Villa Schuler | Grandi Giardini Italiani

Since 1902

Villa Schuler is surrounded by a prestigious exotic park of over 1400 square meters right in the historic center of Taormina. The sea front Palm Terrace offers a majestic view of the Gulf of Naxos, the whole Ionian coast to the south and Mount Etna. In the spacious gardens you will discover a precious botanical treasure with around 300 species of indigenous Mediterranean flora and subtropical and tropical rarities cared for by the passionate gardener Francesca.

The exuberant terraced park still retains the original layout designed in 1902 by the traveller and protagonist of the Grand Tour Eugen Schuler Sr. and is characterized by romantic paths, flower beds, colonnades, shady pergolas, gazebos, a pond with goldfish and water turtles, a nursery, a medicinal garden, benches and relaxing corners. The garden includes different varieties of palms, citrus trees, cypresses, kenzie, yuccas, oleanders, bamboos, plumerias, jasmines, roses, strelizias, agapanthus, russelias, succulents and cacti, banana, kiwi, mango and many other exotic essences. Even then, the park was dominated by a monumental pinus pinea, which today, at 20 meters tall, is probably the longest-lived tree in Taormina.

The Villa Schuler Gardens represent the largest private green area in the historic center of Taormina and what makes them so special is the dense intertwining of Mediterranean flora and exotic plants. The approach is that of an organic garden with full respect for nature. Many plants in Villa Schuler ornamental garden are marked with signs indicating their genus and species according to the binomial nomenclature system.

Villa Schuler is the oldest owner run hotel in Sicily and offers also the possibility of organizing small exclusive meetings and receptions.

How to get here

By Car
Highway A18 Catania-Messina: exit to Taormina.
• when exiting the tollbooth, take the uphill road Via Mario e Nicola Garipoli to Taormina center direction multistory parking lot Parcheggio Lumbi (1,6 miles).
• when arriving at the parking lot, take the first exit at the roundabout via tunnel Galleria Monte Tauro (0,7 miles).
• when exiting the tunnel, take the uphill road Via Crocefisso driving around the multistory parking lot Parcheggio Porta Catania. Then take the first narrow exit at the roundabout direction square Piazza S. Antonio Abate. (do not take the second exit direction tunnel)
• when arriving at the square, you are in front the arch of Porta Catania and on the right side of the post office. So, turn right taking the downhill road Via Pietro Rizzo to join Via Roma, the panoramic sea side and Etna.
• while driving Via Roma, you reach the final destination Piazzetta/Scesa Bastione. Villa Schuler is located on the left (0,4 miles).

By Train
The national trains service Trenitalia stop at Taormina-Giardini station (downhill/sea side). You can arrive to Villa Schuler (uphill/center) by:
• our private transfer service on request/reservation (18min)
• public bus Interbus direction Taormina hopping off the last stop Terminal Bus (1h25min + 15min walking distance)
• city bus Taormina Link hopping off at the stop Piazza S. Pancrazio (10min + 11min walking distance) or Terminal Bus (10min + 15min walking distance)
• taxi (18min)

By Plane
The nearest airport is Catania Fontanarossa (37 miles). You can arrive to Villa Schuler by:
• our private transfer service on request/reservation (50min)
• public bus Interbus direction Taormina hopping off the last stop Terminal Bus (1h25min + 15min walking distance)
• regional train Trenitalia direction Messina from Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa to Taormina-Giardini (50min/1h15min) station and city bus Taormina Link hopping off at the stop Piazza S. Pancrazio (10min + 11min walking distance) or Terminal Bus (10min + 15min walking distance)

Grandi Giardini Italiani Srl

Grandi Giardini Italiani Srl