From motorway A18:
– Exit Taormina
– Go straight ahead for Porta Messina and Taormina Centre
– To the roundabout, take the second exit and go straight ahead.
We are glad to take care of your car during your stay.
Viale San Pancrazio n.46 98039 Taormina (Sicily) − Italy
Member of Leading Hotels of the World
There’s a sea-front, timeless place lying by a volcano
There’s a place made of countless memories; an inspiring place resulting from magnificent details and warm, Mediterranean hospitality.
The Ashbee is just like that; a fascinating, noble place.
Here excellence is sober and delicate.
Find it in the treats for the guests, the kindness of service, the silence of the venues, cutting-edge comfort and delicious flavours.
The original building enhances the elegance of the premises and the energy of materials, from marbles to woods, from stuccos to furniture.
The building today hosting Taormina’s luxury Ashbee Hotel was named Villa San Giorgio; construction works began in 1907 on a project by English Architect Charles Robert Ashbee on commission by Colonel Shaw-Hellier, an English veteran who, at one point in his life, had decided to leave England and move to Sicily. He had bought a plot of land in Taormina with a view onto the Strait of Messina right behind the Church of St. Pancrazio, built on the ruins of a Greek temple dedicated to Serapis Zeus. In January 1907 he invited Architect Ashbee, a close friend of his, to spend a few days in Taormina and entrusted him with the project of a house to be built right on that plot of land.
Charles Robert Ashbee, born in London in 1863, son of a rich merchant, was one of the most significant and influential representatives of the Arts and Crafts movement, founded in England in the late 19th century by William Morris as an alternative to Victorian traditions. The aim of the movement was creating “an English style for England”; the quest for new forms of artistic expression resulted in the adoption of Gothic as a new national style and the rejection of more traditional ones.
Once in Sicily, Ashbee got to know some of the world’s most fascinating places and absorbed the distinguishing features of Sicilian architecture; as a matter of fact, Ashbee wrote in his diary that nowhere else had he seen a place with so many magnificent buildings as Sicily.
Ashbee would project houses in places he was very familiar with, where he often had been living for years. That is because he loved to convey a sense of daily life through his projects, giving them specific artistic and historical connotations within the local social context. Therefore, Ashbee would take the social context into great consideration upon projecting a house and apply specific references to the surroundings in order to fit the new house into a whole (instead of creating a standalone element).
What makes Villa San Giorgio truly interesting from a historical and artistic point of view is the well-chosen concoction of two different traditions: Sicilian architecture and English cosmopolitism.
Today The Ashbee has been turned into a hotel and provides guests with a wide range of exclusive services, in cooperation with Sicily’s most luxurious partners. Your every need is met even prior to your arrival. It is the ideal place to disconnect, just a few steps away from the heart of Taormina; it provides a rich historical background and an intimate, secluded ambiance. Upon request, you may enjoy our butlers’ white-glove treatment for a unique, unforgettable stay. Upon your arrival we will be delighted to meet your every request, be it choosing your favourite pillow or selecting a customised bath linen.
Our Concierge is always eager to book the finest restaurants in the vicinity and suggest the best local activities.
Our staff will be delighted to assist you in order to make your stay the experience of a lifetime.
Top Relax
Cosy, elegantly furnished rooms with luxury details for your top relax.
“Classic” rooms have all kinds of comforts for a very pleasant holiday in Taormina. Equipped with bathroom and shower, wardrobe, double bed and elegant pieces of furniture.
The finest expression of Ashbee style
Large, bright rooms styled with purely English elegance.
The light palette of furniture makes the room soft; a few coloured details convey a sense on uniqueness; warm wooden elements and soft, exclusive cloths guarantee the right comfort.
Privileged Spaces
Ideal for those who seek comfort and a balance between indoor and outdoor spaces; the magic of a warm, sophisticated room and the beauty of open-air moments on the terrace.
Here time stands still, giving you the chance to fully experience wellbeing, luxury and comfort also thanks to a very large double bed and a bathroom featuring exclusive details.
For Panorama-Lovers
The perfect solution to enjoy the view of the Strait of Messina and Calabria from a large terrace allowing for an outdoor experience just within your room.
Everything is there: unique accessories, total comfort, delicate luxury details, a hint of Britishness and the Mediterranean brightness.
