Location
Dreamlike panorama
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.
How to get there
nearest airports are Catania (CTA) 37 miles or Palermo (PMO) 160 miles. From Catania airport the bus operator “Etna Trasporti” connects nearly each hour to Taorminas bus terminal (70 minutes drive) between 7 a.m. and 9.45 pm. On request we can arrange a 50 minutes taxi-transfer to our hotel.
All major trains from northern Italy, starting in Milan or Rome with destination Syracuse or Agrigento, stop at TAORMINA-GIARDINI. From here you will find taxis to the town centre and directly to our hotel (2,5 miles).
(Please note: Navigation systems do not always work properly in the Taormina area)
shortest way (recommended!): Coming from motorway A 18, Catania-Messina, exit at TAORMINA. After having paid the toll follow the sign “Taormina” uphill for about 2 km/1,25 miles. At the multi-storey parking “Lumbi” cross the roundabout and enter the tunnel “Monte Tauro/Porta Catania” (1.093 meters/3.586 ft). Exiting at Taormina’s south end, drive uphill around the multi-storey parking “Porta Catania” and at the roundabout straight on, a short piece steeply uphill, till you reach a little square, Piazza Sant’Antonio. In front of you stands the medieval city-portal “Porta Catania” and, before it, the post-office to its right. Just before the post-office you find white hotel signs. Follow them taking the narrow one-way road downhill to the right from the post office and follow it for about 1/4 mile till the road opens on to a kind of place lined with trees. Continue downhill to the right entering the one-way “Via Roma” (again white hotel signs). From there it’s just another 1/4 mile on the panoramic “Via Roma” till you find the Hotel Villa Schuler on the left side. In front of the hotel there is our private parking (yellow lines on your left). If you have booked a garage place we will park the car for you, as soon as you have checked in.
through the city: Coming from the motorway A 18, Catania-Messina, exit at TAORMINA. After having paid the toll follow the sign “Taormina” uphill for about 2 km/1.25 miles. Follow the direction “Taormina Centro”. At the multi-storey parking “Lumbi” (on your right side), enter into the roundabout and exit left (do not enter into the tunnel!) and drive further uphill 0.6 km/0.33 miles direction “Centro”. Once in front of the city-portal “Porta Messina” (beginning of the pedestrian main street “Corso Umberto”), turn right uphill direction Castelmola and follow the “Via Circonvallazione”, the circular road uphill around the historic center of Taormina. After about 0.8 km/0.5 mile you will see on your left side the castellated medieval Palazzo Badia Vecchia, directly behind it take the road down to your left. After about another 0.6 km/0.33 mile driving downhill you will reach a little square, Piazza Sant’Antonio. In front of you, you will see the small church “Chiesa Sant’Antonio Abate”, before which please turn left and then immediately downhill to the right (see white hotel signs at the post office building), follow the narrow one-way road downhill for about 0.4km/0.25 miles till the road opens on to a kind of place lined with trees. Turn downhill to the right entering the one-way “Via Roma” (again white hotel signs). From there it’s just another 0.4 km/0.25 mile on the panoramic “Via Roma” till you find the Hotel Villa Schuler on the left side. In front of the hotel there is our private parking (yellow lines on your left). If you have booked a garage place we will park the car for you, as soon as you have checked in.
Parking in Taormina can be a problem. The limited number of outdoor parking areas (white lines) are for residents only.
PARKING AT THE HOTEL VILLA SCHULER AND IN THE TOWN CENTER:
1 ) HOTEL GARAGE:
If you prefer guaranteed parking you can reserve a parking space in our hotel garage, open from 06.00 to 22.00 with valet parking, for a charge of 22,00 Euro per day. Vans, Jeeps and SUVs need to reserve 2 spaces. There are two parking spaces for our guests (yellow stripes) right in front of the hotel entrance to leave your car. The car is parked by the hotel staff. Garage reservations can be cancelled free of charge until one day before.
2 ) GARAGE “CALIFORNIA”:
authorised garage and rent a car 200 mts/220 yards from our hotel. If you rent a car through them parking there is free. For rates, please see their website: https://www.californiarentcar.com/
Then there are 2 municipal multi-storey 24H car parks:
3 ) “LUMBI” CAR PARK:
Just before the town entrance (north side). Coming from the motorway A18 Catania-Messina. Exit at “Taormina” and drive uphill 2 km/1,25 miles. The rate includes* the shuttle-service “Linea Porta Messina” (orange buses) from the parking lot to the town entrance “Porta Messina” city archway and vice versa. A second bus line, the “Linea Circolare Rossa” (also orange buses) makes the whole circular trip around the town, stopping directly in front of our Hotel. For rates, please see their website: http://www.taorminaservizipubblici.it
4) “PORTA CATANIA” CAR PARK:
Just before the town entrance, south side, arriving from 2 directions: – Coming from the A18 (Catania-Messina) motorway, exit at “Taormina” and drive uphill 2 km/1,5 miles to reach the “Lumbi” car park and take the tunnel from there which connects the two multi-storey car parks. – Alternatively, arriving from Giardini-Naxos follow the signs for the Hospital (Ospedale), then continue uphill for 1,6 km/1 mile (the street is currently closed for road works). For rates, please see their website: http://www.taorminaservizipubblici.it
Taormina and much more
Taormina, undisputed gem of tourism in Sicily, is the ideal location from which to set off for daily trips in the area to discover the natural and artistic beauties of the eastern and central parts of the Island, as well as the neighbouring characteristic small towns of Naxos, Castelmola, Forza D’Agrò and Savoca, the nature reserves of Isola Bella and Fiumefreddo, the Alcantara Gorges, Mount Etna, the Peloritan Mountains, the park of the Nebrodi Mountains, the Aeolian Islands, Acitrezza, Messina, and the baroque cities of Acireale and Catania, Syracuse and Noto, Caltagirone and Enna.
Even Agrigento and Piazza Armerina, Cefalù and Palermo can easily be reached in a day’s excursion. With a half hour’s drive you can reach the pleasant “Picciolo Golf Club” (18-hole course, par 72) in Castiglione di Sicilia, on the slopes of Mount Etna.
Distances from Taormina:
- Messina km 53
- Eolian Islands (Milazzo) km 87
- Airport Catania (CTA) km 64
- Catania km 53
- Etna South km 50
- Siracusa km 121
- Agrigento km 218
- Caltagirone km 128
- Palermo km 262
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