Harriet S.
Yelp
Every year, about this time, my best friend of long standing and I travel to Europe for a week of bonding and adventure. Leaving home husbands, adult children and grandchildren, we try to select a trip in an area where we can experience the lifestyle of those native to the area. We do not go to modern facilities, for there are so many of these in America, where an establishment built in the 1800s serves as historic, rather, we seek out the quaint..the ancient..but with a great amount of comfort and elegance. Such is the San Domenico Palace. Built in the 14 th Century as a monastery, the hotel still has many areas where you can sense the timelessness and almost feel as if you are peeking into a past where quiet and peace were precious commodities.
This is not to say that the hotel is not absolutely beautiful. Our room had a balcony that hung over the Ionian Sea and a magnificent view of the Greek theater. Appointed with antiques, it was spacious and extremely comfortable. The wifi was excellent, yes, we diverge from the monks in our need for the Internet, and to my companions delight, the television had movies in English, a passion which she enjoys before retiring.
Breakfast every morning was served on a beautiful deck overlooking the sea, where bougainvillea and orange blossoms perfumed the air. It was a very lavish buffet, and the waiters were attentive as well as friendly and even amusing.
If you have any needs, Adrianna at the front desk is amazing!! With a cheerfulness and caring not quite displayed by the more formal front desk males, she made miracles with her cheery 'ciao ciao cha cha cha!' You ask and you will receive. Louisa Cacopardo, the assistant manager, is always on hand as well, bustling about to make sure your stay runs smoothly.
The Michelin rated restaurant is fantastic, with staff one can only call superb! As we sat down to dine, we received 'gifts'. A pair of pate meatballs for me, served in a tiny tree stump, a caprese salad for my friend, fried asparagus spears on a small salad for both. The food was delizioso and served with grace and aplomb. Again, after dinner, more gifts, wonderful desserts for tasting, cookies, chocolates, (they have a chocolate 'bar'!), and my downfall, homemade lollipops, coffee and jelly apple, served again in the small stump.
I can go on and on about this property, the magnificent gardens, where you can recline on a glider and enjoy a good book or just the sight of Mount Etna and the smell of citrus blossoms, the afternoon cocktails served on the lawn, the lovely heated pool, but I will end my narrative just by saying, if it is a taste of Sicily you crave, the San Domenico Palace will be your home away from home as well.