Faqs

HOW TO GET THERE

Plane:
nearest airports are Catania (CTA) 37 miles or Palermo (PMO) 160 miles. From Catania airport the bus operator „Etna Trasporti” connects nearly each hour to Taorminas' bus terminal (70 minutes drive) between 7 a.m. and 9.45 pm. On request we can arrange a 50 minutes taxi-transfer to our hotel.

Train:
all major trains from northern Italy, starting in Milan or Rome with destination Syracuse or Agrigento, stop at TAORMINA-GIARDINI. From here you will find taxis to the town centre and directly to our hotel (2,5 miles).

By Car: driving instructions

(Please note: Navigation systems do not always work properly in the Taormina area)
shortest way (recommended!):
Coming from motorway A 18, Catania-Messina, exit at TAORMINA. After having paid the toll follow the sign „Taormina” uphill for about 2 km/1,25 miles. At the multi-storey parking „Lumbi” cross the roundabout and enter the tunnel „Monte Tauro/Porta Catania” (1.093 meters/3.586 ft). Exiting at Taormina’s south end, drive uphill around the multi-storey parking „Porta Catania” and at the roundabout straight on, a short piece steeply uphill, till you reach a little square, Piazza Sant’Antonio. In front of you stands the medieval city-portal „Porta Catania” and, before it, the post-office to its right. Just before the post-office you find white hotel signs. Follow them taking the narrow one-way road downhill to the right from the post office and follow it for about 1/4 mile till the road opens on to a kind of place lined with trees. Continue downhill to the right entering the one-way „Via Roma” (again white hotel signs). From there it’s just another 1/4 mile on the panoramic „Via Roma” till you find the Hotel Villa Schuler on the left side. In front of the hotel there is our private parking (yellow lines on your left). If you have booked a garage place we will park the car for you, as soon as you have checked in.

through the city:
Coming from the motorway A 18, Catania-Messina, exit at TAORMINA.
After having paid the toll follow the sign „Taormina” uphill for about 2 km/1.25 miles. Follow the direction „Taormina Centro”.
At the multi-storey parking „Lumbi” (on your right side), enter into the roundabout and exit left (do not enter into the tunnel!) and drive further uphill 0.6 km/0.33 miles direction „Centro”.
Once in front of the city-portal „Porta Messina” (beginning of the pedestrian main street „Corso Umberto”), turn right uphill direction Castelmola and follow the „Via Circonvallazione”, the circular road uphill around the historic center of Taormina.
After about 0.8 km/0.5 mile you will see on your left side the castellated medieval Palazzo Badia Vecchia, directly behind it take the road down to your left.
After about another 0.6 km/0.33 mile driving downhill you will reach a little square, Piazza Sant’Antonio.
In front of you, you will see the small church „Chiesa Sant’Antonio Abate”, before which please turn left and then immediately downhill to the right (see white hotel signs at the post office building), follow the narrow one-way road downhill for about 0.4km/0.25 miles till the road opens on to a kind of place lined with trees.
Turn downhill to the right entering the one-way „Via Roma” (again white hotel signs). From there it’s just another 0.4 km/0.25 mile on the panoramic „Via Roma” till you find the Hotel Villa Schuler on the left side.
In front of the hotel there is our private parking (yellow lines on your left). If you have booked a garage place we will park the car for you, as soon as you have checked in.

Parking in Taormina

Parking in Taormina can be a problem. The limited number of outdoor parking areas (white lines) are for residents only. Few hotels have garages. Some hotels have a limited number of outdoor parkings (yellow lines) for which they pay a local tax and which their clients can use free of charge.

PARKING AT THE HOTEL VILLA SCHULER AND IN THE TOWN CENTER:

1 ) PARKING FOR HOTEL-GUESTS:
Two special parking spaces for our hotel-guests (yellow lines). Free of charge but cannot be reserved: first come, first served. Car keys must be handed over at reception. No hotel-liability on this 2 parkings on rented public soil.

2 ) HOTEL GARAGE:
If you prefer guaranteed parking you can reserve a parking space in our hotel garage, open from 06.00 to 22.00 with valet parking, for a charge of 20,00 Euro per day (for direct reservations 16,00 Euro). Vans, Jeeps and SUVs need to reserve 2 spaces. Garage reservations can be cancelled free of charge until one day before.

