A legend of the Grand Tour, the 5-star luxury hotel in Taormina, famous for its romantic views of Isola Bella and a panoramic pool with a thousand reflections, has treated itself to a dream restyling for summer 2026.

There’s a special place, walking down Via Pirandello in Taormina, where the blue of the Ionian Sea blends with the green of the Mediterranean scrub and the silhouette of Isola Bella. This is where the Grand Hotel San Pietro stands, the 5-star luxury jewel of the Lindbergh Hotels collection, a hotel group founded by Nardo Filippetti with roots in the finest Italian hospitality.

One of the most exclusive and private addresses in Sicily, the history of the Grand Hotel San Pietro reads like the script of a Hollywood film, a cinematic allure reflected in the grandeur of the restoration that has given it a new look for the summer of 2026.

Suspended between sky and sea, the Grand Hotel San Pietro offers the privilege of an enchanting view of the Ionian Sea and stands in a strategic position overlooking Taormina, surrounded by the enigmatic majesty of Etna, the poetry of Isola Bella and its cobalt fairytale, the Blue Grotto.

Its history, amidst Danish heritage, wartime secrets, and a patron saint

It all began in the early 1900s. Two Danish sisters, Christina and Augusta Hoff-Hansen, teachers in Copenhagen, decided to move to Taormina due to one of them’s failing health. Falling in love with the view of Isola Bella, they purchased a property, and to help with expenses, the Pensione Villa San Pietro was founded, designed to accommodate Northern European travelers seeking the legend of the Grand Tour.

The name is likely a sentimental homage to Sankt Petri Kirke, the oldest church in Copenhagen, but also a tribute to Taormina’s tradition, linked to its first bishop, Saint Pancras, a disciple of Saint Peter.
During World War II, the villa served first as the headquarters of the German Navy and then of the American General Staff. The famous General Montgomery also visited, welcomed by the hotel’s legendary director, Danish-born Agnese Mogensen, one of Taormina’s most beloved and famous figures in the postwar era. After two decades of neglect following its sale in the 1970s to the German fashion house Burda, the villa has now returned to its former glory thanks to the farsighted entrepreneurial vision of Nardo Filippetti.

The New Life of the Grand Hotel San Pietro

Today, after a three-year renovation that began in 2023 and an investment of over €16 million, the Grand Hotel San Pietro inaugurates the 2026 season by unveiling its new look. This is not just a simple renovation, but a symbiotic dialogue with the light and landscape of Taormina that has affected every area of ​​the hotel.
Many new features include the building’s new warm red hue, inspired by the hues of Sicilian coastal rocks at sunset, and the renovation of the 63 rooms and suites, including the incredible Isola Bella Penthouse Suite located on the top floor with views of the bay of Taormina and Mount Etna, one of the most beautiful on the island.

The hotel’s star feature is the panoramic pool overlooking the Ionian Sea, clad in three-tone Bisazza mosaics that amplify the water’s reflections depending on the time of day. The pool’s redesigned lighting accompanies the experience from morning until sunset.

The Cuisine: From fine dining to Rotonda sul Mare, one of the world’s most famous terraces

The gastronomic offering is spread across various spaces that celebrate Italian flair and island tradition, including:
Rizza: the new pool restaurant, opening in summer 2026, perfect for a light lunch featuring raw seafood and salads, pasta dishes, and an excellent pizza, or for a sunset cocktail.
Il Giardino degli Ulivi: the hotel’s main restaurant, where breakfast and dinner are served. During the summer months, it is served on the splendid sea-view Ulivum terrace, where guests are treated to tableside cooking techniques, such as flambé, an art that combines spectacle and intense flavors.

Bàtu: the fine-dining restaurant, open in the evenings, led by Executive Chef Luca Miuccio, where Sicilian ingredients are elevated to contemporary works of art and the finest locally sourced vegetables take center stage.
La Rotonda sul Mare: the renowned, unique private and exclusive terrace literally suspended above Isola Bella. From dawn to dusk, from breakfast to dinner under the stars, every moment at La Rotonda unfolds with discretion and harmony, accompanied by a dedicated Maitre d’, a pure Sicilian-style table setting, and a gastronomic offering that celebrates the most authentic flavors of Sicily.

Belvedere Café: the hotel’s lounge bar with a sea-view terrace for a signature cocktail, tapas, and snacks, or a coffee break.
Spa Plumiere: a natural retreat
Nestled in the Mediterranean garden, Spa Plumiere will expand in 2026 with three new treatment rooms, including a couples’ suite, and an ice waterfall.

The wellness experience includes a Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, panoramic jacuzzis with breathtaking views of the Ionian Sea, and a Technogym gym with state-of-the-art equipment for working out surrounded by greenery and blue.
And for those who want to relax on the beach, the Grand Hotel San Pietro is affiliated with the nearby lidos: Lido La Caravella, Nuova Spiaggia Paradiso and Tao Beach.

All the magic of a century-old history is evident in the dedications in Villa San Pietro’s guest books. Among them, many are illustrious, such as one written by former Danish Minister of Justice K.K. Steincke, a guest at Villa San Pietro from February 20 to March 30, 1927:
“When panic, struggle,
difficulties, and politics make you exasperated
and your physical strength fails you,
don’t seek relief in a clinic, but follow this tactic:
Choose a southern region,
Taormina, where the Hoff-Hansens’ guesthouse is located
(the house is very beautiful and they are very kind),
where they will take care of you
as they would a wife.”

One hundred years later, the staff of the Grand Hotel San Pietro is still there, ready to pamper every guest, today as then.

The Secret

In 1943, Taormina was bombed several times, but Villa San Pietro was not hit by even the smallest fragment of a grenade, so much so that the locals were convinced that it was “Saint Peter” San Pietro who had protected the villa.

Useful Info

Grand Hotel San Pietro
Via Pirandello 50
98039 Taormina, Messina
Tel. +39 0942 620711
info.sanpietro@lbhs.it

Large private parking for the exclusive use of guests (a true luxury in Taormina).
Rooms: from €650 with breakfast
Batù: 3 courses €105, 3 glasses of wine pairing €75, 5 courses €125, 5 glasses of wine pairing €105
Giardino degli Ulivi: appetizers from €22, first courses from €28, and second courses from €45
Cocktails: from €24
Tapas: from €15
Burgers and sandwiches: from €34