Grand Hotel Timeo, Sicily

NEED TO KNOW

The first hotel to be built in Taormina, it sits in the most perfect location, directly in front of the Greek Theatre with stunning gardens lending a country-house feel

Sweeping views of the coastline and majestic Mount Etna stretch out beyond

All 70 rooms and suites at Grand Hotel Timeo are stylishly decorated and most boast terraces or balconies

Choose to stay in the hotel or, for added privacy, in Villa Flora, a delightful country house just 50 metres from the main building

The heated, panoramic swimming pool is surrounded by beautiful terraced gardens

Complimentary shuttle to the private beach at Villa Sant'Andrea and daily boat cruise

THE HOTEL
As with many Orient-Express hotels, this heritage building is a landmark within its destination. Rooms and suites are stylishly decorated with Italian flair. Most have beautiful terraces or balconies. The suites evoke the opulent Italian Baroque style, while the Presidential Suite enjoys the added attraction of an expansive terrace with a summerhouse, a lounge, dining room and small hydro-massage swimming pool. Guests can choose to stay in the hotel or, for added privacy, in Villa Flora, a delightful country house just 50 metres from the main building.

A minutes walk to the many shops and restaurants of Taormina. The location of this hotel is fabulous, giving you the bustle of the town and the peace and tranquillity of the spacious hotel grounds with landscaped gardens and tropical vegetation.

Grand Hotel Timeo shares facilities, including restaurants, bars and swimming pools, with Villa Sant'Andrea, the other Orient-Express hotel in Taormina.

Boasting one of the most magical backdrops, a timeless panorama in which Mount Etna and Capo Taormina are the stars of the show, the Restaurant matches its location with spectacular Sicilian and Mediterranean cuisine. The menu focuses on mouthwatering seasonal produce and local specialties, including Pachino cherry tomatoes, Bronte pistachios, capers from Salina, red garlic from Nubia, and fine regional wines such as Nero d'Avola and Moscato di Pantelleria.

In the shade of a cool pergola, next to the swimming pool, you will find the casual restaurant, the Pool Snack Bar, open at lunch time. A wide range of light snacks, brick-oven pizzas, a salad buffet and a selection of freshly caught fish can be enjoyed overlooking the enchanting panorama of the volcano and the sea below.

The "Literary Terrace" is the ideal spot from which to admire the stunning panorama of Mount Etna and the Bay of Taormina while sipping a Bellini or a Limoncello. The indoor bar is a masterpiece of Sicilian art and design, evoking the magical atmosphere of a 19th-century winter garden.

Immersed in the perfumes and colours of the five acres of the hotel gardens is the Wellness Centre. With signature products from Aromatherapy Associates and Panpuri made from local flowers and fruit essences, such as Neroli oil, this is the place to pamper your body in true Sicilian style. The Wellness Centre includes massage rooms, sauna, steam bath and hairdresser's parlour. The Fitness Centre, offers new equipment by Technogym with integrated TV sets, and a variety of exercise machines.

Reserve your table on the beautiful terrace or in the elegant dining room for an exceptional gastronomic experience at The Restaurant.