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A HISTORICAL AND INTIMATE RESIDENCE OVERLOOKING NAXOS BAY, A STONE'S THROW FROM THE LEGENDARY GRAND HOTEL TIMEO, A BELMOND HOTEL, TAORMINA

Introducing Villa Timeo - A Sicilian Noble Residence Reenchanted by Laura Gonzalez Launches in Taormina

Villa Timeo

28 NOVEMBER 2025 – Honouring vibrant Sicilian heritage through a soft, contemporary lens, Villa Timeo is an exclusive 21 room residence reopening its doors in May 2026, following a sumptuous redesign by acclaimed interior designer Laura Gonzalez.

Just steps away from the legendary Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina, Villa Timeo offers exceptional views over the Mediterranean, Taormina and its ancient Greek amphitheatre. Its 21 suites and rooms can be booked independently or by complete buyout, allowing for complete personalisation of private getaways or larger gatherings.

The intimate charm of Sicilian hospitality and sophisticated ease of a noble residence infuse every space, inviting guests to enjoy the comfort and privacy of a home-from-home. Complete with private infinity pool, opulent indoor bar, pool terrace bar and lounge, Villa Timeo allows guests to enjoy privacy and intimacy, while having full access to the hotel’s amenities and experiences - including the Michelin starred Otto Geleng restaurant, Timeo’s lush, terraced gardens and a brand-new Dior spa.

SICILIAN HERITAGE MEETS CONTEMPORARY DESIGN

Paris-based interior designer Laura Gonzalez was the natural choice to infuse Villa Timeo’s interiors with a creative sensibility thanks to her ability to balance one-of-a-kind craft textiles with design classics and vintage pieces.

Known for her work alongside artisans, woodworkers, upholsterers, sculptors, ceramists and decorative painters, the designer drew inspiration from Sicily’s rich heritage, reimagining the beauty of the island through a softly contemporary lens. Inspired by the iconic archeological gems of Taormina and from the aristocratic Siclian past, her design choices echo the soft white stone of ancient Greek theater and the hand-decorated Sicilian maiolica, reminescent of the grand terraces of Palermo's noble villas, infused with warm, inviting colors.

Each of the 21 rooms and suites blend traditional touches, such as South-Italy stone flooring, antique furniture and classic Italian marble fittings, combined with striking mid-century classics. Fabrics from Pierre Frey, lighting from Vaughan and furniture pieces from Cox London rub shoulders with artisanal Sicilian brands, including Le Malagioie ceramic table lamps and cement tiles by Domenico Mori.

Natural textures, organic finishes and gentle curves effortlessly connect the Villa’s interiors to the lush sun-kissed terraces and pool beyond, overlooking Naxos Bay. A newly renovated pool terrace, complete with shady pergola and sea-blue geometric tiles, conjures instant Sicilian warmth and elegance, while indoors, Bar Clementina with its Moroccan-inspired lattice work, intimate banquettes and polished plaster domed ceiling, celebrating the diverse mix of cultures that have historically shaped the island, is a place to linger over an aperitivo.

Villa Timeo - A Sicilian Noble Residence

“I wanted to celebrate the beauty of Sicily through a storytelling approach. Villa Timeo is a place of contemplation and culture: it conjures the air of a home that embodies the warmth, poetry and elegance of the island. My intention was to create a balance between heritage and modernity, nature and art, resulting in a design that reflects light, softness and the true soul of Sicily” states Laura Gonzalez, Interior Architect.

Each entirely unique, Villa Timeo’s rooms and suites atmosphere is united by the island’s gentle charm through rustic design details blended with luxurious finishes, inviting guests to plug into a slower pace of life. Sicily’s artistic tradition is evoked through several key details, from ceramic floors and antique mirrors to intricate marble marquetry, with new, bespoke pieces, designed by Laura Gonzalez, such as headboards, bedside tables, benches, sofa beds and many others.

Villa Timeo - A Sicilian Noble Residence

A standout suite, the Clementina, named in honour of the founding family's daughter, is the largest of all the rooms, complete with tranquil hillside views and a roomy private terrace. Taorminan artist Alessandro Florio has worked closely with renowned fabric brand Rubelli to create tapestries for each room and suite, combined with contemporary touches expressed through raw plaster finishes and simple shaping.

“Our treasured Villa Timeo is the place to discover the art of Sicilian living. Perfectly poised between tradition and modernity, it offers an experience set apart: here guests can gather to celebrate, to relax or to renew in a space where no detail has been overlooked, from afternoon in-room aperitivo to personalised embroidered pillowcases, just to name a few that will make a stay unexpectedly memorable”, states Massimiliano Puglisi, General Manager of Grand Hotel Timeo.

Tailored and exclusive experiences at Villa Timeo will encompass painting and art classes by Taormina artist Alessandro Florio, who has worked at the rooms’ textiles and decorations, mindfulness mixology experiences at the new intimate Clementina bar, and poolside wellness moments including daily sunrise yoga sessions.

Additional options - such as private guided visits to the nearby ancient Greek theatre, ape calessino tours of Taormina or sailing experiences to discover Isola Bella and the natural beauties of the Sicilian coast – are available by separate arrangement.

