In the center of Taormina, with a splendid view of the sea and a panoramic sky bar set among the battlements of the suggestive tower, a 5-star boutique hotel that combines the atmosphere of a 19th-century noble residence with the Moorish Gothic style in vogue during the Grand Tours.

Built on a 16th-century city wall, the ancient nineteenth-century noble residence a few steps from the central Corso Umberto I, was chosen by Stefano Gegnacorsi, a legend of Taormina hospitality after having been director of the Grand Hotel Timeo for years, to give life to his dream of hospitality.

For the restyling of the Palace, he relied on the architect and interior designer Andrea Perra, another prominent name in the luxury hotel sector, who thought of sublimating the different souls stratified over time of Palazzo Vecchio to create a timeless Sicilian residence, among exotic plants, elegant wicker furniture and antique objects that recall the explorations of the late 19th century which gave rise to elite tourism in our country.

We wanted to recreate the atmosphere of the legendary Taormina hospitality of private homes during the Grand Tour period.

(Stefano Gegnacorsi)

Palazzo Vecchio reopened in style in 2023 with 12 wonderful rooms in Venetian Gothic style and precious details inspired by the craftsmanship of the countries overlooking the Mediterranean, from Morocco to Sicily, all with a view of the sea of Taormina.

The bathrooms are very elegant, in a thousand shades of precious marble, as is the Ottoman-style spa with Turkish bath, Jacuzzi for 6 people, and relaxation area.

Breakfast is served in the bright orangery room and is a triumph of colors from the best local pastry shops, amidst the scent of freshly squeezed Sicilian orange juice and always fresh flowers.

In the evening, Palazzo Vecchio changes its look and, among the light of lanterns and candles, the Monsù Restaurant and Cocktail Bar magically come to life, frequented by the international high society that the glam Taormina attracts in all seasons.

Under the direction of chef Giuseppe Privitera, the two venues offer the ancient Sicilian culinary tradition of the Monsù, the professional chefs who worked in aristocratic homes in Sicily in the 18th and 19th centuries, a definition that comes from the French word “monsieur”.

A place where you can be tempted by the most authentic Mediterranean cuisine, capable of enhancing local raw materials while indulging in modern contaminations.

The highlight of a truly special stay, also open to non-guests of the facility, is the Blu Sky Bar, a wonderful panoramic terrace located under of the hotel tower with a view of the Ionian coast, Taormina and Isola Bella.

Here, surrounded by Gothic-Catalan battlements and exotic plants, every day from 6.00 pm to midnight, the Taormina Dolce Vita comes alive.

Aerial pics courtesy of Tyson Sadlo

The Secret

The Moorish Gothic lines of the hotel refer to Orientalism, a cultural and architectural movement that spread across Europe at the end of the 19th century starting from France and which sees many examples in luxury hotels, such as the Hotel Excelsior on the Lido of Venice.

Useful Info

Palazzo Vecchio Taormina
Salita Ciampoli 9
98039 Taormina, Messina
Tel. +39 0942 892996

Rooms from 400 euro with breakfast included