Four Seasons San Domenico Palace
Piazza San Domenico 5, 98039 Taormina, Italy
The Story
Perched on the cliffs above the Ionian Sea in one of Sicily's most spectacular towns, the San Domenico Palace began life as a 15th-century Dominican convent before being transformed into a hotel in 1896. The views from its terrace, across to Mount Etna and down the coastline, are among the most spectacular of any hotel in Europe. Elizabeth Taylor, who had seen her share of hotel views, reportedly said it was one of the most beautiful places she had ever stayed. Over the years it drew a glittering cast of guests — Taylor and Burton, Garbo, Dietrich, Loren — to its convent rooms and bougainvillea-draped gardens.
Taylor, Burton and the mandolin
Taylor and Burton made the San Domenico Palace their Sicilian base, and the hotel duly witnessed one of the more colourful episodes of their famously volatile marriage. Taylor reportedly smashed a mandolin over Burton's head on the terrace during a row in 1967 — which gives some indication of the kind of stay they had. Local legend tells it slightly differently: that a fellow guest once asked Burton to play the mandolin more quietly, and Burton smashed the instrument over the man's head instead. Either way, the mandolin did not survive.
" Taylor reportedly smashed a mandolin over Burton's head on the terrace during a row in 1967.
A second act, courtesy of The White Lotus
The hotel underwent a spectacular transformation and reopened in 2022 as the Four Seasons at San Domenico Palace. It became globally famous all over again as the setting for Season 2 of HBO's The White Lotus, which has had a profound effect on tourism in Taormina. Bookings surged, the town appeared on every travel list in the world, and the hotel now restricts non-guest access to its bars and restaurants during peak periods. The good news is that Taormina — with its ancient Greek theatre, medieval streets, and views of Etna — more than lives up to the hype.
Signature Experiences
The terrace
The views from the terrace, across to Mount Etna and down the coastline, are among the most spectacular of any hotel in Europe — and the scene of Elizabeth Taylor's legendary mandolin moment.
Famous Connections
Who Came Here
As Seen In
Plan Your Visit
Good to Know
- How to Book: Book direct at fourseasons.com/taormina or by phone. The hotel is seasonal, and demand has soared since The White Lotus, so book well ahead for the summer months.
- Best Time: Spring and autumn (the shoulder seasons) for the views without the peak-summer crush, when the hotel restricts non-guest access to its bars and restaurants.
- Accessibility: Taormina is a steep, historic hill town and the hotel occupies a former convent. Contact the venue directly to confirm access requirements.
- Tip: The good news is that Taormina, with its ancient Greek theatre, medieval streets, and views of Etna, more than lives up to the hype. The hotel now restricts non-guest access to its bars and restaurants during peak periods, so a room booking is the surest way in.
