Taormina Palace Hotel

Taormina Palace Hotel stands on Viale San Pancrazio on the eastern edge of Taormina, the cliffside Sicilian town that commands one of the Mediterranean's most famous views — the Ionian Sea below and the active cone of Mount Etna (3,357 m) rising to the north. A full-service spa, rooftop terrace and romance packages make it a natural choice for couples, while the concierge arranges helicopter and airplane tours over Etna, ecotours, kayaking and day excursions to the volcano's craters. The Teatro Antico, the Greek-Roman amphitheatre whose stage backdrop is mountain and sea, is within walking distance. The Corso Umberto's baroque streetscape, the Piazza IX Aprile panorama and the Villa Comunale gardens are all part of the same compact old town. For beach days, the hotel's shuttle connects to the shoreline, with Isola Bella — the small nature reserve island — as the nearest option. Taormina Palace Hotel pairs Sicilian elegance with genuine access to one of Europe's most spectacular natural settings.