Villa Schuler Taormina

The charming Boutique Hotel Villa Schuler welcomes you in the heart of Taormina, Sicily, in a magnificent location immersed in an extraordinary exotic park in a quiet and panoramic position with breathtaking views over the bay of Naxos and the volcano Mt. Etna.

Set within expansive private grounds characterized by several relaxation areas and romantic corners that offer ample room to enjoy the hotel’s great outdoors. Carefully restored Hotel Villa Schuler in Taormina offers elegant atmospheres and personalized hospitality that puts the guest at the center of all attention in order to really make you feel at home.

Very attractive spaces and rooms featuring state-of-the-art amenities assure an unforgettable experience. Easily accessible by car and with garage and valet parking service: a real rarity in the historic center of Taormina.

Family-owned for 3 generations since 1905, the Villa Schuler is the oldest owner-run hotel in Taormina, Sicily. It is characterized by its refined ambiance and the informal atmosphere inviting its guests to experience it as a real “home”.

In recent years the hotel has been extensively refurbished, always emphasizing its original elegance, charm, and atmosphere. Constantly updating features and services.

Superbly and centrally located in the historic center of Taormina, surrounded by its own extensive, subtropical, shady terraced gardens, its unique and quiet position offers stupendous views of snow-capped Mount Etna and the Bay of Naxos.

Strolling through our gardens, it’s just a 2 minute’s walk both to the delightful Public Gardens or to Taormina’s famous traffic-free “Corso Umberto” Only 10 minutes to the ancient Greek-Roman Theatre, the bus terminal, and the cable car station, linking Taormina to the beaches of Mazzarò and of Isola Bella.

THE VILLA
The public areas are decidedly numerous and comfortable, guaranteeing the prescribed social distancing:the exotic Villa Schuler gardens, one of the largest green lungs of Taormina and famous for their astonishing variety of approx. 350 botanically labeled plant species, the panoramic Palm-Terrace overlooking the whole coastline, the elegant Palm-Terrace Orangery, the lobby with its bar and panoramic lift, the breakfast-room „Etna“ with a piano, satellite TV and reading corner, a winter-garden on the 3rd floor and the „Rooftop Lounge&Terrace“ with breathtaking, unobstructed 360-degree views of Taormina and its surroundings.

You can reserve Room Only or add different breakfast types. Our iconic and enhanced breakfast embracing Slow Food criteria is served “à la carte” either in the breakfast-room, on the panoramic Palm-Terrace, or in the Orangery. Other breakfast types can be served in the privacy of your own room.

The hotel has 21 rooms, 5 Junior Suites and one “Garden Villa Suite”, all fully equipped with modern facilities. Our guests arrive from all over the world, are mostly individual travelers. The service offered is attentive very personalized.

THE PHILOSOPHY
It was our grandfather, Eugen Schuler, who 1894 chose the perfect spot to build his Sicilian home, the Villa Schuler, in a privileged position right in the historic centre of Taormina and surrounded by a large Mediterranean park with stunning views over the Ionic coastline and Mount Etna.

A few years after completing the building, in 1905, the Villa Schuler was converted from a private villa into a hotel and since then the Schuler family has been dedicated to hospitality. Over the course of the years, we always tried to maintain the charm of a private home in our beloved villa.

With a strong passion for hospitality, we feel rooted in traditional hotellerie combined with all comforts of the modern hotel industry based on refined and genuine luxury and on the quality and authenticity of personalized services.

With our multilingual staff, we cultivate what we know is the most precious quality that characterizes Sicily: the international soul of a truly unique and hospitable Island which has been “home” to so many different great cultures.

For all of us at the Villa Schuler it is a big privilege to have the chance to welcome into our “home” guests coming from all over the world and we feel both testimonies and ambassadors of the beauty, the rich culture, of the nature and of the fragrances and tastes of Sicily. Our mission is to convey our love for our island to all our guests.

The fundaments to succeed in it are the great respect for nature and sustainable tourism and the correctness towards our guests, our staff, our suppliers, our colleagues and all our partners. And it’s adhering to these ethical values that guides us day by day. (Christine, Gerhard and Andrea Schuler)

LOCATION
Superbly situated high above the Ionian Sea in a unique position in the historical center of medieval Taormina, surrounded by its own extensive, subtropical, shady terraced gardens with palms, pine trees and old cypresses.

The charming Villa Schuler overlooks the Bay of Naxos in a quiet and panoramic position amidst one of the most scenic natural locations of Sicily, from where you can simultaneously see the neighbouring botanical gardens “Duchi di Cesarò”, the ancient Greek-Roman Theatre, the Cape of Taormina, the beautiful Bay of Naxos and the majestic silhouette of Mount Etna.

