Page 282 - The Rough Guide of Sicily

car park is further from the centre, and is a lengthy walk up steps to Via Cappuccini,

though a free minibus service (bus navetta) shuttles from Piazza San Pancrazio (just
below Porta Messina) to and from the Lumbi car park and saves you the 10min
climb. Alternatively, park near the coast at Mazzarò, and take the cable car up to
town. Tariffs (€5–7 for 2hr 30min, €12.50–16 for 24hr, €20.50–28 for 48hr) are

slightly higher at Porta Catania, and higher at all car parks in August.

HOTELS

Isoco Via Salita Branco 2 0942 23 679, isoco.it. The five rooms in this small
boutique hotel are quirkily themed on such artists as Botticelli and Keith Haring, and
each has its own entrance, a/c, safe and minibar, with a private bathroom across the
corridor. Amazing breakfasts are served round a large table in the shady garden,

where there’s also a hot tub, while the roof terrace has sunbeds and views extending
north up the coast as far as Calabria. Free wi-fi. No credit cards. Closed Dec–Feb.
€98

El Jebel Salita Palazzo Ciampoli 0942 625 494, hoteleljebel.com. Taormina’s
brand-new shrine to conspicuous consumption, its nine suites occupying three floors of
a dandified fifteenth-century palazzo up from the main corso. Inside it’s all very
Hollywood-Dubai: lavish bathrooms caked in treacly, liquorice-veined marble, gold
taps, claw-foot baths and enough mirrors to make narcissists feel they’ve died and
gone to heaven. The rooms themselves are more subdued, spacious and very

comfortable. Service is excellent, and waiter-served breakfasts exceptional. Expect to
feel exceedingly (but discreetly) pampered, especially at the spa. Excellent deals via
the website. €300

La Pensione Svizzera Via Pirandello 26 0942 23 790, pensionesvizzera.com.
Just up from the bus terminal and cable-car station, this comfortable hotel has lovely
views from its spacious rooms (with prices increasing by €5–10 for a sea view), 24hr

bar service, free wi-fi throughout and a shuttle to a private beach. Excellent value for
money. €115

San Domenico Palace Piazza San Domenico 5 0942 613 111, thi.it. The last
word in luxury, and one of the most celebrated hotels in Italy, housed in a fifteenth-
century convent with gorgeous formal gardens, unsurpassable views, a Michelin-
starred restaurant and stratospheric prices. Refreshingly, staff are both relaxed and

gracious. Luxuriate in one of the €3000-per-night suites, and you feel you’ve died and
gone to heaven, but do check the website as there are deals on rooms for a fraction of
that. Rooms €316

Villa Angela Via Leonardo da Vinci 0942 27 038, hotelvillaangela.com. Ever