Sicily, Italy
Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo
Indulge in Sicilian elegance with breathtaking vistas
Set high in the rocky hills on the east coast of the island, Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo has been delighting guests since 1863. Sweeping views across the sea and out to Mount Etna make this among the most striking of Sicily’s luxury hotels.
Each of the hotel’s 70 rooms and suites is decorated in Sicilian style, with white linens, Italian marble and rich wood. Your days get off to the perfect start as the sunlight streams in though your window, beckoning you outside. Start by stepping back in time and exploring the Greek theatre, a wonderfully preserved amphitheatre located next to the hotel. If it’s rest and relaxation you’re after, then the heated swimming pool surrounded by terraced gardens is a good place to start.
Admiring the view is best done with a cocktail in hand – a crisp glass of the aptly named Etna Martini is the perfect refreshment as you drink in your surroundings. With the ocean’s bounty on its doorstep, the hotel’s restaurant serves fresh seafood and Sicilian specialties to be enjoyed in the elegant dining room or on the terrace on a balmy summer’s evening. As darkness falls, you’ll be charmed by the twinkling lights of Cape Taormina and the Bay of Giardini Naxos.
The dazzling array of Belmond hotel experiences on offer leaves no shortage of things to occupy the long, sun-soaked days. Jump in a Fiat 500 and channel your inner movie star with a Godfather tour of Savoca; walk through the vineyards and enjoy a tasting of the region’s wine; or take to the skies with a helicopter tour offering views of Mount Etna, the Aeolian Islands and the Agrigento Valley with its ancient Greek temples. Guests will also enjoy use of the private beach at sister hotel, Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea.
Highlights
Relax in the elegant rooms and suites, which feature classic, Italian design and enchanting views over the medieval town and Ionian sea
Sip a cocktail over views of Mount Etna from elegant al fresco setting of Bar Timeo
Dine on fresh, locally sourced Sicilian flavours washed down with excellent regional wines at the atmospheric Ristorante Timeo
Watch a performance at the well-preserved Greek amphitheatre adjacent to the hotel
Immerse yourself in Sicilian life with tours to Mount Etna and local clam farms and complimentary cooking and ceramics classes
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Places to combine Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo with
Rome
Once hosting aristocratic travellers, Russian royalty and renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau, a half century hiatus as an office building ended with a glorious restoration and re-establishment of this Roman icon.
The Hotel de Russie lies between the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo on the Via del Babuino, within easy walking distance of Rome’s main attractions, fashion houses and Via Condotti. Though surrounded by the ceaseless buzz of the city, behind the hotel’s unassuming frontage, is a soothing tranquility – both in design and ambiance – and vast private 18th century terraced gardens, a rare oasis away from it all.
122 rooms and suites are thoroughly up to date amenity wise, complete with Bisazza mosaic and Carrara marble in the bathrooms. Some feature private terraces and many rooms have views over Rome, Piazza del Popolo or the garden.
The Stravinskij Bar is renowned for its apertivos, while Le Jardin de Russie and its chef, two-Michelin-star chef Fulvio Pierangelini, serve up simple yet refined dishes Mediterranean dishes in one a most romantic of settings. Furthering the Hotel de Russie urban oasis credentials is the De Russie Spa, one of Rome’s best health clubs.