Other alternatives are:

3 ) GARAGE „CALIFORNIA”:
authorised garage and rent a car 200 mts/220 yards from our hotel for a charge of Euro 16,00-18,00, depending on the size of the car. For vans, Jeeps & SUVs Euro 24,00 per day*. If you rent a car through them parking there is free.

Then there are also 2 municipal multi-storey 24H car parks:

4 ) „LUMBI” CAR PARK:
Just before the town entrance (north side). Coming from the motorway A18 Catania-Messina. Exit at „Taormina” and drive uphill 2 km/1,25 miles. Parking costs 14,00 Euro per day*. The rate includes* the shuttle-service „Linea Porta Messina” (orange buses) from the parking lot to the town entrance „Porta Messina” city archway and vice versa. A second bus line, the „Linea Circolare Rossa” (also orange buses) makes the whole circular trip around the town, stopping directly in front of our Hotel.

5) „PORTA CATANIA” CAR PARK:
Just before the town entrance, south side, arriving from 2 directions: – Coming from the A18 (Catania-Messina) motorway, exit at „Taormina” and drive uphill 2 km/1,5 miles to reach the „Lumbi” car park and take the tunnel from there which connects the two multi-storey car parks. – Alternatively, arriving from Giardini-Naxos follow the signs for the Hospital (Ospedale), then continue uphill for 1,6 km/1 mile (the street is currently closed for road works). Parking costs 15,00 Euro per day*.

*) Our own Hotel Villa Schuler garage rates are guaranteed for the whole year of 2018. Please understand that we cannot guarantee for all the other rates & services listed here that are run by other companies/operators.

Last update: 16.12.2017

Breakfast – to your taste

At the Villa Schuler from 2021, you have the choice: you can select different breakfast options and book them along with your room. We offer a high-quality breakfast and our ambition is to constantly improve our service, to propose to our guests both a wide selection of Sicilian specialties as well as to meet the expectations of our international clients.

FULL BREAKFAST SERVED AT THE TABLE

Full breakfast à la carte (menu see below*)
Our extensive à la carte breakfast is served exclusively on our spacious breakfast terrace, in the breakfast room or in the orangery. A large selection of freshly prepared meals, plenty of space with guaranteed safety distances.
Booking still possible on site               20,00 Euro/per person and day

ROOM SERVICE FORMULAS
these  breakfast types are served only in the room

Wake up drink
Hot drink or Juice of your choice for all those who do not like to eat in the morning.
Booking also still possible on site        3,00 Euro/ per person and day
Continental Breakfast
2 rolls or toasts or 1 croissant, butter, 2 kinds of jam, juice, a hot drink of your choice.
Booking also still possible on site        8,00 Euro/ per person and day
Fruits and cereals
Fresh fruit salad, muesli or cornflakes, milk, buffalo yoghurt, juice,
hot drink of your choice
Booking also still possible on site      10,00 Euro/ per person and day

*FULL BREAKFAST À LA CARTE – THE MENU

The attached breakfast-menu offers a large choice of quality products of market-leading companies allowing to choose freely between varieties of always-available alternatives. We gave priority to including the largest possible choice of natural foods, local products, regional specialities and fresh food without preservatives. Some organically grown products as well. Our service guarantees reliable standards, constant availability, freshness and hygiene and a pleasant atmosphere.

Breakfast is served from 07.30 to 10.00 a.m.

Clients wishing to have breakfast served earlier than 7.30 a.m. can reserve it on the previous evening choosing from the same menu and for whichever time.

