The Residence

The Martorana family acquired the estate in 1892 from an English noblewoman, Lady Florence Trevelyan. Villa Paradiso stands opposite the public gardens of Taormina, of which it originally formed an annex.

Originally used as a wine shop, the building was converted into the guesthouse Villa Paradiso in 1912, thus beginning to welcome travellers from all over Europe. Many of them were penniless bohemians who, unable to pay for their stay, left behind paintings instead — artworks that can still be admired today in the hotel’s lounges.

In the early 1950s, Salvatore Martorana and his wife Esther took over the management, further enhancing the hotel’s prestige. Villa Paradiso soon became a landmark of Taormina’s hospitality scene and a lively meeting point for the prominent figures who animated the golden age of the “Pearl of the Ionian”.

Today, now in its fifth generation, the Martorana family is one of the longest-standing hotel dynasties in Sicily.

This legacy is reflected in the hotel’s warm and authentic hospitality, which preserves the charm and original architectural features of the property — with evocative lounges and elegantly appointed rooms.

Every piece of furniture, every painting, print, and carpet tells the story of this place and of the family behind it.