Taormina, ItalyHistoric Center
Hotel Villa Carlotta Taormina
Cliffside stone villa
Historic Center Taormina, Italy
Renovated
2007
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Luxe Heritage LocalOutside the door
Cliffside stone villa
The 1860 stone residence operates like an intimate family home, set above ancient rock catacombs overlooking the Ionian Sea.
What it’s good at
Notable
The Quartucci family has welcomed guests here for decades, offering private beach shuttles.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Overlooking the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna from its hillside spot in Taormina, Hotel Villa Carlotta feels like an elegant Sicilian hideaway with the warmth of a well-loved home.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Corso Umberto is a ten-minute walk away, and a private shuttle carries guests down to the beach.
1 of 5
The rooms
Most rooms open onto private balconies or terraces with sea views, furnished with handpicked antiques and warm colors.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The outdoor freshwater pool sits on a wooden deck in terraced gardens of palms and bougainvillea below the villa.
The gym
Technogym equipment sits directly inside rock chambers carved from ancient Byzantine catacombs, lined with decorative ceramic heads.
Euphoria Rooftop Restaurant
Tables sit along the panoramic glass terrace, looking across the Ionian Sea to Mount Etna over regional Sicilian dinners.
At the table
The glass-enclosed pool bar serves drinks and light lunches at tables shaded beside the garden deck.
How it began
Andrea and Rosaria Quartucci restored the 1860 noble residence in 2007, keeping the ancient cliffside catacombs beneath it intact.
Taormina
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The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.