Breakfast Menu

Coffee

Espresso – American coffee – decaffeinated coffee
Cappuccino 7 – coffee with milk 7 – chocolate 7 – fresh milk*7
soy milk 7 – almond  milk*8  

Tea

black tea (English Breakfast Tea) – Earl Grey – green tea –  red fruits camomile (organic) – peppermint (organic)  
homemade green ice tea with lemon (served in summertime)

Granita* home-made Sicilian sorbet (served in summertime)

coffee Granita – fresh fruits of the season Granita (on request with whipped cream 7  and/or brioche 1,3,7) 

Bread & Co.

rolls*: wholemeal 1,6,11 – sesame 1,6,11 – soya 1,6,11 – ciabattine 1 croissants 1,7 – rusk (classic 1,6,7  or wohle organic 1,6)
rye bread 1,6,11  toast 1 – home-made cakes*1,3,7,8 – butter 7 different jams and marmalade – diet jams – honey – Nutella 6,7,8

Fruit and Vegetable Juices

orange – blood orange – grapefruit – pineapple – apple
multivitamin – freshly squeezed orange juice* (seasonal from March to May)
tomato (bio) – freshly made carrot juice*

Cereals

Swiss muesli (organic)1,6,8 – crispy muesli 1,6,7,8,11  
muesli porridge 1,6,7,8 – cornflakes (organic)

Yoghurts

plain buffalo yoghurt*7 – plain 7 – plain low fat 7 
strawberry 7 – cherry 7 – apricot – wild berries

Eggs

boiled 3 – fried 3,7 – scrambled 3,7 – crêpe 1,3,7 – omelet 3,7

Cheese

provoletta dolce (mild cow’s cheese)*7 – pecorino primo sale (sheep’s cheese)*7 – buffalo mozzarella*7 – ricotta artigianale (artisan curd cheese)*7 – Edam cheese 7 – Philadelphia 7  – cheese spread 7

Cold Meats

artisan ham* – gammon – salami Napoli – liver pâté 9,10  

Fruits

fresh fruits in season* – tomatoes ‘Datterino di Pachino’*

Fruit Compote

apple – pear

__________________________________________________________________________

* these products are made in Sicily  
On request we also serve gluten free products
For the list of allergens kindly ask our breakfast service staff
___________________________________________________________________________

Allergens

1 = Cereals containing gluten, namely wheat, rye, barley, oats or their hybridised strains, and products thereof
2 = Crustaceans and products thereof
3 = Eggs and products thereof
4 = Fish and products thereof
5 = Peanuts and products thereof
6 = Soybeans and products thereof
7 = Milk and products thereof (including lactose)
8 = Nuts, namely almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews,  pecan nuts,  Brazil nuts, pistachio nuts, macadamia or Queensland nuts, and  products thereof
9 = Celery and products thereof
10 = Mustard and products thereof
11 = Sesame seeds and products thereof
12 = Sulphur dioxide and sulphites at concentrations of more than  10 mg/kg
13 = Lupin and products thereof
14 = Molluscs and products thereof (for example clams, mussels,  whelks, oysters, snails and squid)

RESERVATIONS are best done through our online reservation system.

You can also proceed by emailing us a request stating the period and the number of rooms: reservations@hotelvillaschuler.com

We will answer within 12 hours listing all room-types available for that period and adding useful information about our hotel and about Taormina.

TV SAT PROGRAMMES & RADIO CHANNELS  updated March 14, 2020 

ITALIANO 

1            RAI  1                    

2            RAI  2                   

3            RAI  3                   

4            RAI News 24              

5            RAI  5                

6            RAI Movie

7            LA 7

8            Canale 5

9            Italia 1

10          Rete 4

ENGLISH      

11           BBC  WORLD      

12          CNN                         

13          SKY NEWS                

14          EURONEWS              

15          i24 NEWS         

16          ALJAZEERA

17           DW

DEUTSCH

18          ARD             

19          ZDF                          

20         WDR  Köln

21          arte

22          3sat       

23          Kika

24          RTL                      

25          Sat 1

26          Pro7        

27          n-tv

FRANCAIS

28          TV 5

29          France 24

30          arte France

ESPANOL                  

31          TVE   

32         Canal 24

по-русски

33         TVRus 1

34         HRT Intern.

35         EURONEWS    

PORTUGÊS      

36          RTP

JAPANESE                      

37          NHK World

ENGLISH/CHINESE        

38          CCTV 4

from #39 onwards various additional TV channels in italian, english and german language

more ITALIAN channels: 