On some clear days you can overlook the whole southern coastline of Sicily as far as Catania, Augusta and Syracuse. The location is convenient and central, just a 2 minute’s walk to the botanical gardens and the traffic free “Corso Umberto”, whilst the bus-terminal and the cable-car to the enchanting bays of Mazzarò beach and of Isola Bella are only a 10 minute’s walk away.

ROOMS & SUITES
The hotel has 27 rooms, including 5 Junior Suites and one “Garden Villa Suite”. Workation rooms & facilities are available with Smart Week & Smart Month Packages. There are also 2 rooms with bathrooms designed both for guests with disabilities as well as for able-bodied guests, and that are functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Interested in a double room with two bathrooms? We have it: our Superior Double Garden View. Interested in a Suite with two bathrooms? We have it: our Garden Villa Suite. And we also have a small Day Room, which can be booked in case of a late departure in the evening.

All our rooms are comfortably equipped and re-modernized with particular attention to detail: full bathrooms with Jacuzzi shower or Jacuzzi tub, hairdryer, individually controlled air-conditioning, direct-dial telephone, refrigerator (empty), electronic safe with internal 220 V socket, satellite smart-TV, free Wi-Fi, USB charger, orthopedic beds, double glazing, soundproof doors, with sea view or to the garden-side, most of them with balcony, terrace or loggia.

Your sleeping comfort is our utmost concern. All our rooms have comfortable orthopedic beds, which can be prepared with separated beds, as twins, or with a large double bed. Each bed is prepared with 4-season hypoallergenic duvets and two hypoallergenic pillows per person.

All our beds can be prepared as single beds, as double beds or as matrimonial. In our Superior Seaview Rooms, in our Top Floor Junior Suites, the Garden View J. Suite and the Palm Terrace J.Suite the double/matrimonial version corresponds to a queen-size bed (170×200 cm/67×79 in). All brand new beds, orthopedic mattresses, and allergy-free pillows by SIMMONS.

THE BREAKFAST
At the Villa Schuler from 2021 you have the choice: you can select different breakfast options and book them along with your room.

Our full à la carte breakfast is served in the style of the traditional Grand Hotels on the palm terrace with views of the sea and Mount Etna, in the elegant Orangery or in the breakfast room “Etna”.

The large selection of our breakfast menu offers everything you need to individually compose a rich international breakfast, all breakfast dishes freshly prepared, plus the pleasure of being served at the table. Plenty of space with guaranteed social distancing.

You can also have a small breakfast served in your room: here we offer three different formulas: just a drink of your choice, or a continental breakfast, or a fruit and cereal breakfast, all freshly prepared.

EVENTS
Are you celebrating a special anniversary, a romantic weekend, your honeymoon, birthday or your wedding anniversary? Here at the Villa Schuler in Taormina it will be a memorable and unique event that we will organize for you in a very personalised and joyful way.

It can be a fingerfood garden party on our panoramic Palm Terrace, a light dinner party in our elegant dining room or an intimate sunset cocktail before dinner organized for you on our romantic Rooftop Lounge&Terrace with breathtaking unique views over the Bay of Naxos and of Mout Etna.

WEDDINGS IN SICILY
Taormina has some of the most beautiful wedding venues in the Mediterranean. If you are planning a small private wedding in Taormina with family and close friends, if the number of your guests is below 20, then Hotel Villa Schuler is most probably one of the best locations for small intimate weddings in Taormina.

It may only be the two of you and a small group of loved ones, but that’s enough to enjoy the beauty of Taormina and Sicily and the richness of its culture. Let us help you with all the details to ensure your romantic getaway is impecabbly planned and executed, so you can enjoy every minute of it.

RESTAURANTS
Taormina has more than 80 restaurants, from the traditional Sicilian “trattoria” to Michelin-star rated restaurants. Following your preferences and specific expectations we are able to suggest an accurate and personally tested selection of restaurants, which takes also in consideration the comments we get from our clients day by day.

Our hotel is also member of the Sicilian gourmet association “Le Soste di Ulisse” and we can recommend also outstanding restaurants for your onward journey on your “Tour of Taste” through Sicily.

WINE TASTINGS
In Taormina’s surrounding area there are some renowned farm wineries producing some of the best Sicilian wines on the slopes of Mount Etna, the oldest wine-growing area on Sicily.

