Villa Sant'Andrea Taormina Mazzarò Map

In what is arguably one of the most beautiful places in the whole of Sicily, steps away from the sea and surrounded by a park brimming with lush, subtropical plants and flowers, Hotel Villa Sant'Andrea dominates the Bay of Mazzarò, the heart of Taormina's seaside district.

Since the 1950's, Villa Sant'Andrea has been known as one of the most exclusive hotels in the area and this elegant establishment is still a favourite amongst both Italian and international celebrities. The atmosphere is that of a private villa, the rooms of which adorned with precious artworks and antiques. The majority of the bedrooms, decorated in Old England style, overlook the Bay of Mazzarò. A number of the hotel's sumptuous suites open out on to their own private terrace with gazebo.

The "Oliviero" restaurant, situated on a panoramic terrace from where to admire a spectacular view of the bay and the Calabrian coast, is famous for its excellent Mediterranean cuisine and, in particular, its delectable fish and sea food specialities. On the same terrace, Villa Sant Andrea's Cocktail bar, serves a vast array of cocktails and after dinner drinks, to be enjoyed whilst listening to the gentle notes of the live music played here.

Dining with the Stars

Villa Sant'Andrea, together with its sister hotel, Grand Hotel Timeo, provide the luxurious location for the third weekend of Orient-Express's "Dining with the Stars" culinary tour.

• Saturday September 29th: degustation dinner by Pietro Leemann, chef patron of Milan's Joia, Italy's only Michelin starred vegetarian restaurant.
• Sunday September 30th: tonight's gourmet dinner will be whisked up by none other than the great Heinz Bech, the chef responsible for Rome's La Perola restaurant's three Michelin stars.

Special Package: two nights in Junior Suite with breakfast, the two celebrity chef dinners, a tour of Catania's fish market and a visit to a Sicilian puppet factory, complete with puppet show.

www.diningwiththestar.com

The hotel's private beach is equipped with beach umbrellas, sun loungers, showers, and beach huts. In the summer, cocktails, long drinks, sorbets, ices, and snacks are available at the beach bar. For water sports enthusiasts there is an excellent Water Sports and Diving Center.

When not bathing in the sunshine on the hotel's beach, guests staying at Villa Sant'Andrea can often be found in the Oasi Benessere, a superb wellness area where to partake in a massage or Turkish Bath, or simply relax whilst being served a refreshing herbal or fruit infusion.