Italy’s San Domenico Palace Sets The Bar For Elegance And Opulence

If you’re a fan of the HBO show The White Lotus, then you couldn’t have missed the stunning locale of the San Domenico Palace in Season 2. The series was filmed primarily in this exclusive five-star luxury hotel in Taormina, Sicily, dazzling audiences with shots of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna. A deep dive into the accommodation’s amenities and experiences makes it apparent why the production team chose this location over many of the world-class and high-end luxury hotels on the island.

San Domenico Palace: Where History Resides

Perched on a rocky promontory high above the Ionian Sea, the San Domenico Palace used to be a Sicilian convent that was built in the 14th century. In the late 1890s, it was acquired by a businessman who set about converting the building into a swanky new hotel. Capitalising on Taormina’s reputation as a wild and fashionable place for European tourists, the hotel soon found success, becoming one of the most renowned destinations in the world.

Through the early 1900s, the hotel’s reputation grew, attracting nobility and famous writers and artists, such as King Edward VII of England, the second Baron Rothschild, Oscar Wilde and D H Lawrence. During World War II, the San Domenico Palace was used as headquarters by the German army; as a result, it was bombed by the Allies in 1943. The convent’s church was almost totally destroyed and required reconstruction using elements from the original architecture.

Upon reopening as a hotel around 1946, the San Domenico Palace was the scene of many over-the-top parties, where the Allies mingled with the locals and danced all night long to Italian and American bands. From the 1950s and beyond, it welcomed the world’s most illustrious stars of stage and screen, including Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren.

Staying At The San Domenico Palace

So, what is it like to stay at the San Domenico Palace? Whether you choose a basic room or the spaciousness of the Royal Suite, each chamber has picture-postcard views of the town, cloister, ancient theatre or sea. The bedding is furnished with down pillows and duvets, while the bathrooms come with thick terry bathrobes, a lighted make-up mirror, a bidet and deluxe toiletries.

During your stay, guests can take advantage of the 24-hour concierge and in-room dining facilities, complimentary overnight shoeshine services, babysitting services, and rental cars or limousine transportation.

The dining experience is exceptional, too. The Michelin-starred signature restaurant Principe Cerami is where award-winning chef Massimo Mantarro presents quintessential Sicilian cuisine that highlights local ingredients and traditions. The swish Italian restaurant Rosso, which overlooks the breathtaking landscapes of Mount Etna and Taormina Bay, offers an elevated dining experience with seasonal Italian dishes crafted from the finest Mediterranean ingredients. Then there’s the Bar & Chiostro, where guests can sip on handcrafted cocktails or fine Sicilian wines while indulging in a selection of gourmet small plates—all inspired by local flavours. Finally, guests can head to Anciovi, the hotel’s signature seafood restaurant, for light dishes that showcase Sicilian specialities and Mediterranean seafood while lounging in the warm sunshine or cool nights at the pool terrace. At the poolside bar, expert mixologists serve innovative cocktails inspired by Sicily’s eclectic heritage, like the Campari Sletz and the Kir Royal.

If all this hedonism leaves you feeling desirous of a slow and relaxed experience, check into the Botanica Spa where you can enjoy restorative treatments inspired by the plants and flowers that bloom in the hotel’s gardens. Afterwards, immerse yourself in the infinity pool, a serene oasis among the cliffs of Taormina that blends luxury with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean.

Exclusive Experiences

There are a few things that only guests at the San Domenico Palace are privy to. Staff can arrange a guided tour of the magnificent art collection of the hotel, which includes paintings, sculptures, relics and artefacts from the building’s origins as a convent as well as more contemporary art. The goal is to provide visitors with a visually engaging and emotionally inspiring link between the past, the present and the future.

You can follow this up with a stroll across the two cloistered courtyards on the property, where exquisitely manicured Italian gardens shaded by jasmine and hibiscus trees sway to the sound of cicadas.

The Information

Address: Via S. Domenico, 5, 98039 Taormina ME, Italy

Tariff: A two-night stay for one person, as of May 2025, starts at INR 5,18,138