Think La Dolce Vita. Think the glamour of the 1950’s, when travel was still an adventure. Then think of a fabulous hotel overlooking a topaz blue Italian sea, with gourmet dining and every modern comfort, and that is the Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea, perched above its very own private the beach overlooking the exclusive Bay of Mazaro.
Built as a private home in the early nineteenth century, this exquisite hotel has everything you could want from your holiday in Sicily. We arrived at around mid morning, and our suite was ready and waiting for us. Remember being a kid on Christmas Day, and not knowing which present to open first? That’s a bit how we felt as we settled into our room, which featured pale green and cream décor, a king sized and very comfortable bed, and a separate sitting area. My companion loved the walk in wardrobe, such a luxury, and I loved the TV and free wifi - although these items are standard really, they are still a pleasure that I savor.
As we had been travelling for several hours, we decided to order a refreshing cup of tea, which was brought to our room with commendable speed, and which we drank on our balcony, overlooking the ridiculously blue sea. Our view was over the private beach, where loungers and umbrellas awaited us, as well as some attractive looking rocks for exploring rock pools, and of course the lure of swimming in the sea, not to mention drinks and ice creams from the beach bar.
“Living the Italian high life by the sea”
My companion decided a bath would be next, and she wallowed in a marble bath tub; singing “O sole mia”, I am sorry to report. Later, a walk around the gardens revealed a gorgeous heated horizon pool, and views to the local town of Taormina, which we subsequently found was a delight to explore with lots of quaint shops and restaurants. We also enjoyed the daily free boat trips along the coastline, a marvelous way of spending a couple of carefree hours and perfecting your sun tan. Of course, the hotel has the now ubiquitous spa offering a range of luxury treatments.
Our dining experiences at Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea were more than memorable, and these alone made the stay more than worth while.
The whole place is designed for happiness, fun and relaxation. All in all, a truly appealing hotel, elegant yet casual, and perfect for families and the young at heart.
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The Bill: £380 per night
