had the most beautiful and amazing stay, every detail was just perfection. The hotel totally surpassed our expectations and made our stay magical. We have to say the whole team were outstanding, warm and welcoming. On arrival we were so surprised and delighted that we had been given an upgrade to a magnificent central room with a beautiful veranda overlooking the gardens and out to sea and Etna. We spent many hours late evening with the French doors opening gazing out. Thank you Michele - front desk for your warm welcome and upgrading us for our 25th Anniversary. We also have to mention Gesuela & Jackamo at breakfast. We had great conversations with them about Sicily and local traditions and planning our days. It was so sad to leave on our last day and Gesuela wrote us a beautiful note and presented us with a small gift. We were so touched by this. The hotel is truly beautiful with all its character and charm being a former 14th century monastery. It has been tastefully decorated throughout and we loved the pool area and gardens to sit or lay out for the day. We ate at Anciovi and Rosso and both times were amazing service and food. Our rooms consistently maintained to such a high level of service. Overall the hotel should be 6/7 star as everything was just perfect and we will back again soon.

Visited last summer, and the memories are still fresh and beautiful Forget the white lotus pilgrimage stories, that’s cool ok, but the hotel is all you need and ask from a hotel of this standing Beautiful design, mind blowing Crazy views (sea; etna, city…) Great food in every restaurant Amazing staff and customer service One of our best trips ever, looking forward to visit again!

Thank you for bringing Rosie back to her hometown. Amazing hotel, amazing people