The Hotel Villa Carlotta~A Stay in Sicilian Luxury

If you could pick anywhere in the world to visit for your 1-year wedding anniversary, where would you go?

Beach lover? History buff? European addict?

I fall into all 3 categories and so.many.more., fortunately and unfortunately. We had a destination wedding–so our wedding and honeymoon was essentially rolled into one great big ball of fun & vacation–which was awesome!…

But, we did spend our wedding and some of our honeymoon with 38 other people, so being the travelers that we are, we knew we wanted something *really* special and truly remarkable to celebrate our first year together.

Enter—->Sicily.

You’re probably thinking that we didn’t need to fly to Europe to find a really special destination to celebrate our first year together. And, you are correct! But, at this time in my life, I had never been to Europe before and I was lusting for it.

My whole life I had longed to travel to Italy, specifically Sicily. My grandmother is from there and the idea of Italy seemed so…romantic. Erick had backpacked with his friends around Europe in a whirlwind 10 day trek in 2002. But as he said, “that’s hardly the same thing as spending time in a beautiful city with your wife!” He was correct. This vacation was going to be slightly different 🙂

The planning stages of our luxurious Sicilian getaway had started underway many months prior to the actual trip. I started by researching what area of Sicily we would want to visit.

Sicily is actually a HUGE island. It’s the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and makes up just shy of 10,000 sq. miles of land. That’s a BIG island! With this in mind, we really had to narrow down where we wanted to visit and stay. This one year anniversary trip was going to be all about luxurious accommodations, a relaxing pace and stunning views!

Due to Taormina’s close proximity to the mainland, which we were going to be visiting during the second half of our vacation to Italy, and it’s juxtaposition to Mount Etna, Teatro Greco Roman Theater & the Ionian Sea…Taormina became our top choice! Next up—->Where do we stay?

First of all, there are so many wonderful accommodations in Taormina…how does one pick?

We did have a very specific set of criteria for our accommodations: luxury, location, and a focus on boutique-style charm and gourmet Italian food. Erick and I have always LOVED boutique-style accommodations. You know the ones where the inn-keepers or hotel managers make you feel like family–they help you seamlessly feel like a local all while treating you like royalty. After a lengthy internet search for this style of accommodation, we finally narrowed it down, and we knew after just one visit to the Hotel Villa Carlotta’s website, that we had found the accommodation of our dreams…

Friends. THIS hotel…

To this day, I have a hard time speaking about our experience with the Hotel Villa Carlotta without getting all sorts of giddy!

Throughout our years of travel, we have spent time at some seriously amazing hotels, resorts and inns. However, the Hotel Villa Carlotta takes the cake in all of our criteria we just listed.

Hotel Villa Carlotta–The Facade

Just walking down the street and coming face-to-face with this dashing beauty was enough to take our breath away.

From the moment you walk up to the ancient but contemporary-restored building, you are greeted with a refined style all its own.

The sea-facing view of the Hotel Villa Carlotta will stir your heart even more. Enjoy the stunning panoramic views of the Ionian Sea while gazing from your room’s balcony or sipping hand-crafted cocktails from their exquisite pool deck. It’s Mediterranean luxury at its very finest.

Rooms, Suites, Apartments & Villas

There are so many room options at the Hotel Villa Carlotta to choose from. The staff here focuses on meeting your EVERY need. Traveling with children or other family members? Need a living room area to sprawl out in? Do you desire a kitchen and dining room during your stay?

The Hotel Villa Carlotta boasts 29 rooms to choose from including five suites, four luxury apartments and two grand villas–you are sure to find a room as unique as your individual needs.

When we booked our stay at the Hotel Villa Carlotta, our biggest concerns were privacy and charm. When I sleep, I like it QUIET. I really struggle with sleeping away from home, especially in large, loud hotels. We wanted a room that was located in a very quiet corner. All of Villa Carlotta’s rooms boast extreme privacy, so this was easy to find here. We also desired a charming room traditionally decorated in beautiful Italian decor.

We were lucky enough to enjoy one of their rooms at the end of the hallway on the first floor. And, at first glance, we noticed that this room was so much more spacious than typical European accommodations.

A beautiful King-sized bed adorned with the finest in European linens was perfectly placed across from the two-chair sitting area.

And, even though we were staying in a first floor room, the way that the Hotel Villa Carlotta sits on the landscape, these rooms had balconies! It was really special each morning to wake up, grab coffee and look at the view outside the balcony of the Ionian Sea. It was absolutely magical.

Eat, Drink & Be Merry at the Hotel Villa Carlotta

If I had to pick one place to return to that I’ve visited, it would be the Hotel Villa Carlotta. But, not for the reasons that I’ve already described above. Sure, the hotel is absolutely stunning, the staff is completely flawless and the location within the resort town of Taormina is downright perfection–it’s because of the Breakfast Room & buffet, my friends.

