The only hotel in Taormina literally pressed against the Teatro Greco, with Etna smoking in the background.
Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina
From
1,750 €
“Terrace and pool facing Etna and the bay of Naxos, 50 metres from the ancient Teatro Greco.”
The Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel has occupied since 1873 the most enviable terrace in Taormina, pressed against the ancient Teatro Greco. Open the shutters and Etna smokes on the horizon, the bay of Naxos sparkles below. The pool, carved into the sloping garden, overlooks the Ionian Sea without any building coming between. The rooms blend colourful Sicilian fabrics and period furniture, some a little small for the rate requested. The spa remains modest in size but benefits from the same mineral silence as the rest of the property. Here, we pay mostly for the address and the history, Oscar Wilde and D.H. Lawrence slept here, more than the square metre surface, from 1 750 € a night. The positioning literally in the ruins of the Greek theatre remains the true luxury of the place, nothing else in Taormina has this proximity 😌.
Who is it for?
Who we recommend it to
We recommend the Grand Hotel Timeo to travellers who want Taormina without leaving the hotel, Etna and the sea as a permanent backdrop. It is an address for couples on honeymoon or wedding anniversary, lovers of literary history and silent terraces. Families are accepted, family rooms and pets allowed, yet the atmosphere stays hushed, better suited to calm children than noisy groups.
The building
Architecture and interiors
The building dates from 1873, the first luxury hotel built in Taormina, enlarged and renovated since by Belmond. The architecture remains typical of nineteenth-century Sicilian style: ochre façade, green shutters, tiered terraces that follow the slope towards the sea. The interiors play the Mediterranean card with Caltagirone ceramics, rattan furniture and citrus-print fabrics. The whole stays human in scale, far from the volumes of Roman or Milanese palaces.
At the table
Restaurants, bar, service
One main restaurant on site, complemented by room service. Breakfast is taken on the terrace facing the bay of Naxos, one of the best moments of the day. We have no information on a starred table or signature chef here, the menu remains classic Italian. Room service allows dinner in the room with the same view, practical on hot Sicilian evenings.
Highlights
- Adjacent to the ancient Teatro Greco, 50 metres from the entrance
- Outdoor pool overlooking the bay of Naxos and Etna
- Booking score of 9.6/10 from 185 reviews, rare for a palace
- Airport shuttle included, useful as Catania is 45 minutes away
- Family rooms and pets accepted, rare in Italian 5★
Location & access
Where the hotel sits in Taormina
The Grand Hotel Timeo stands in the old town of Taormina, at Teatro Greco 59, a short walk from Corso Umberto and its shops. Piazza IX Aprile and its sea-view belvedere are less than ten minutes on foot. Catania and its airport are roughly 45 minutes by road, the hotel offers a shuttle. The neighbourhood is pedestrian, lively in the evening, yet not noisy under the Timeo windows thanks to its elevated position.
Good to know
Before you book
- Pets
- Accepted, no details on weight or supplement.
- Parking
- Private parking and parking on site available.
- Wi-Fi
- Free and available throughout the hotel.
- Pool
- One outdoor pool on site, hours not specified.
- Accessibility
- Facilities for guests with reduced mobility available.
- Airport shuttle
- Service offered, Catania roughly 45 minutes.
Facilities
1 pool
Non-smoking rooms
Spa and wellness centre
Airport shuttle
Fitness centre
Restaurant
Room service
Facilities for disabled guests
Wi-Fi available everywhere
Private parking
Free Wi-Fi connection
Parking on site
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Location
Where Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina is located
Exact address
Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina
Address
Teatro Greco 59
In the same city
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