Belmond unveils a partnership with Dior for a new wellness experience in the legendary gardens of the Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina, in celebration of the iconic property’s 150 year anniversary. From June to October 2023, the hotel’s storied gardens will welcome two Dior treehouse treatment cabins perched in the majestic cypress trees, offering guests exclusive skincare treatments in a verdant oasis, overlooking the sea.
In Timeo’s six-acre gardens, designed by English gardener and pioneering wildlife conservationist Florence Trevelyan at the end of XIX century, many artists and writers have found meditative peace and inspiration over the last 150 years. Today Grand Hotel Timeo and Dior Spa are fostering the same spirit, inviting guests to enjoy a moment of wellbeing in the hotel’s lush enclave.
LUXURIOUS WELLNESS COCOONS AMONGST THE CYPRESS TREES
Guests are invited to climb a few steps up a wooden staircase to access two highly sophisticated tree-house treatment cabins, one double and one single, perched in the cypress trees. These vibrant green wooden treehouses are elevated with the famous toile de jouy curtains, in a matching shade.
The decor takes inspiration from the fragrant flora and fauna which envelopes the pop-up spa. Maria Grazia Chiuri, Creative Director of Dior, has reimagined the iconic Dior fabric decorating the cabins in a bold leaf-green to blend seamlessly with the lush surroundings. The Dior toile de Jouy wallpaper, the bamboo seating and the modern design lamps with brushed brass finishes, create an intimate and refined atmosphere.
Each cabin, designed by Thirtyone Design + Management, has its own individual terrace with sea views complete with a parasol in matching fabric, rattan furniture and plants, offering guests the privacy to extend this moment of well-being in absolute serenity.
DIOR’S ICONIC TREATMENTS TAKEN TO NEW HEIGHTS
The menu of signature face and body treatments draws on the skills and expertise of Dior skincare, created to help the skin and senses blossom during the summer. The signature Dolce Vita solar glow face and body one-hour treatment ensures a perfectly enhanced and extended sun tan. Depending on the time of the treatment, it concludes with either a head-to-toe application of protective sun cream, lotion or oil before sun exposure, or with a soothing after-sun balm or shimmering oil, at the end of the day.
Beauty-enhancing treatments, all characterised by the iconic Dior techniques that combine the best of traditional Eastern and Western methods with powerful, targeted movements, include: Dior Prestige Haute Précision, a major holistic face treatment using the Dior prestige line and combining the regenerative power of the Granville Rose with enveloping massage techniques to blend pleasure with visible correction of the signs of age; and Constellation, a deeply relaxing holistic body massage , for perfect harmony between body and mind.
GRAND HOTEL TIMEO: THE FRONT ROW TO SICILY’S ETERNAL BEAUTY
When Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, opened its doors in 1873, it not only became Taormina’s very first hotel, but also quickly rose to fame as a pioneer in putting Sicily on the map. Boasting captivating views of nearby Mount Etna and adjoining the ancient Greek theatre, the hotel’s unique blend of history and mystique inspired great works of art and literature for years to come.
Ideally located near the lively town centre, Mazzaro Bay and the most beautiful beaches in the country, it has attracted illustrious artists such as Klimt, Klee, Wagner, Tennessee Williams and D.H. Lawrence, who stayed there while he wrote Lady Chatterley’s Lover.
Hollywood’s elite, from Cary Grant to Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn, also succumbed to its charms. To honour its history while also looking to the future, this legendary hotel, celebrates its Italian culture with enchanting outdoor spaces, and a deep respect for sustainability and plant protection. Meanwhile, its Michelin-starred restaurant, run by Executive Chef Roberto Toro, revisits traditional Sicilian dishes.
Throughout the entire summer, this Italian destination will provide the perfect setting for an exclusive Dior spa concept.
Photo Credit: Pierre Mouton – Parfums Christian Dior