Villa Sant'Andrea

Photo #1 of 11 . Swipe for more photos. Villa Sant'Andrea Set on its own exclusive beach, beside one of the most beautiful coastlines in all of Italy, Villa Sant'Andrea overlooks the aquamarine sea. Photo copyright Orient-Express Hotels Ltd.

Overview

Built by an aristocratic family in 1830 among lush, subtropical gardens, this Orient-Express secluded retreat retains all the charm of a private residence.

Villa Sant'Andrea has sixty elegant rooms and suites, the majority of which look out over the beach and pristine waters of the private Bay of Mazzarò.

Most rooms feature expansive balconies and terraces, equipped with tables and chairs so that guests can enjoy an al fresco breakfast overlooking the sparkling sea. Connecting rooms, perfect for families and groups, and rooms with disabled access are available on request.

Settle into a sun-dappled seat and relax. Then, when action calls, a cable car whisks you in just three minutes to the centre of Taormina, with its many cultural attractions and sophisticated shopping scene.

Or explore the many splendour of the coast around Taormina with our amazing boat tour, complimentary to hotel guests!

You will spend a couple of hours sailing and discovering the beautiful Sicilian East coast. The first stop will be at the Isola Bella, to visit the beautiful Grotta Azzurra and to snorkel in the natural reserve of the island where you will be able to see many different fishes of the Ionian sea.

Then you will proceed to the north side for a short break at Capo S. Alessio, from where you can admire the medieval castle and finally you will go back to the Villa Sant'Andrea where you can enjoy a delicious lunch by the sea.


Sicily

Located where three seas — Ionian, Mediterranean and Tyrrhenian — converge, Sicily is a lush, prosperous island offering an exotic mix of cultures, cuisine and traditions. Its landscapes and attractions are as diverse as its people, who are imbued with the southern Italian passion for life.

Plunge into the rich heritage of the towns and cities: Taormina, Catania and Siracusa on the sun-drenched eastern coast, or the vibrant urban centre that is Palermo on the northern side of the island. Discover how Sicily brings together Greek, Roman, Christian, Arab, Norman and even American cultures — a unique blend of influences.


Taormina

Guy de Maupassant wrote in 1885, Taormina is "a landscape in which you can find all that seems to be created on earth to seduce the eyes, mind and fantasy." Great writers such as Goethe and DH Lawrence were equally besotted — in fact, Lawrence's most famous novel, Lady Chatterley's Lover, was said to be inspired by an Englishwoman living in Taormina.

Built on the cliffs of Mount Tauro, the town affords spectacular views of the coast with its rugged rocks, sandy coves and crystal waters, and offers a prime viewing spot for sweeping panoramas of Mount Etna, Europe's largest volcano. At night, the lights twinkling in Capo Taormina — the seaside area of the town — and the curve of the bay of Giardini Naxos are inexpressibly beautiful.