Villa Mon Repos

In a region with such a long and rich history as Sicily — the Greeks settled on the island in the 8th century B.C.E. — a hundred-year-old villa is practically brand new. It’s true that the hilltop Villa Mon Repos is not one of the older buildings around. But it’s certainly one of its more glamorous. Marlene Dietrich was a guest even before the the Art Nouveau-style structure was turned into Taormina’s first casino in the early sixties, and it went on to attract the likes of Cary Grant and Gregory Peck along with stars of the Italian cinema.

That crowd has moved on, and Villa Mon Repos is back to its decidedly quieter original function. ‘Mon Repos’ is French for ‘my place of rest,’ a name that lends itself more to relaxing over a leisurely breakfast than doubling down at the blackjack table. It’s a tranquil boutique hotel these days, elegant but beach-casual, with drop-dead gorgeous views of the sea from nearly every room. The original villa contains four suites, but the property extends well beyond the landmark building, with fourteen free-standing “luxury residences” scattered around the surrounding park. The trade-off is what you’d expect: there’s more historic charm to the suites, with their French windows and moulded ceilings and doorways, but more room to stretch out in the spacious residences.

What all of the guest quarters share are first-rate amenities, from the fine linens to the all-natural bath products, from flat-screen TVs to complimentary wi-fi. All suites and residences feature bay views; most, though not all, have private terraces. You could have breakfast there, or in Tout Va, the hotel’s restaurant, located in the original villa, or by either infinity pool; there are two, one next to the main house and another tucked away in the park, between residences.

There’s plenty to see and do within walking distance, but Villa Mon Repos, as the name suggests, is also a blissful place to do nothing. The villa’s lower terrace was reportedly Dietrich’s favorite vantage point to admire the views of Isola Bella and the deep blue Bay of Sirens, and lemons were, quite famously, her favorite cocktail garnish. That’s a fruit that happens to grow plentifully on the island: you do the math.