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An Unforgettable Luxury Escape

An Unforgettable Luxury Escape

Hotel Villa Carlotta

Taormina has long served as the summer escape of choice for the idols of the silver screen, great artists and literary giants.  Perched dramatically on the side of a mountain and overlooking the sparkling Ionian Sea, Taormina offers an intoxicating blend of chic style and rustic authenticity, a true taste of the very best of Sicily.  Located just a few minutes’ walk from the historic yet stylish town centre, the Hotel Villa Carlotta almost seems to serve as the gateway to a life of unrivalled luxury, Sicilian style.  The Luxury Travel Guide team had been offered the unique opportunity to enjoy a stay at this four star boutique hotel, and it proved to surpass our every expectation.
 
After a long but beautiful journey along coastal roads, we finally began ascending towards Taormina, driving carefully along a hairpin bend road that snaked its way up the mountain side.  Conveniently, the hotel is located just off the main road, making it easy to find and, as we soon realised, the ideal base from which to explore the town.  Upon arrival, we were immediately greeted by a team of exceptionally friendly staff, led by Nathalie, the Front Office Manager, who was eager for us to enjoy as pleasant a stay as possible.  After a quick tour of the hotel, she led us to our room where we were to experience the first of many spectacular stand out features. 
 
A member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World group, Hotel Villa Carlotta offers just 23 rooms and suites making it a haven of exclusivity and peace. In addition, the hotel provides four luxury independent town apartments and a three bedroomed villa on the shore’s edge (the Villa al mare is an exclusive waterfront retreat, ideal for families and large groups who wish to utilise the excellent services of the hotel whilst enjoying heightened privacy.)  Our Junior Suite was incredibly spacious and light and offered two standing balconies; one overlooking the beautifully manicured hotel grounds and, beyond that, the sea, and the other providing hazy views of Mt. Etna looming in the distance.  Each guest room has been carefully designed by internationally renowned Florentine interior designer Studio Area Firenze, resulting in a harmonious blend of antique and modern fittings, warm tones and a luxurious atmosphere.  Other features included a comfortable seating area, a mini bar and safe, individually controlled air-conditioning, complimentary Wi-Fi, an LCD TV and tea and coffee making facilities.  The beautiful bathroom offered complimentary luxury toiletries, bathrobes and slippers and a hairdryer.
 
After spending a few hours doing nothing but relaxing in our beautiful room and drinking up the sublime views, (waking up to that glorious panorama remains one of the highlights of our stay) we ventured up to the roof top restaurant for dinner.  Here again were we reminded Hotel Villa Carlotta’s unrivalled location; an open terrace wrapped around the restaurant, allowing diners to feast on spectacular sea views as the sun slowly sank behind the mountains.  Once again, we were treated to outstanding service; the waiters clearly took the time to get to know their guests, greeting them by name and enquiring as to how they had spent their day.  We were offered a detail menu that featured succulent seafood, a range of traditional pasta dishes, decadent desserts and other Sicilian specialities such as exquisite wines, regional olive oil and freshly prepared bread, prepared by head chef David Costa and his team.  We lingered over dinner, retreating to the elegant lounge bar to enjoy coffee before succumbing to sleep and enjoying a comfortable night’s rest.
 
Breakfast was a delightful affair; served again on the terrace restaurant, guests are treated to delicious organic local foods such as fruits and vegetables, breads, cold meats and cheeses.  However, the finest feature of the breakfast buffet was the ‘sweetness table’, laden with freshly made cakes and pastries prepared by the hotel’s resident pastry chef.  As it looked to be another beautiful day, we decided to spend the morning beside the small and beautiful private pool; set amidst a beautiful garden, guests can relax under sun umbrellas and order refreshment from the pool house.  Although the lure of the town was strong, it was difficult to leave the laid back yet elegant confines of Hotel Villa Carlotta, although Nathalie was more than happy to offer recommendations of the best sites and restaurants in town.  We finally did set out to explore every inch of Taormina, but only safe in the knowledge that we had another night in this Sicilian paradise to look forward to.
 
Hotel Villa Carlotta, Via Pirandello 81, 98039, Taormina
Website: http://www.hotelvillacarlottataormina.com
Email: info@villacarlotta.net
Tel: +39-0942-626058

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