Villa Falconara The Historic Home Of Nelson

Overlooking the sea, with a view of the Gulf of Taormina and its iconic Isola Bella, just a few minutes drive from the sea and the historic center of Taormina, with its characteristic streets and its historic Greek Theater,
Villa Falconara is a one-of-a-kind residence, among the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful villa in Taormina.
The charm of this prestigious residence also lies in its history, which has its roots in the early twentieth century.
It was in 1799 that Ferdinand I of Bourbon, King of the Two Sicilies, appointed the Admiral of the English fleet, Horatio Nelson, Duke of Bronte, assigning him all the territories of Bronte and Maniace, in Sicily.
In 1867, the heirs of the Nelson family purchased a plot of land in Taormina, in the San Leo district, where, on 15 April 1911, Alec Nelson, great-grandson of the Admiral and fifth Duke of Bronte, began the construction of Villa Falconara.

Over the course of its history the villa has been the protagonist of several episodes, in 1925, the English royals King George V and his wife Queen Mary, with Prince George and Princess Victoria, were guests of the Nelsons at Villa Falconara, in memory of this episode there is still a plaque placed in the garden of the villa.

The Villa is spread over three levels, each measuring approximately 350 m², for a total of approximately 1050 m², and has a 50,000 m² garden that extends along a steep wall overlooking the sea, created as a natural amphitheater on several terraces, with combinations of native and exotic vegetation.
The different levels are connected by stairs and paths that lead to the discovery of hidden corners full of monumental furnishings of archaeological interest.
A small semicircular temple dedicated to the God Pan with plaster statues; a Roman tomb dating back to the 3rd century AD; the natural Grotta dei falchi, which gives its name to the villa; Tuscan order columns in Melilli stone; several bronze sculptures; a stone well with a wrought iron arch; a fountain in Istrian stone; benches; vases in Vicenza stone and a sundial.

The villa consistof 14 rooms and 7 bathrooms, distributed on three levels, all the rooms have windows or French windows overlooking the park, or one of the numerous terraces, with an exclusive view of the sea.

The property also includes a small three-storey building, built shortly after the main structure of the villa, located almost opposite the villa itself, across Via Luigi Pirandello, which stands on a large plot of land that extends almost to the centre of Taormina.