From TaoArte to TaoBuk and Taomoda, the Sicilian town becomes an international destination, with events, sea, design and outstanding addresses in the heart of its historic centre.
As summer arrives, Taormina once again takes centre stage with a packed and varied calendar of events, attracting lovers of music, cinema, art, fashion and design. From the exhibition Gesti Scolpiti by sculptor Jago, running until 30 June, to Taormina Arte, from June to September, TaoBuk – the Taormina International Book Festival, from 18 to 22 June – and Taomoda, from 14 to 18 July, the town and its Ancient Theatre become a stage for international cultural and artistic life. There are plenty of reasons — alongside its history, crystalline sea and views of Mount Etna — to plan an evening, a weekend or a longer stay in one of Sicily’s most coveted destinations. And there is one place, just off Corso Umberto and a stone’s throw from the Duomo, that can certainly add to the magic of a stay in Taormina: Palazzo Vecchio Taormina, a boutique hotel with twelve suites, each with a unique design inspired by Mediterranean, Baroque or Moorish atmospheres. Here, architecture, food and design sit at the heart of a hospitality project built around creating a memorable experience: the kind one seeks out and, once found, never forgets.
Built on 16th-century walls, Palazzo Vecchio Taormina unfolds within a 19th-century noble palazzo.
The vision behind it belongs to Stefano Gegnacorsi, owner and managing director, who brings years of experience in high-end hospitality in Italy. For the redesign, he turned to architect Andrea Perra, whose concept draws on the splendour of a glorious past while telling the contemporary story of this much-loved town. “Palazzo Vecchio Taormina aims to recreate a contemporary stop on the Grand Tour that travellers undertook between the 18th and 19th centuries,” says Perra. “We want to guide guests into a traditional Taormina home, defined by the art of hospitality and welcome.” Past and present converse at every turn in this enveloping space, captivating through its forms, materials and Mediterranean colours. Guests move through a sequence of rooms rich in allusion: a colonial-style orangerie, typical of early 20th-century Sicilian homes; a lounge bar wrapped in trompe-l’œil wallpaper and furnished with velvet seating and antique pieces. “The idea is to welcome people as if into a home,” Perra adds. “To be innovative, you have to look to the past. We reinterpret an ancient Sicily through a contemporary lens.”
Whether for an aperitivo, dinner or an overnight stay, Palazzo Vecchio Taormina opens its doors with warmth and spirit, revealing itself as the perfect place for moments of joy and beauty. Suspended between sky and sea, the Blue Sky Bar — set on the terrace of a crenellated tower — serves signature cocktails such as Comu finisci si cunta, Camurria Etna and M’Arricriai, alongside dishes including Arancineddi and Panelle, or Sali, pipi e lumia, among others.
For the creations of chef Giuseppe Privitera, guests can head to Ristorante Monsù, whose dishes evoke the ancient recipes of the Monsù — the chefs who served aristocratic families under the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies — reimagined with contemporary elegance and skill.
Highlights include the risotto with scorpionfish, orange and thyme, or the fillet of ombrina, also known as meagre, alla Norma. And to finish, especially if fish has been the thread running through the meal, there is Latte e mandorla, perhaps paired with one of the finest Marsala wines. Sommelier Francesco Tizzone will provide the perfect guidance.
And if, enchanted by a night under the stars at the Blue Sky Bar and dinner at Ristorante Monsù, guests wish to extend their stay — perhaps to discover the magnificent breakfast — the suites welcome them into spaces that range from clean and contemporary to Baroque or Moroccan-inspired.
The next morning, while checking the day’s events or planning excursions around the area, it is worth treating the palate to the sheer pleasure of granita with fresh whipped cream and a warm brioche. For those who prefer something savoury, there are Provola delle Madonie, Vastedda del Belice and Maiorchino — all Slow Food Presidia — for the joy of the taste buds and as a tribute to Carlo Petrini, who taught us what it means to eat food that is “good, clean and fair.”
Cover image: Blue Sky Bar on the terrace of Palazzo Vecchio Taormina. Courtesy: Palazzo Vecchio Taormina.
