San Domenico Hotel, Hotel in Taormina, Sicily, Italy
San Domenico Hotel is a hotel in Taormina, housed in a former Dominican monastery dating to the 15th century. The building has two wings: the older part retains the original vaulted ceilings and cloister, while the newer wing was added in the late 19th century in the Liberty style.
The building was founded as a Dominican monastery in the 15th century and was converted into a hotel in 1896 by the Rosso family. During World War II, it served as the headquarters of German Field Marshal Albert Kesselring.
The building carries the name of Saint Dominic, reflecting the religious roots embedded in its structure. Today, visitors experience it as a place where monastic heritage and contemporary hospitality coexist, with the layered history visible in every corridor and room.
The hotel sits on a hill just above the old town of Taormina and can be reached on foot from the Piazza IX Aprile in just a few minutes. Those arriving by car should be aware that Taormina's narrow streets can be tricky to navigate.
The hotel was used as the filming location for the second season of the television series 'The White Lotus', which brought it worldwide attention. Some of the inscriptions and sculptures still visible in the cloister date back to the original monastery and go unnoticed by most visitors.
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