Go ahead & swoon. I’ll wait.

Yes, my friends. This is the stuff my vacation dreams are entirely comprised of: truly relaxing rooms & an endless breakfast buffet with captivating views of Mount Etna.

There is no better way to start off the day than to enjoy a magnificent breakfast on an open-aired terrace overlooking the Ionian Sea. Mount Etna was even perking its mighty peak up in the background!

From every nook and cranny of the breakfast buffet room, you’ll find the most sumptuous, freshly-made and locally sourced foods that you have EVER seen.

There was a bread bar! It consists of several different types of breads and breakfast pastries as well as dozens of different condiments and spreads to slather all over them.

On another table, there was a plethora of fresh seasonal fruits, freshly-pressed juices, local cheeses and of course, the famous Illy espresso.

And, I simply cannot forget the hot breakfast entrees of different styles of eggs and bacon and sausage. This was not any old hotel breakfast buffet my friends, this was a gift from above.

The breakfast buffet started around 7:30 a.m. each morning. Erick and I would find a seat outside on the terrace each morning right at that time. We easily stayed for several hours each morning.

This was hands-down the very best part of each day & we did lots of excursions around the Taormina area, too!

The impressive nature of their local food and drink movement does not end with the breakfast buffet at the Hotel Villa Carlotta. In fact, that’s just the beginning!

Their attention to the boutique food movement is carried throughout the hotel into their exclusive “torre” lounge. Here, guests of the hotel can enjoy local Etna wines, freshly crafted cocktails or a relaxing apertif. Make sure to try the Malvasia or Sicilian muscat!

Each night, Erick and I would enjoy a glass of gorgeous, leggy Etna-derived wine from the lounge prior to our dinner reservations. It was the perfect way to start the evening.

As if the breakfast buffet and lounge weren’t enticing enough, I’m going to go next-level and introduce you to the Hotel Villa Carlotta’s Il Miraggio Restaurant.

The morning breakfast room and terrace are transformed come lunch & dinner time offering dishes made entirely of local products that best represent traditional Sicilian cuisine.

From pastas to fresh, local fish and seafood, Executive Chef David Costa and his talented team will ignite the foodie fire within you.

Even if you choose to try a new restaurant in the local area of Taormina each night, do yourself a favor and make at least one night at home with Il Miraggio. You’ll be so glad you ‘stayed in.’

Splish Splash~Poolside At The Hotel Villa Carlotta

While Taormina, Sicily does boast a gorgeous mild Mediterranean climate year-round, it’s rare to get weather warm enough to enjoy the hotel pool in February and March. This happened to be the exact time of year we visited the Hotel Villa Carlotta.

If you remember, this was a vacation to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary, so it was more about the location and that it occur during our anniversary, than to hang out in the hot, hot sun at the pool!

Even though we didn’t get to swim in their beautiful pool, I would like to share just how magical it looked and the gorgeous grounds that surround the pool area.

The pool usually opens in April or May, right as the summer tourism season is starting to bloom in Taormina. If you’re lucky enough to visit during these months and swim in your pool…well, then you are lucky enough!

Location, Location, Location!

When Erick and I are researching accommodations for any vacation we go on, one of the most important factors is WHERE the hotel is located.

We are active vacationers, meaning that we love to walk a lot on vacation. That’s how we can justify all the food + drinks! However, even if a hotel is amazing but is located out in the ‘boondocks’ we will most likely pass. We always like being centrally-located to the local restaurants, shops, entertainment and historical landmarks. We want to be able to easily get to these attractions; not have to take 3 buses, 8 metro stops + a car ride to get there!

The Hotel Villa Carlotta is special for this very reason! Not only is it this gorgeous, stand-alone boutique hotel with all.of.the.charms, its close proximity to the downtown area of Taormina and Isola Bella, the beach resort town right below Taormina, makes it truly one of a kind.

The Hotel Villa Carlotta is located within walking distance to downtown Taormina. It is a quick car ride to many of the other popular surrounding areas.

I sure hope my information about our stay at the Hotel Villa Carlotta in Taormina, Sicily has further inspired your love of travel & perhaps heightened your desire to try out the Eastern edge of Sicily. I LOVE hearing from my readers, so please feel free to send me some correspondence or comment below.

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If you enjoyed this post, check out my blog post about our luxurious trip to Bermuda! Or, if you want to hear more about Italy, check out my Guide to 10 Days in Tuscany! These are sure to put your vacation planning on full speed! Please share with your friends & sign up for my newsletter to stay updated on our adventures near & far! Until our next adventure—>Ciao!