The intimacy of these suites brings ancient history into your private room; each and every piece of furniture is tailor made.
Made to regenerate. Step into a world of total relax with airy spaces and a stone fireplace for your intimate breaks. The Turkish bath with emotional shower will allow for moments of pure regeneration both for your body and mind.
Charm for everybody. Aristocratic concept with a family-like spirit. There’s room for the needs of the whole family, with an independent entrance and a garden… as if you lived in an actual villa in the heart of Taormina.
An island within the island. A warm ambiance full of British hints, round windows and soft cushions to enjoy the view onto the Gulf of Taormina; plus, a stone fireplace and vintage curtains and tapestry.
An art injection. One of the most beautiful suites, built on two levels, conceived to enhance the cultural richness of the wonderful collection on display.
Luxury and wonder
The elegance of the suite well matches the great beauty of the Gulf of Taormina; let your eyes wander across shimmering landscapes and unforgettable sunsets.
Entirely furnished with elegant parquet flooring, it features ample wardrobes and two bathrooms (one of which with a precious stone sink, bathtub and shower) turning it into a timeless place, overlooking Mediterranean perfumed views.
The precious atmosphere and the warm, customised service will make your stay in this suite a unique, harmonious experience.
Uniquely beautiful, Taormina has been an undisputed destination for special holidays ever since, thanks to an extraordinary mix of nature, culture, history and folklore.
One of the most important landmarks is the ancient theatre, whose beauty is further enhanced by its scenic backdrop of water and fire (the sea and Etna). It currently hosts events of all kinds (ranging from theatre to concerts, ballet and award ceremonies); however, the rock it is carved into, its shape and size are reminiscent of an ancient past. We will be delighted to support you in the selection and reservation of seasonal shows.
Moreover, don’t miss the chance to walk along Corso Umberto, the main shopping street, offering historic international brand boutiques as well as typical Sicilian stores. Last but not least, walking guided tours will be organised for you to discover the historical and archaeological landmarks of this maritime pearl.
Never silent, the volcano provides great sights and extraordinary moments; no wonder it was declared UNESCO heritage in 2013.
The extreme environmental diversity of the whole area is surprising: thick forests, deserted lands covered in magmatic rock, snow-clad peaks and slope-clung towns make for a unique landscape.
A local wine tasting experience is getting more and more exclusive today.
The local terroir is popular for its uniqueness and is characterised by small, niche wine producers; viticulture in the Etna region thrives on the unparalleled features of the soil in terms of mineral content and climatic and geologic diversity. The wine and volcano have been linked for a very long time and we will be delighted to organise cellar wine tasting for you to discover the territory through its wine.
Our coast is one of the world’s most beautiful and fascinating. We are thrilled to give you the chance to experience our sea on board of a sailboat or a yacht. There are many ways to experience a day out at sea, including having a light lunch by majestic sea stacks or sipping an aperitif with views on Etna in the pink light of sunset at sea.
The hotel’s elegant and renowned restaurant oozes high-octane glamour, a perfect venue for those that want to taste in style. Here at St. George Restaurant astonishment begins when the first dish arrives and doesn't let up until the last.
The menu that St. George Restaurant creates for its Guests reflect modern Sicilian-style cuisine made using the best island seasonal produce.
A glamorous and stylish restaurant blend English furnishings with traditional Sicilian touches.
Please fill this form for individuals or for groups and you shall receive an answer written by a live person at The Ashbee Hotel. This is the only way you can know exactly what room types are available for the dates you want, and the best possible rate, because you are dealing directly with the hotel.
Bear in mind that websites set up to give an automatic answer, work with allocated quotas given by the hotel, therefore when it appears there are no rooms available for the date you want, this is not necessarily true, because they never allocate ALL the rooms to third parties.
Hotel: The Ashbee Hotel
Address: Viale San Pancrazio n.46 98039 Taormina (Sicily)
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Official website: http://www.theashbeehotel.com
Telephone: +39 0942 23537
Fax: +39 0942 626227
Hotel email: info@theashbeehotel.com
From motorway A18:
– Exit Taormina
– Go straight ahead for Porta Messina and Taormina Centre
– To the roundabout, take the second exit and go straight ahead.
We are glad to take care of your car during your stay.