San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel

The Sicilian town of Taormina is nothing if not spectacular, with the Ionian Sea at its feet and Mount Etna at its back. No less spectacular is San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel — first a 14th-century convent, later a 19th-century grand hotel, playing host to everyone from Oscar Wilde to Audrey Hepburn. And now, as a member of the Four Seasons family, it’s simply a top-flight luxury resort, made newly famous in America as the setting for the second season of The White Lotus.

It’s been thoroughly renovated along the way, bringing its facilities up to 21st-century luxury standard — but aesthetically, the treatment has been subtle, retaining as much of the historical atmosphere as possible. It’s full of artworks and antiques, and not reproductions but originals from the old convent’s collection, lending the décor an authenticity that’s beyond reproach. The rooms and suites, of course, have been updated as well, though the changes are similarly subtle — functionally they’re as modern as can be, while the look is something approaching timelessness.

A stunning pool terrace, a lavish spa, and a generous handful of very fine restaurants and bars are present as a matter of course. Meanwhile the hotel’s offerings go beyond typical luxury fare, and present options that are tailored to the location: from tastings of local wines to culinary and architectural tours and even sailing expeditions along the Sicilian coast.