An excursion through the famous Alcantara Valley or to Mount Etna with a guided tour followed by a professional wine tasting is a genuine feast of the senses. We will be happy to organize your customized individual excursion combined with an unforgettable wine and olive oil tasting.

THE GARDEN
A historic, botanically significant exotic park of 1500 sqm surrounds the Hotel Villa Schuler. The sea-front Palm Terrace with it’s oleanders, frangipanis and jasmines offers stunning sea views.

In the large terraced garden on the town’s side you will discover a precious botanic treasure with over 350 species of mediterranean flora as well as tropic or subtropic rarities cared by our expert and passionate gardeners.

Romantic paths, fragrant flowerbeds and shady pergolas, a herb section, a fish pond with gold fishes and water turtles, a nursery and cosy secluded corners where you can enjoy relaxing moments.

One of the things that make the Villa Schuler so special are it’s gardens. From the busy Main Street “Corso Umberto”, a dozen of steps down a small alley and entering through the wrought iron gate of the Villa Schuler Gardens, our guests find themselves immersed in lush greenery and alluring Mediterranean scents…an oasis of quietness.

The large terraced garden has been laid out by grandfather Eugenio Schuler in 1902 with palm- and lemon trees, rosemary and sage, jasmines and bougainvilleas, a pergola, a pavillion and various cosy furnished corners.

Already back then, our in the meantime more than 20 meters high pinus pinea pine was towering high above the premises. With its 200 years it´s the oldest tree in Taormina. Adding also the gardens of both our neighbours, the Villa Schuler Gardens are the largest green area inside the medieval town centre of Taormina.

Over the years various species were added. Sicilian and Mediterranean plants form the heart of the garden, surrounded by tropic and subtropic plants from all over the world. Rare palms, banana trees, cactuses and succulents.

Being passionate gardeners ourselves, some of them we brought from our own travels. In the hotels´ nursery we cure, grow and multiply them. A wide range of the plants of the Villa Schuler gardens are labeled with their botanical names and origin.

SICILIAN COOKING CLASSES IN TAORMINA
The Mediterranean diet was declared by UNESCO “Intangible Cultural Heritage” in 2010. Sicilian food follows the Mediterranean diet, which is characterized by olive oil as the dominant fat source and a high to moderate consumption of fruit and vegetables, grains, legumes and fish in combination with small amounts of meat and, of course, wine with meals.

Studies confirm the positive health effects of the Mediterranean diet and let’s not forget that the Mediterranean way of eating is tasty, flavourful and enjoyable! The best way to get to know a culture is through sampling its food, but even better is learning how to cook it!

Join a delightful cooking class in the center of Taormina, which you can book through our reception at Hotel Villa Schuler. The cooking classes takes place in walking distance from our Hotel Villa Schuler, right in the medieval center of Taormina. They are carefully planned to give you a hands-on introduction to Sicilian cuisine, organized by the passionate Sicilian chefs Francesca and Angelo and their son Mimmo.

Their cooking classes begin in the morning and end with the lunch. The day starts at 10 a.m. (meeting point is Porta Messina) with a guided shopping tour to the small Taormina market hall, where the fresh ingrediants for the meal will be bought. Mimmo is your English speaking guide.

He then takes you to the kitchen (in walking distance) where Francesca and Angelo will show you how to prepare some tipical sicilian dishes, reveiling their family receits. All family members are enthusiastic for the rich gastronomic tradition of their home country Sicily.

ICONIC TAORMINA CULT TOUR IN VINTAGE APE CALESSINO
A unique and exclusive tour through Taormina’s art, literature and cinema. Visit the places where muses and celebrities found their home here in Taormina. Sicily Art Experience reveals a treasure chest of secret stories of Taormina, evoking glamour, emotions and authentic La Dolce Vita flavors.

The iconic Grand Tour comes back to life in the old-fashioned and fascinating „Taormina Cult“ project, which provides cultural thematic itineraries coniugating literature, art and cinema.

D.H.Lawrence, Robert Kitson, Oscar Wilde, Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, Wilhelm Von Gloeden, Bertrand Russel, Henry Faulkner, Roald Dahl, Pablo Picasso, Daphne Phelps, Coco Chanel, Luigi Pirandello and Greta Garbo, are just a few of the poets, artists and celebrities brought back to life on our tours in the very places where they used to live and to meet and where their memories are still alive.

Taormina Cult is the first permanent cultural itinerary in Taormina, 21 places equipped with a series of local information boards, endowed with ‘QR’ code to download more info in 4 languages: Italian, English, Russian and German The tour is now available to be enjoyed aboard our Ape Calesse, the old-fashioned iconic italian 3 wheeler.