39           Antenna Sicilia

40           Antenna Sicilia HD

41            RAI Premium

42            RAI 4

43            RAI Storia

44            RAI sport 

………e tanti altri fino a 

74            Radio Freccia musica

more TV Channels in ENGLISH

75            BBC world HD

76            RT english

77            RT Doc english

78            TRT world english

weitere deutschsprachige TV Kanäle

79            Tagesschau 24

80            One

81             Phoenix

82            WDR Aachen

83            SWR Fernsehen

84            hr Fernsehen

85            Welt

86            Kabel 1

87             Pro7 MAX

88             Sat1 Gold

89             RTL 2

90             RTL plus

91              Super RTL

ITALIAN RADIO CHANNELS

92               Radio Rai 1

93               Rai 2

94               Rai 2 indie

95               Rai 3 

96               Rai 3 classic

97               Rai Sport

98               Rai Kids

99               Rai Live

100             Rai Tutta Italia

101              Rai Techetè

102              Rai Isoradio

103              Rai Parlamento

104              Radio Maria

105              Radio Freccia

106              Radio Dejay

107              Radio m2o

108              RTL 102.5

109              RTL 102.5 DOC

110               Radio Capital

Servizio bar 24 ore – 24 Stunden Service – 24 h bar service

all prices in EURO

Caffè espresso  1,50
Caffè americano (tazza – cup – Tasse – la tasse – kopje) 15 cl  2,00
Caffè americano (bricco – pot – Kännchen – petit pot – kannetje) 50 cl  4,50
Caffè decaffeinato – decaffeinated – koffeinfrei  – décaféiné 15 cl 2,00
Latte fresco – fresh milk – frische Milch  – lait frais – verse melk 15 cl  1,50
Latte macchiato 20 cl 2,50
Cappuccino (tazza – cup – Tasse – la tasse – kopje) 15 cl  2,50
Caffelatte – coffee with milk – Milchkaffee  – café au lait – koffie met melk  15 cl  2,50
Caffelatte (bricco – pot – Kännchen – petit pot – kannetje) 35 cl  5,00
Cioccolata – cocoab – Kakao  – chocolat – chocolademelk 15 cl  2,50
Cioccolata (bricco – pot – Kännchen  – petit pot – kannetje) 35 cl  5,00

Thè – Tee – tea – thé (bricco – pot – Kännchen – petit pot – kannetje) 45 cl 4,00
Thè nero – ai frutti rossi – camomilla (bio) – alla menta (bio)
Engl. Breakfast Tea – red fruits – camomile (organic) – peppermint (organic)
Schwarzer Tee – Waldfrüchte – Kamille (bio) – Minze (bio)
Thé noir – fruits rouges –  camomille (bio) – menthe (bio)
Zwarte thee – rode vruchten – tropische vruchten – camomille (bio) – pepermunt (bio)

Thè freddo al limone fatto in casa – home made lemon iced tea – hausgemachter Eistee mit Zitrone –  thé glacé avec citron – koude thee met citroen  15 cl 2,50

Bibite – alkoholfreie Getränke – soft drinks – sans alcool – frisdranken

Granita  di caffè – di frutta fresca  3,00
sicilian specialty: half frozen ice of coffee – of fresh fruits of the season
sizilianische Eisspezialität: Sorbet aus Kaffee – aus frischen Früchten der Saison
spécialité sicilienne: un sorbet de café – de fruits frais de la saison
Siciliaanse ijsspecialiteit, halfbevroren: koffie – vers fruit

Succhi di frutta – fruit juices – Obstsäfte – jus – vruchtensap (*bio – *organic)  3,00
Arancia – pompelmo* – ananas* – albicocca* – pesca* – mela* – pera*
Orange juice – grape fruit *– pineapple  – apricot* – peach* – apple* – pear* Orangensaft – Pampelmuse* – Ananas  – Aprikose* – Pfirsich* – Apfel* – Birne*
Jus d’orange – pampelmousse* – ananas  – abricot* – pêche*– pommes*  – poire*
Sinaasappelsap – pompelmoes* – ananas – abrikoos* – perzik*– appelsap*  peeren* 

