It seems like everyone and their mother has been talking about the second season of HBO’s hit television show, “The White Lotus,” especially since its nail-biting finale on Sunday. While the twisting and turning of the plot, the charismatic characters, and the actors who have been made stars by the show were all key elements to the popularity of this season, another major component of the success was its dreamy setting. The previous season had made fans dream of a less eventful holiday of their own in Hawaii and this season introduced many to the undeniable charms of Sicily! As we’re big fans of both the show and the destination and we have an array of some gorgeous villas in Sicily to choose from, we thought it might be a good idea to tell you about some of the spots from this season where filming took place. These are the spots that you can see and admire for yourself (likely and hopefully without all of the drama but certainly with all of the beauty and delights) while enjoying a getaway in Sicily in Italy.
If you’re looking to emulate something even close to the plush style of the show, we do have a range of luxury villas in Sicily to choose from, offering you all of the amenities and space and elegance you could ask for, while also benefiting from the increased privacy and flexibility of a private villa rental. Those, however, who want to take in those gorgeous views from the show and soak up a vacation in Sicily at a more competitive and reasonable price point will have a great selection of holiday rentals in Sicily to choose from, all across the island – it’s all up to you!
Once you have secured your property, then, and you’re headed off to get your, “The White Lotus,” fix, here are the key stops to pencil into your itinerary:
Taormina
Where the titular hotel (in reality this is the San Domenico Palace Four Seasons Hotel) was located in the show and much of the filming for this season took place, Taormina is an atmospheric and stunning city that boasts a gorgeous coastline, a pretty town of tangled streets, elegant piazze, historic palaces, and gorgeous churches, all topped by the romantic ruins of an ancient Greco-Roman theatre that remains in use to this day. Beloved by the Grand Tourists (the travelling aristocracy of 17th to 19th century European aristocracy) and continuing to be an incredibly popular spot for vacations in Italy to this day, it has welcomed the likes of Goethe, Alexander Dumas, Johannes Brahms, Gustav Klimt, D.H. Lawrence, Richard Wagner, Oscar Wilde, Truman Capote, John Steinbeck, Ingmar Bergmann, Francis Ford Coppola, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Federico Fellini, Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, and Elisabeth Taylor. The so-called Pearl of the Mediterranean (or one of them – many cities claim such poetic titles), it stands apart from many similarly lovely and ancient cities in Sicily due to its incredibly lush and grand appearance. Therefore, it is no wonder that it is the setting of a show about travellers on a luxurious getaway!
Once you have found your villa in Sicily and have come to explore the city for yourself, be sure to take a struscio (or slow stroll) on the Corso Umberto. This is the main shopping street and is a pedestrianised thoroughfare where you can find some of the shops that Lucia and Mia like to admire and eventually frequent during the course of the show.
In another scene, we see Albie, Dom, and Bert visit the theatre atop the city along with Portia and this is the ideal spot to take in views over the entirety of Taormina, the coast, Mount Etna (which was framed purposefully as a backdrop when the theatre was built) and more, as well as being an attraction in its own right. The route leading up this way and many of the paths and roads winding up through Taormina, where we see Ethan jogging at different points throughout the show, are also all well worth exploring if you are up for a trek and want to take in some truly remarkable views over this slice of heaven from different angles.
Of course, much of the season centres in and around the hotel, which you can certainly admire and experience without being a guest. There is the option to dine in the Bar and Chiostro, the bar in the show where Mia gets a gig as the pianist and many showdowns between characters take place. Plus, while you’re there, you can try the Gelosia e Mandolino, a cocktail inspired by a notably explosive fight between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton’s in the hotel for just a tiny taste of cinematic drama.
The lovely outdoor dining scenes on the terrace can also be emulated and enjoyed by dining in the hotel’s Michelin-starred Principe Cerami restaurant for the exceptional views and high-end Sicily-inspired cuisine. Then there is the White Lotus beach club experience, which is actually offered by La Cambusa, which is a bar and restaurant in the nearby Giardini Naxos.
While you’re by the sea, you’ll need to visit some of Taormina’s stunning beaches and maybe even walk out to the looming Isola Bella as Daphne and Ethan do but for the softest and sandiest strands, you’ll need to head to the town of Cefalù during your holiday in Sicily, where some of the Taormina beach scenes were actually filmed.
While Taormina and the events at the White Lotus were central to the show, anyone considering booking a vacation rental in Sicily and following in the footsteps of the characters to the incredible places they see will have to head elsewhere so read on to our second article for the other destinations you need to explore while in this part of Italy that you should make a note of right now!