WELLNESS WITH A TOUCH OF SICILIAN ART DE VIVRE

Building on this spirit of refined escape, Grand Hotel Timeo will also reveal a glamorous new permanent Dior Spa, immersing guests in the timeless allure of Taormina. This exclusive wellness retreat offers a sanctuary of serenity where guests can indulge in Bio-Energising therapies, Haute-Couture facials, or embark on curated half-day Wellness Villeggiaturas, each designed to capture the essence of Dior Wellness with a touch of Sicilian art de vivre.

OVER 150 YEARS OF GRAND HOTEL TIMEO

This opening marks the latest chapter in Grand Hotel Timeo’s over 150-year history, forever a symbol of timeless glamour, yet always at the forefront of creativity and culture. Opened in 1873 by La Floresta family, Grand Hotel Timeo was the first hotel in Taormina, setting the scene as a place of creativity for illustrious artists and writers across the decades such as DH Lawrence who wrote and drew inspiration from the hotel for Lady Chatterley’s Lover, as well as stars of classical Hollywood cinema Elizabeth Taylor and Cary Grant.

This history is permeated throughout the hotel’s decor which exudes an air of Sicilian aristocracy and old-world glamour, a place which has remained a magnet for kings, princes, and grand dukes, not to mention Hollywood’s celestial set.

Nearby, Villa Timeo came to be part of the family’s estate by marriage. Built at the end of 19th century as the private residence of the Famà, a noble family from Taormina, the property was transformed into a grand hotel managed by the owners, until 1929 when Clementina Famà became the spouse of Francesco La Floresta, owner of the Grand Hotel Timeo, marking the union of two of Taormina's most iconic and prestigious historical buildings.

The original design pays homage to the archaeological treasures of the island and its artistic legacy, from the Magna Graecia origins to the passage of past luminaries, like Oscar Wilde, Goethe, and Truman Capote. Traditional Sicilian craftsmanship is evident throughout the materials, showcasing authentic Sicilian elements such as cotto, antique Perlato Siciliano marble, marble marquetry, and antique mirrors. Villa Timeo maintains today its original elegant yet familial air, effortlessly balancing the grace of an aristocratic home with the intimacy of a private hideaway.

Villa Timeo invites guests to embrace the spirit of Taormina, surrounded by the beauty of the natural world and the richness of the Sicilian history infused with Greek, Spanish, Roman and Byzantine heritage. Still as intimate as an elegant family home but set apart through its attention to detail, Villa Timeo takes its guests on a journey of imagination.

The result is a place where history, nature and culture intertwine in an atmosphere that is both refined and comfortingly familiar.

Villa Timeo opens in May 2026, for more information click HERE.

ABOUT GRAND HOTEL TIMEO, A BELMOND HOTEL, TAORMINA

Carved into the rocky hills of Sicily’s East coast, nestled between uninhibited views of the Mount Etna volcano, Naxos Bay and the ancient Greek Theatre, Grand Hotel Timeo was the first hotel to open in Taormina in 1873. Over its 150-year history, the hotel has been an artist’s paradise, famed for its Literary Terrace, where in 1920 DH Lawrence was inspired to write his masterpiece Lady Chatterley’s Lover.

Having attended the celebrated Taormina Film Festival, many of Hollywood’s elite could be found enjoying La Dolce Vita on this lavish terrace – among them Cary Grant, Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. Home to one of the greatest views in the world, guests can enjoy a variety of culinary experiences curated by Chef Roberto Toro, from local authentic cuisine at Ristorante Timeo, to Michelin-starred dining at intimate Otto Geleng restaurant.

The hotel boasts 67 rooms and Suites, most with terraces or balconies with views over the coastline, all surrounded by six-acres of lush gardens and a panoramic pool, with an adjoining pool grill restaurant. Nearby, patrician Villa Timeo – a 21-room retreat designed by interior architect Laura Gonzalez - offers the legendary warmth of Sicilian hospitality via a curated, self-contained experience with all the benefits of the hotel’s amenities. Guests have access to a private beach club at Villa Sant’Andrea, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina Mare, via a complimentary shuttle that runs to the secluded Bay of Mazzaro.

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ABOUT BELMOND

Belmond was born from a passion for connecting discerning travellers with the world’s most remarkable properties, locations and journeys. From hotels and trains to river cruises and safari lodges, Belmond’s Slow Luxury invites guests to discover a new pace of travel as they savour time, engage with local culture, and connect with nature and people around them through incomparable experiences and unforgettable stories.

With a legacy spanning over 45 years, since the acquisition of Hotel Cipriani in Venice in 1976, Belmond has grown into a global collection of 43 properties spread across 24 countries and territories. Exceptional destinations connected by legendary journeys are the very soul of Belmond, where the path that brings you to a place is as important as the destination itself. A pioneer of slow travel, Belmond has been operating the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express since 1982.

Belmond later expanded to include pristine beach resorts, such as Maroma on the Riviera Maya, historic hideaways such as Villa San Michele in the Florentine foothills, urbane icons, such as Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, and gateways to UNESCO world heritage sites, such as Hotel das Cataratas in Brazil’s Iguassu National Park. As proud custodians of storied properties, Belmond is committed to building on the past to create a new legacy: the heritage of the future.

Working with communities and local talents, together with the world’s most respected chefs, designers and artists, Belmond continues its purpose of perpetuating the legendary art of travel. Since 2019, Belmond has been part of the world’s leading luxury group, LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton).

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