Spremuta di arance  15 cl 3,00
Freshly squeezed orange juice (seasonal)
Frisch gepresster Orangensaft (nach Saison)
Jus frais d’oranges (selon la saison)
Versgeperst sinaasappelsap (afhangelijk van het seizoen)  

Spremuta di carote 15 cl  3,00
Fresh carot juice – Frisch gepresster Karottensaft – Jus frais de carots  –
Versgeperst wortelsap 

Minerale (naturale e gassata) 1 lit   3,00  ½ lit    1,50
Mineral water (carbonated or non carbonated)         
Mineralwasser (mit oder ohne Kohlensäure)
Eau mineral (gaseuse ou naturelle)
Mineraalwater (bruisend of niet-bruisend) 

Coca Cola – Coca Cola light – Fanta – Sprite 33 cl 3,00
Schweppes Tonic Water – Schweppes Bitter Lemon  33 cl 3,00

Birra – Bier – beer – bière – bier  

Messina 33 cl  3,50
Moretti 33 cl 4,00
Heinecken 33 cl  4,00 

Aperitivi, digestivi, liquori
Campari, Campari Soda, Martini, Sanbitter, Gin,
Cynar, Sanbitter, Fernet Branca, Averna, Amaretto,
Whiskies, Cognac, Brandy, Rum, Grappa, Sambuca,
Baileys, Marsala, Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Limoncello 5,00

Longdrinks
Campari Orange, Gin Tonic, Rum & Cola, Whisky & Cola 7,00 

Cocktails
All cocktails 9,00
Non-alcoholic cocktails 7,00

Vini bianchi siciliani – sizilianische Weissweine – sicilian white wines – vins blancs siciliens – Siciliaanse witte wijnen

al bicchiere 1 Glas – 1 glass – 1 verre – 1 glas  100  ml 3,00  200  ml 6,00

VILLA SCHULER BIANCO   I.G.T.  2017
Murgo, Santa Venerina (CT), Chardonnay, 12,5%vol  750 ml 20,00

SANT’AGOSTINO  I.G.T.  2016 
Firriato, Paceco (TP)Catarratto&Chardonnay 13%vol 750 ml 26,00 

LE SABBIE DELL’ETNA  D.O.C.  2016
Firriato, Castiglione (CT), Carricante 13%vol 750 ml                 26,00

Spumante – Prosecco – sparkling wines – mousseux – schuimwijn 

Prosecco 1 bicchiere, 1 Glas, 1 glass, 1 vere 100 ml 3,00
Prosecco Mini  piccolo sparkling wine – Piccolo 200 ml 6,00
CHARME Rosé   I.G.T.  2016
Firriato, Paceco (TP), fine perlage, blend 12,5%vol 750 ml 20,00

MURGO Brut 2016
Murgo, Santa Venerina (CT), Nerello Mascalese, 12,5%vol 750 ml 30,00

SAINT GERMAIN Brut I.G.T
Firriato, Paceco (TP) 12%vol 750 ml 30,00

Vini rossi siciliani – sizilianische Rotweine – sicilian red wines – vins rouges siciliens – Siciliaanse rode wijnen 

al bicchiere 1 Glas – 1 glass – 1 verre 100 ml 3,00 200 ml 6,00

VILLA SCHULER ROSSO I.G.T.  2016
Murgo, Santa Venerina (CT), 13%vol 750 ml 20,00 

CHIARAMONTE   I.G.T.  2012
Firriato, Paceco (TP), Nero d’Avola  14%vol 750 ml 20,00 

DONNATÁ   I.G.T.  2010
A.di Camporeale, Camporeale (PA), Nero d’Avola 13,5%vol 750 ml 22,00

LE SABBIE DELL’ETNA  D.O.C.  2012
Firriato, Castiglione (CT), Nerello Mascalese&Nerello Cappuccio 14%vol 750 ml 22,00

CAELES  I.G.T.  2013 (bio/organic)
Firriato, Paceco (TP), Syrah 13,5%vol 750 ml 22,00 

SANT’AGOSTINO   I.G.T.  2012
Firriato, Paceco (TP), Nero d’Avola & Syrah 14%vol 750 ml 24,00 

HARMONIUM   I.G.T.  2012
Firriato, Paceco (TP), Nero d’Avola 14,5%vol 750 ml  32,00

