We stayed in apartment #4 (with the east-facing private terrace and Ionian Sea view) for the entire month of February 2019. We did not want to leave.
The apartment and building: Everything about the apartment and building is first class. Very modern and only the best materials used for flooring, fixtures, appliances, furnishings, lighting...etc. A wonderful bonus is the rooftop solarium affording you great views of the Ionian Sea, the Straits of Messina and mainland Italy. The reality is even better than the pictures that are posted.
Location: The apartment is perfectly located in Taormina. Very close to dozens of shops, bars, restaurants. It’s only meters just north of the Messina Gate of the Corso Umberto, which is the major street to stroll, shop, eat and drink in town. Taormina was also a perfect location to use as a home base in order to explore the eastern half of Sicily. We did easy excursions to Mt. Etna, wineries, Catania, Siracusa, Agrigento, Cefalù and others. Finally, there are two bakeries within 10 steps of the front door, making your morning pastry run quite easy.
The people: Because it was during the low season, we got to know so many locals in the shops, bars, restaurants, deli’s and restaurants. They are very warm and proud of Sicily and all its culture. You just have to make the first steps to learn a little Italian, ask for their names and they will take it from there. This aspect was truly the best part of our month in Sicily.
Favorites: Luraleo, a bar with outdoor seating to eat and drink midday with views of Mt Etna, just outside the Catania gate; Trattoria Tiramisu, nicer restaurant just outside of the Catania Gate, run by a father and son, superb food and service; Excursions Sicily, a local travel agency right on the Corso Umberto that we used for four of our excursions. They keep the group small (4-5 people) and customized to your needs. You will pay a small premium for this higher end experience but it beats the larger tour group experiences without question. Their guides speak excellent English and are passionate about sharing Sicily with you.
Finally, Vincenzo and his wife, Serena make you feel very welcome and are very responsive throughout the stay. The entire building is exceptionally clean. We had zero suggestions for improvements as we wrote our review.