TREKKING & JEEP TOURS TO MT. ETNA
If you are looking for a special experience, a tour with the swiss guide Eddy Tronchet could be an option. With his agency Legendary Sicily he is offering guided Jeep and trekking tours to Mt. Etna in small groups.

Mr. Tronchet is a profound and passionate connoisseur of Mt. Etna and of the archeology, geology and history of Sicily. He speaks Italian, French, English and German, all fluently. His tours are suitable for those who are looking for a special experience, who love nature, walking and trekking.

The unique shape of these tours depends on weather conditions and the composition of the group. They can be booked both in advance as well as about one or two days before directly at the desk desk of our hotel.

WALKING & HIKING AROUND TAORMINA
From Taormina (204 m/669 ft above sealevel) you can undertake some nice walking and hiking tours of different levels of difficulty. A simple one as well as the most famous one is the walk from Taormina to the neighbouring village of Castelmola, which is situated 5 km from Taormina at 529 m (1,736 ft) above sealevel.

The first part of the track is on the Via Crucis leading to the small chapel Madonna della Rocca, you continue for about 500 m (1,600 ft) on the street and then again on a stepped path up to Castelmola. On your way back you can choose the historic path of the Saracenes. One way takes about one hour.

Castelmola has some cafés, small restaurants and souvenir shops. From the main place you can enjoy wonderful views to the coastline and to the hills of the hinterland. Skilled hikers might continue from Castelmola and climb Mt. Veneretta at 885 m (2,903 ft) above sea level.

TAORMINA BAYS BOAT TOURS
The relaxing motor boat tour we recommend is the one starting from the charming bay of Mazzarò. Discover our beautiful ionian coast, its cliffs and its bays as the famous, beautiful nature reserve of Isolabella, the Bay of Naxos, the Capo Taormina cape and visit also amazing caves as the deep blue Grotta Azzurra.

This fascinating tour by our partner Sebastiano on his comfortable, safe and traditional sicilian motor boat will surely be one of the highlights of your visit.

SAILING BOAT TRIPS & YACHT CRUISES
We at the Villa Schuler have reliable local partners for boat trips and sailing cruises: one for classic boat trips along our beautiful 5 mile coast, another for Luxury Sailing Tours along the coast as well as for medium-range Luxury Sailing Cruises.

A unique and unorgettable way to admire Taormina and its surroundings, enjoying it from those bays that made it famous all over the world. Let professional staff pamper you and spend a day on a boat in complete relaxation, swimming in a crystalline sea and discovering bays like Naxos, Mazzarò Bay, the natural reserve of the Isola Bella Bay, the Bay of the Sirens, the secluded rocky bays below the ancient Castle of Sant’Alessio and the natural reserve of the Ciclops Riviera.

An oasis of peace just for you, far from the crowd, enjoying the hidden beauties of Taormina and its surroundings.

SCUBA DIVING IN TAORMINA SICILY 
Sicily attracts divers from all over the world because of its warm, crystal-clear waters and it is particularly the area around Taormina that offers the most incredible variety of dive sites along small bays and cliffs as well as in our marine protected reserves.

Come and dive in our unique mediterranean underwater flora and fauna, the fascinating caves and interesting wrecks dating back till the greek and roman period! Taormina and our neighbouring town of Giardini-Naxos have a multitude of renowned, professional Diving Centers, most of them obviously PADI certified.

So Go Dive in Taormina! Choose from a wide range of PADI scuba diving centers in Taormina offering certification courses with flexible study options. If you are already a PADI certified diver, this is the place in Sicily to really enjoy well organised, relaxing scuba diving in attractive surroundings combined with a quality holiday in the most popular tourist resort in Sicily.

PARAGLIDING & HANG GLIDING IN TAORMINA 
Taormina offers paragliding and hang gliding flights and courses organised by Etna Fly Flying School. Lift off with the simplest flying apparatus the human being has ever created and enjoy the incredible landscape of Taormina flying safely above it! Etna Fly also provides safe tandem flights organized after a short briefing. This is the perfect alternative for beginners.

GOLF IN TAORMINA
The Piccolo Golf Club is the first golf course developed in Sicily in 1989 and features 18 holes nestled on the lower slopes of Mount Etna in a peaceful and scenic landscape at 650 m. above sea level and characterized by oak trees, wineyards and hazelnut trees.

Rooms: 27

Price: from 128 EUR per night

Source: www.hotelvillaschuler.com