Perhaps it’s those 8 a.m. meetings or your thrice-weekly Booty Boot Camp commitment. Or maybe you’re just battling a fierce addiction to SnapChat. Whatever the case, the simple life sometimes sounds very appealing–especially when it involves a week in Sicily. Here, it’s all about an old-school Italian experience sans the over-indulged oligarchs and pretense.
Who Should Go:
Couples – hello romance. But anyone from singles to large family reunions should apply. Sicily is a lifetime trip for almost anyone looking to enjoy the simple Italian culture, unplug and spend time with your travel companion(s) in one of the most beautiful and historical regions in all of Italy.
The Highlights:
- Checking into the Grand Hotel Timeo, which even for luxury hotel aficionados is one of the most exquisite hotels in the world. Dinner here is not to be missed. The view can easily overtake any cuisine, if the chef of the formal restaurant didn’t have such skills.
- Spending the day in Mazzaro at the Villa Sant’ Andrea, which of course has its own boat. And it’s no small dinghy; the hotel ride gives new meaning to “I’m on a boat”.
- Strolling through Taormina from the early morning hours when locals line up for a brioche and granita at Bam Bar, to late in the evening when the town gelato stands close at 1am.
- Catching a performance at the Teatro Greco; it doesn’t matter what you see, though performances range from Sting to Rigoletto.
- Wandering through Castelmola, the quintessential medivial town which provides gives you prime view of Mount Etna on a clear day.
- Experiencing Mount Etna – the highest active volacano in all of Europe. Skip the torturous hike and take a van up to the top where even in the summer, it snows.
- Enjoying the simplicity of Sicily by having no purpose, just for one day, but to unplug and relax. You could get used to this. Trust us.
Recommended Stay:
Optimally a week, but we focus on Taormina for this feature, which can be properly done in three days. Don’t be surprised though if your end game becomes retiring in Sicily.
A Place to Call Home
The Orient Express took over the Grand Hotel Timeo and the Villa Sant’ Andrea and reopened them after a gut reno in 2010. Even for hard-core OE standards, they’ve outdone themselves. The Timeo is in the heart of Taormina, calling the Teatro Greco, a 1st Century Greek Theater, its neighbor. There’s even a secret entrance from the Timeo to the theater; just ask Russell Crowe and Amy Adams, who were shuttled through for the Taormina Film Festival. From the terrace, which has the best aperitivo hour in town, you are in prime position to take in views of Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Don’t be surprised if you have life revelations from this vantage point, as this is what it’s all about.
Rooms define exquisite, especially if you book Room 320, a junior suite with its own wraparound terrace. Nothing but a corner apartment will do after this. While the hotel was completely renovated, top to bottom, rooms are lavishly comfortable, as if you were the guest in a noble friend’s home.
The unplug, relax and gelato therapy begins at the hotel pool, where they serve up the best almond granita in town and the vintage gelato truck is just a little too close to your lounger to not be on a thrice gelato a day diet. As for service, you just won’t find anything better. Unlike most hotel concierges who will send you to the nearest restaurant where fanny packs and cruise stops are all the rage, Steven will get you to the best local pizza joint, and top tables you’re not going to find in the guides.
When You’re Traveling with Entourage
For those who travel with entourage, the most luxurious villa to rent in all of Sicily is the Don Arcangelo all’Olmo,Owned by Italian nobility – how is that for old school Italian – every single piece of furniture to tiny detail of art book has been personally curated by the owner, Donna Marina and her husband. Fit for an entourage, the 12-room villa has views of Mount Etna, along with a pool that necessitates lounging and having the full service staff cook and cocktail for you all day. A short 30-minute drive to Taormina, the Olmo is also located close to tiny towns, like in Santa Maria La Scale at The Grotto, they one-up farm to table by sea to table. Think Sicily, the brilliant thinking behind the luxury villa rental concept in Sicily, will make essentially anything from private boats to the Aeolian Islands to watch Stromboli erupt from a relatively safe distance, to helicopter rides, scuba excursions to the simple luxuries like cooking class and wine tasting. You name it, you got it.
Where to Eat
Simplicity defines Sicilian food, but the intensity of the volcanic soil and Mediterranean sea take flavor up to the next level. For the best pizza, locals go to The Shelter, which doesn’t sound Italian, but serves up a perfectly thin crust house special, the Mount Etna pizza. Low-key nights are spent over Sicilian family-style dinners at Maffei in their garden, which has the traditional sardine pasta topped with breadcrumbs, a gorgeous branzino and flaming Crepes Suzette to end the meal. If you want to turn up the romance factor, Vicolo Stretto has an intimate terrace where you can while away for hours over a melting pot of Sicilian cuisine from all over the island.
You’re on a Boat
The essence of experiencing Sicily is to get on a beach and boat for a day. The Timeo’s sister hotel, Villa Sant’ Andrea can get you both, with its own private beach and very large hotel boat. Even better as it’s included gratis as part of your stay at either hotel. Sign up for the afternoon excursion, which will allow you to spend the day at the beach and lunch on lobster and grilled prawns at the hotel restaurant. All this against a backdrop of azure Mediterranean waters. Sure, you may be up for the occasional table dancing at Morgana Bar, which by the way, makes the best cocktails in town, but the real beauty of Sicily is its simplicity and the option to do nothing at all.
The Galavante List
Stay
Four Seasons Hotel Taormina
Grand Hotel Timeo Belmond
Belmond Villa Sant’ Andrea
Eat
Bam Bar
Villa Sant’ Andrea
Grand Hotel Timeo
Maffei’s
The Shelter
Vicolo Stretto
Shop
Boutique at the Villa Sant’ Andrea
Corso Umberto
La Botega del Bongustaio
Manago
Mara’s
Narcisse
Sandali Su Misura
Drink
Terrace at Grand Hotel Timeo
Morgana Bar
Il Ciclope
Louis Vuitton Cafe by Timeo
See
Castelmola
Corso Umberto
Giardino Publico
Mazzaro (Beach)
Mount Etna
Olive oil and wine tasting
Teatro Greco
Town of Noto
Itinerary
Day I
Sicilian breakfast at Bam Bar
Explore Taormina
Walk through old town and main thorough-way of Corso Umberto
Giardino Publico
Pizza lunch at The Shelter
Afternoon and almond granita at the pool
Aperitivo on the terrace of the Grand Timeo
Dinner at Vicolo Stretto
Café and bar hopping along the Corso Umberto
Day II
Excursion to Mount Etna
Lunch at da Tinuccio
Wine Tasting
Late afternoon coffee
Dinner at Maffei’s
Drinks at Morgana Bar
Day III
Beach day at the Villa Sant Andrea in Mazzarro
Lunch at hotel restaurant
Boat excursion
Late afternoon/early evening in Castelmora
Dinner at the Grand Hotel Timeo
Evening Performance at Teatro Greco
