Resort
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
9.2
Atlantis The Royal
A sculptural mega-resort on the Palm where stacked-block architecture, sky pools and a deep bench of celebrity-chef dining redefine Dubai showmanship.
Read the full feature →
Resort · £££££
San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel
Taormina, Italy — Europe
9.4Editorial score
Editorial research. Profiled through in-depth editorial research; Browntravels has not yet stayed at this property. How we review
A 14th-century Dominican convent turned clifftop palace above the Ionian Sea, with Mount Etna framed from its cloistered gardens.
The San Domenico began as a Dominican convent in the fourteenth century, and its cloister, vaulted corridors and original cells — now rather more comfortable — still order the experience of staying here. Perched on Taormina's cliff edge, the hotel looks along the Ionian coast to the smoking cone of Etna, a view that has drawn painters, aristocrats and film-makers for well over a century of hotel-keeping.
Four Seasons' restoration, completed in 2021, threaded contemporary luxury through the monastic fabric with unusual restraint: antique panels and ecclesiastical art remain, while suites gained terraces and the gardens a spectacular infinity pool angled at the volcano. Global fame followed swiftly when the hotel starred as the setting for the second season of The White Lotus, and demand has never receded.
Dining is led by a fine-dining room of serious ambition alongside terrace restaurants where Sicilian classics meet that extraordinary view. The ancient Greek theatre and Taormina's Corso Umberto are steps away, with beach clubs at Isola Bella down the cable-car line. The San Domenico is Sicily's defining hotel stay: history, theatre and coastline in one composition.
Why stay here
- Authentic 14th-century convent architecture and cloisters
- Clifftop gardens with Etna and Ionian views
- An infinity pool aimed straight at the volcano
- Steps from Taormina's Greek theatre and Corso Umberto
Things to consider
- Fame since The White Lotus keeps rates and occupancy extreme
- Beach access involves the cable car or shuttles down the cliff
Rooms & Suites
Around 110 rooms and suites, from converted monastic cells with antique detail to grand terrace suites facing Etna and the sea.
Dining
An ambitious fine-dining flagship, Sicilian terrace restaurants and a bar in the cloister garden for sunset aperitivi.
Spa & Wellness
A serene spa within the historic walls and the celebrated clifftop infinity pool among the gardens.
The Browntravels Verdict
The complete Sicilian fantasy — worth planning a year ahead for a terrace room facing the volcano.
Last updated 5 August 2026
Book this stay
Live rates and availability for San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel and nearby stays — or book directly with the hotel.
Book direct with the hotel
Availability shown via Stay22. Bookings made through the map may earn Browntravels a commission — at no extra cost to you.
You may also admire
Resort
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
8.9
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
Abu Dhabi's monumental palace hotel pairs gilded Arabian grandeur with Mandarin Oriental polish, a kilometre of private beach and vast landscaped grounds.
Read the full feature →
Resort
Udaipur, India
9.6
The Oberoi Udaivilas
A palatial dreamscape of domes, courtyards and semi-private pools on Lake Pichola, delivering Rajasthan's most celebrated hotel service.
Read the full feature →
From the Journal
Travel News
The Shoulder Season Ascendancy: Luxury Travel's Calendar Is Being Redrawn
May in the Mediterranean, September in the Aegean: the industry's most experienced travellers are abandoning peak season — and hotels are redesigning the year around them.
6 min read
Suite Reviews
The Owner's Villa at San Domenico Palace: Taormina's Pinnacle Address
In a fourteenth-century convent above the Ionian Sea, the finest accommodation pairs cloistered history with a front-row seat on Mount Etna. We profile the villa at the summit of Sicily's most famous hotel.
6 min read