RIBECA   I.G.T.  2012
Firriato, Paceco (TP), Perricone  14,5%vol 750 ml  32,00

CAVANERA ETNA ROSSO   D.O.C.  2010
Firriato, Castiglione (CT), Nerello Masc. & Nerello Capp. 14%vol 750 ml 34,00

CAMELOT   I.G.T.  2011
Firriato, Paceco (TP), Cabernet & Merlot 14,5%vol 750 ml 36,00
________________________________________________________________

Service & VAT included * frais et taxes incluses * Service en Tax inclusief
Con riserva di modifiche – Änderungen vorbehalten – Subject to change – sous réserve de changements – Wijzigingen voorbehouden.
Last update: March 12, 2019 

our hotel phone rates 24H:

one minute for 0,20 Euro (approx. 0,29 USD), no matter if clients call within Italy or Europe, to the US or to Canada.

one minute for 0,30 Euro, to Australia and New Zealand

Other intercontinental calls for 0,60 Euro per minute.

SMOKING BAN IN PUBLIC AREAS

ITALY 2005 A ban on smoking in all public places such as hotels, bars, restaurants, discotheques and offices went into effect on 10 January 2005 as Italy joined a growing number of European countries imposing stricter restrictions on smokers. 10 January 2005. (Globalink news)

Italy imposed a ban on smoking in all enclosed public places including bars and restaurants from midnight on 10 January 2005. Businesses face a fine of up to 2,000 euros if they fail to ensure their customers do not smoke, while smokers themselves could face a 275 euro (360 dollars) for repeatedly ignoring the new rules. The ban has not been welcomed by all, with some bar owners and smokers saying they will ignore the ban on the grounds that cigarettes and smoking are an integral part of Italian bar and cafe culture.

The rules allow smoking in special sealed-off areas fitted with smoke extractors; however many bar owners say fitting the automatic doors and forced ventilation systems required by law is too expensive. At the moment the Hotel Villa Schuler has no smoking area of this kind, smoking is therefore only allowed in all the outdoor areas of our hotel: the palm terrace, the sun-roof and the garden.

GAY FRIENDLY HOTEL VILLA SCHULER

Yes, the Hotel Villa Schuler, Taormina, Sicily is a Gay friendly hotel actively seeking to create an environment friendly towards LGBT people of all nations.

Christine and Gerhard Schuler managers Gay friendly Hotel Villa Schuler, Taormina, Sicily

WHAT OTHERS WRITE ABOUT US

THE VILLA SCHULER IS A REAL WINNER
Taormina is on what is referred to as the Amalfi coast of Sicily and, although the historic town is lovely it is quite touristy. This of course means that rates are on the high side but, happily, the Villa Schuler is affordable. The villa was converted from a private residence to a hotel by the Schuler family over a century ago and now grandson, Gerhard is at the helm. The pink facade faces out to the Via Roma and has a large raised terrace with palms and potted flowers. A continental or full breakfast is served either here or in the elegant Orangery where you can enjoy views encompassing the coastline and the peak of the Etna volcano. The hotel offers standard bedrooms and junior suites. All the rooms have air conditioning, satellite TVs, safes, free Wi-Fi and terraces or balcony often with a sea view. Behind the building is the hotel’s botanical garden filled with a profusion of jasmine, bougainvillea, and geraniums. Located in the garden is the secluded two bathroom ‘Garden Villa Suite’. The garden opens onto the pedestrian main street of town and it is just a short walk to the cable car that takes you down to the beaches, or you can take the hotel shuttle services. For its impeccable service, ideal location and good value, the Boutique Hotel Villa Schuler is a real winner. (from KAREN BROWN’S ITALY B&B Guide, Exceptional Places to Stay & Itineraries 2017).

