Hotel Villa Ducale

The lobby is bright and airy with a neutral palette and lots of natural light, which contributes to a relaxing, welcoming atmosphere. It has a blond-wood front desk and hardwood floors, various sitting areas with comfortable-looking light-blue armchairs and couches, and a stone wall with a fireplace. The lobby also has a small bar area, where cocktails or tea can be taken. The grounds are compact, as the building is nestled into a cliff adjacent to neighboring buildings, but a variety of plants and bright flowers planted all over the property do much to enhance the exterior of the hotel. Guests (mostly international couples on holiday) are often welcomed to the hotel with a glass of Prosecco.

The Villa Ducale is located high on a mountainside, overlooking the town of Taormina with sweeping views of Mount Etna and Giardini Naxos Bay. It's just outside Taormina's historic center but close to many popular sights. Here are some approximate distances:

• 10-minute walk to Saraceno Castle
• Five-minute drive to Badia Vecchia, and to the  Museum of Art and Popular Traditions
• 10-minute drive to Cathedral of Taormina and the Greek Theater
• 15-minute drive to Church of San Domenico
• 20-minute drive to Taormina Archaeological Museum
• 25-minute drive to Giardini Naxos Beach
• 55-minute drive to Taormina Roman Odeon and Catania Fontanarossa Airport

The cheerful, individually decorated rooms manage to be both relaxing and homey. There are Double Classic Rooms, Double Superior Rooms, Junior Suites, and Deluxe Suites. All the rooms, minus the Junior Suite, are decorated with beautiful patterned tiles and include pale-colored walls, large armoires, and framed images of animals. They also all come with comfortable, plush beds, flat-screen TVs, tea- and coffee-making facilities, mini-fridges, and safes. Some of the larger rooms have separate sitting rooms, and furnished balconies with views of the bay. Bathrooms are charming and attractive, with glossy tiled floors and white-and-blue-patterned tiles. Some come with large tub and shower combinations, while others have stand-up glass showers -- both with rainfall showerheads. Bidets, telephones, reed air diffusers, bathrobes, and toiletries are standard. Overall, these rooms are clean and nicely maintained, but a bit dated and old-fashioned looking.

The Junior Suite is much more contemporary than the other rooms, with white walls and light-gray decor. It also comes with a few extras, such as a skylight, sitting area, and a tiled balcony that overlooks the bay. The bathroom is also much larger and modern, with a huge tiled shower, a skylight and bench, two sinks, and a sectioned-off area for the toilet.

In addition to the rooms on the property, the hotel also offers fully furnished apartments, and a gorgeous villa through nearby Villa Carlotta.

One of the most memorable features of the hotel is the dining terrace, which has huge floor-to-ceiling windows that open to a stunning panoramic view of the Giardini Naxos Bay and Mount Etna. Guests can sit at the cafe-style tables for a daily, free Sicilian breakfast buffet. They also serve lunches and dinners throughout the day, but the restaurant books up quickly, so reservations are a good idea. A small bar provides cocktails and wine. The hotel has a beautiful wood sundeck surrounded by gorgeous plants and flowers. Guests can lounge on the cushioned daybeds or in the small canopied whirlpool and take in the view of the historic town and Mediterranean Sea in the distance. Wi-Fi is free, though the signal doesn't pick up throughout the hotel. There's a free limited shuttle that brings guests down the hill into the city center, but expect to pay for parking. Pets are allowed at Hotel Villa Ducale.