Villa Sant'Andrea, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina Mare.

Built in the late 19th century by an English engineer, Villa Sant'Andrea retains the soul of a private family estate while occupying a prime stretch of the Bay of Mazzarò. Unlike the hilltop hotels in Taormina’s center, this Belmond property sits directly on a private pebbly beach, where subtropical gardens cascade down to the water’s edge. The 71 rooms and suites are filled with antiques and Baroque artwork, many featuring balconies that hover just above the surf. Days revolve around the heated infinity pool and exclusive beach cabanas, while the hotel’s vintage Ape Calessino and Fiat 500s are on hand for excursions to Mount Etna. For dinner, Ristorante Sant’Andrea serves local swordfish and sardines on a terrace so close to the sea you can hear the waves hitting the rocks.