HISTORIC, ECO-FRIENDLY ELEGANCE
Historic, eco-friendly elegance, views over Etna and Naxos Bay, jasmine-scented gardens… and a charming family feel. Stroll into Taormina

Late in the 19th century, Sig. Schuler’s great-grandfather travelled by coach from Germany and built his house high above the Ionian Sea. He built on a grand scale and he chose the site well: the views of the Bay of Naxos and Mount Etna are gorgeous. When he died in 1905, Great Grandmama decided to let out some rooms and the villa has been a hotel ever since. Though restored and brought up to date, it still has an old, elegant charm and a relaxed, peaceful atmosphere. Lavish organic breakfasts are served in the chandelier’d breakfast room or out on the terrace. Bedrooms vary; some have beautifully tiled floors, antique furniture and stone balconies; the more modern top-floor suites sport beamed ceilings and large terraces. All come with organic bed linen, jacuzzi showers heated by solar panels, heating from biomass – it’s all super-eco – and views to gardens or sea. Hidden away behind a stone arch, in subtropical gardens scented with jasmine, is a delightful, very private little apartment; a path from here leads all the way to the town’s pedestrianised Corso Umberto.  (ALASTAIR SAWDAY’S SPECIAL PLACES TO STAY. Green Europe, 2017)

THE GARDEN OF GOETHE
“…in 1978 I was in Taormina with a crew of Italy’s national public broadcasting company Rai to film my portrait Il signor Goethe poeta e naturalista in viaggio verso Messina, anche marking the bicentenary of his Sicilian visit. Roaming the town in search of locations for our filming, I was struck by a splendid garden where mysterious plants of brilliant colors seemed to be there to perfectly illustrate the Theory of Colours and the other fantastic theory of the Urpflanze, the archetype of all plants from the Creation onwards, according to the poet who fled from Karlsbad on a false passport, and from Charlotte von Stein who tormented him with her jealousy…

This enchanted garden, so rich in references to Goethe, was/is the garden of the delightful, charming Hotel Villa Schuler, the perfect place to film and write about Goethe, the author of the famous statement about the island: Italien ohne Sizilien macht gar kein Bild in der Seele: hier ist erst der Schlüssel zu allem/To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything.”

(Vanni Ronsisvalle, 2016. Vanni Ronsisvalle, writer and journalist, documentary-filmmaker and former editor-in-chief of the cultural program on TG1 of the Rai, interviewed many outstanding personalities on TV, including Ezra Pound, Italo Calvino, Andy Warhol, Jean-Paul Sartre, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Peter Brook, Louis Aragon and Astrid Lindgren. He lives in Rome and in Taormina)

JIM KERR’S RECOMMENDATION
Jim Kerr, frontman of the Simple Minds, loves Sicily and owns a hotel in Taormina, Hotel Villa Angela. Besides his own hotel he recommends only two other ones, one of them is Hotel Villa Schuler:
“The Hotel Villa Schuler in the centre of town has the most incredible botanic gardens. It’s a wonderful building and a great location”.
(Jim Kerr’s Sicily by Jim Kerr, published on simonseeks.com)

HOMELY ATMOSPHERE – LOVELY BREAKFAST
Surrounded by shady terraced gardens with views of Mt Etna, the rose-pink Villa Schuler has been run by the same family for over a centruy (longer than any other Taormina hotel) and preserves a homely atmosphere. A lovely breakfast is served on the panoramic terrade. A great choice. (LONELY PLANET – SOUTHERN ITALY, 2012)

ONE OF THE GREENEST HOTELS OF ITALY (…)
The family has managed to hang on the house despite the appalling vicissitudes of two world wars. It has been expropriated in both wars. After the first, local buyers, so pleased that Signor Schuler had returned to buy the house back, withdrew their own bids. After the second, the house was returned to the family, but in a grim condition. So the rebuilding has been painstaking and devoted. What has been recreated is a wonderfully handsome, up-to-date hotel with the charm and elegance of its past. It is cool, quiet, impeccably run, with tiled floors, antique furniture and stone balconies on one level and more modern rooms with large terraces at the top. In fact, they are as modern as can be, with WIFI, jacuzzis, and most of the gadgets you could possibly need. In spite of the part-modernisation, Villa Schuler can claim to be one of the greenest hotels in Italy. Gerhard seems to have thought of everything, so the following may seem like litany of ecological achievement. But it is worth spelling out, even if briefly: They have used traditional building methods and natural materials. The ventilation 'system' cunningly uses the up-drafts from the sea. Toxic materials, blithely accepted by most, have been rigorously excluded – even electromagnetic 'smog'. Waste, of course, is seperated and recycled to an impressive degree. The sun heats the water, local farmers grow much of the food, natural fertilisers nourish the garden, ecological cleaners are aplied to the walls and floors, clever devices will alarm and protect you in case of fire, fossil-fuels are treated with respect and water conserved. Materials are natural (cotton towels, of course) disposables are reduced to a minimum, and all discarded furniture and equipment is donated to charity. The standards are set at the highest level and the hotel is ISO 14001 certified,(…) It is rare in the world of hotels to find a family so devoted to the familiy tradition. That, alone, is a seductive feature for those looking for Slow. But the long lazy afternoons in their garden (…), the views over the sea and to Etna, the deep commitment to running a hotel with the lightest ecolocigal touch – such things are enough to slow a person down. (ALASTAIR SAWDAY’S GO SLOW ITALY. Special places to stay, slow travel and slow food, 2009)

STYLE AND COMFORT
Filled with the fragrance of bougainvillea and jasmine, this hotel offers style and comfort at a good price. Family-owned and -run, it sits high above the Ionian Sea, with views of Mount Etna and the Bay of Naxos. It’s only a 2-minute stroll from Corso Umberto I and about a 15-minute walk from the cable car to the beach below. Guest rooms are comfortably furnished, with bathrooms with tub/shower combinations; many have a small balcony or terrace. Breakfast can be served in your room or taken on a lovely terrace with a panoramic sea view. Service is impeccable. The most luxurious way to stay here is to book the Garden Villa Suite with its own private access…” (FROMMER’S SICILY 2007).

LUXURIOUS OASIS
With scintillating bay views from the tranquil, palm-shaded terrace, and an extensive garden at the back, this makes a luxurious oasis at quite reasonable prices. (THE ROUGH GUIDE TO SICILY, 6th edition, 2005).

19C ATMOSPHERE
Converted into a hotel in 1905, this old house in the historical centre is surrounded by a Mediterranean garten full of tropical flowers and plants. The hotel retains some of its late 19C atmosphere and has old-fashioned, comfortable rooms. (The Green Guide, Sicily, Michelin travel Publications 2004)

STRIKES IN ITALY LATEST NEWS

How to get information on strikes throughout Italy: on this page Hotel Villa Schuler lists strikes as they pertain Sicily as well as some of the national transportation strikes. We try to inform our clients about upcoming strikes as soon as possible. To be sure, just check also the web sites listed next.

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If you need information on strikes in any parts of Italy, the best resource is the „Commissione di Garanzia”. This is the strike authority in Italy.

Its web site is very informative: www.commissionegaranziasciopero.it

The site is in Italian, but with some elementary Italian – or even without – you should be able to identify strikes in the area of your interest. The best is, after having opened the main site, to just click on „elenco scioperi” which means „list of strikes”. You will find a list of all strikes alphabetically arranged by sector and you can scroll down to the ones that interest you, such as transportation strikes: – Taxi – Trasporto Aereo (airlines) – Trasporto Ferroviario (train and railroad strikes) – Trasporto Marittimo (ferries) – Trasporto Pubblico Locale (local public transportation) To the left of the sector’s name you will find „data sciopero”, which means „date of strike”. This indicates the previewed date of the strike.

To controll the actual status of a planned strike please carry on reading down below, where you will find „stato dello sciopero”: „revocato” means „cancelled”, „differito” means „postponed to” The box „interventi della commissione” lists actions taken by the „Commissione della Garanzia”. If the Commissione has intervened, this will most likely mean that the strike violates regulations and will therfore probably be revoked or at least postponed. You might also want to check on Generale (general strike). These are rare but affect all sectors. You will find the button on the main site. Another useful link is the web site of the Italian Ministry of Transportation: http://www.infrastrutturetrasporti.it/page/standard/site.php?p=scioperi&PHPSESSID

You can check as well the following web site, which provides a service in English: www.summerinitaly.com/planning/strike.asp

If you have any doubts or questions please don’t hesitate to e-mail us to: schuler@tao.it

Last updated: January 15, 2017 Italian Government Strike Authority