The White Lotus Season 2 Locations 🎬

With its beautiful natural scenery, breathtaking landscapes and architectural marvels Sicily has set the scene for many Hollywood movies including The Godfather, Oceans Twelve, Star Wars Revenge of the Sith, Aquaman and most recently the musical Cyrano and Indiana Jones 5 plus many Italian speaking movies including the Oscar winning movie Cinema Paradiso.

Earlier this year news broke that the producers of the American TV series 'The White Lotus' would be setting their second season in Taormina, Sicily.

The White Lotus is a comedy-drama television series, created written and directed by Mike White, that premiered on the US HBO channel in July 2021. The first series was filmed in Hawaii in late 2020 and featured an ensemble cast including Hollywood actress and comedian Jennifer Coolidge. The series swept the 2022 Emmy Awards with trophies.

The first season consisted of six episodes and features the lives of the staff and guests at a fictional tropical luxury resort in Hawaii. The series detailed a week in the life of rich vacationers as they relax and rejuvenate in paradise. With each passing day a darker complexity emerged for the picture perfect travellers, the hotels cheerful employees and the idyllic location.

As the first season had been filmed at The Four Seasons in Maui it was inevitable that The Four Seasons San Domenico Palace Hotel in Taormina would become the next White Lotus hotel.

In February word got out around town that casting sessions were being held in Taormina for extras and a few of my friends actually got parts. Others were involved in providing props and transportation.

Eventually the new glitzy cast and filming crew arrived in Taormina and filming commenced.

The only characters from season one returning were Jennifer Coolidge who reprised her role as Tanya McQuoid, a troubled woman who in the first series her mother had just died, and her now husband Jon Gries who plays Greg. Jennifer won the Critics Choice Award for her performance as Tanya.

The first announced big named stars other than Jennifer Coolidge were Michael Imperioli, best known for The Sopranos. Audrey Plaza, Meghann Fahy and Theo James along with actor Tom Hollander of Pirates of the Caribbean fame who took on the role of an English expat living in Palermo.

Photos of the stars and cast in Taormina started to appear on social media exploring Taormina and having fun and at long last the Four Seasons San Domenico Hotel was transformed into the "White Lotus Resort & Spa". Blacked out mini vans adorned with the hotel logo were spotted around town.

Taormina and our town Giardini Naxos were buzzing with excitement and frequently we were diverted in traffic and unable to walk down parts of the town whilst filming was in progress. We waited in anticipation of the premier of the new season.

As episode one commenced we gasped as we saw our beautiful island on screen and continuously pointed at the TV screen each time we saw the location of our Sicilian house shouting “our house is just there”. We were so intent on spotting the filming locations the people we recognised as extras along with props depicted from local myths and legends, that we had to watch each episode twice to then concentrate on the plot and characters.

So here is my ultimate guide to The White Lotus filming locations drawn from local inside knowledge.

My friends tell me that Jennifer Coolidge was an absolute scream during filming scenes which had to filmed over and over again as she kept bursting into fits of laughter and that the young actors were very sweet and fun on set.

All photos are my own @whitealmondsicily

The Island ...

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and it is Italy's largest region, it is also Italy's most varied region. In terms of geology there are offshore islands, an endless coastline, excellent beaches, rugged mountains, fabulous cities and charming towns and active volcanos, but its food, architecture and history are also of note. It is also the region which has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy. It is a beautiful island which cannot fail to impress and is an endless source of fascination and delight making it the perfect destination for an Italian vacation and it is no wonder that Mike White chose Sicily for the setting of The White Lotus season two.

The Town ...

As Sicily's first holiday resort the hilltop town of Taormina boasts elegance and style and has been welcoming jet set visitors for centuries. The town draped with bright coloured bougainvillea and geraniums offers breathtaking views, an Ancient Greek theatre and cafes and terraces overlooking the sparkling Ionian Sea with a smoking Mount Etna in the distance. The choice of hotels, restaurants, shops and manicured gardens makes it Sicily's most popular and beloved destination. Below Taormina are tempting beaches, grottoes, coves and the tiny Isola Bella attached to the coast by a strip of sand. In the mid to late 1800's Taormina became the first 'gay resort' and a key destination for pioneering gay tourists. A perfect destination for Quentin and his friends. They were able to enjoy themselves in a less stringent environment with a sunny year round climate surrounded by classical culture and art, with some even deciding to relocate there permanently. Taormina is a town full of myths, legends and romantic love stories. It is a place that is full of energy and you are immediately seduced by its outstanding beauty, gastronomic food, rich culture and friendly local people who are very passionate about their town.

The Hotel ...

Mike White chose the Four Seasons San Domenico Hotel in Taormina for his White Lotus hotel. The hotel is an ex-monastery and has recently undertaken a renovation to transform it into a Four Seasons property. The complex of the hotel is an important part of Taormina's history, culture and tourism. The hotel occupies a commanding position on the edge of the old Jewish ghetto of the town. It has breath taking views and is set in magnificent natural surroundings. Visible from its beautifully kept gardens is the Bay of Naxos and Mount Etna and this view featured prominently in many scenes in series two. The San Domenico is a top class luxury hotel that has preserved some elements of the original monastic furnishings and decorations and was until 1866 still a large religious complex. Countless writers, artists, composers, actors, royal families, heads of state and movie stars have stayed here and within the cloisters, now a lounge bar where Daphne and Harper have a heart to heart in episode five, became the stage for the designers Dolce and Gabbana with their Alta Moda collection in 2012. The restaurant scenes where the guests eat every night were filmed in the hotel's restaurant, the Michelin starred Principe Cerami.

Opening Scenes ...

In the opening scenes of The White Lotus season two, we see Daphne on the hotel beach speaking to two women who have just arrived in Sicily. It is after this that she goes into the sea for “one last time" and then finds a dead body in the sea. Thereafter the hotel manager Valentina and concierge Rocco arrive. This beach is not in Taormina and in real life is located on the northern coast of the island in Cefalù. This charming town is one of the most popular seaside resorts of the Tyrrhenian coastline and is listed as one of "The Most Beautiful Towns in Italy". This small fishing village, now a resort with thanks to its great sandy beaches, lies on a strip of land between the sea and a huge promontory looming above. The modern holiday resorts lie either side of the historic medieval centre which has enticing warren like alleyways that lead to a main piazza with a stunning Norman Cathedral that is seen in the background of the beach scenes. Other scenes shot here are in episode one when Ethan, Harper, Cameron and Daphne have a conversation whilst enjoying an Aperol spritz at the beach bar and in episode six when they are all are on the beach and Daphne goes for a massage whilst Ethan goes for a swim and then sees Harper and Cameron doing shots and flirting at the bar. Also it is where the boys jet ski whilst the girls go on an excursion to Noto. The beach also set the scene for Dominic as he walks alone along the beach in episode five and when Cameron and Ethan fight in the sea in the last episode. It was also in Cefalù where Portia and Jack embark on a drunken day trip in episode six.

“Welcome to The White Lotus Sicily" ...

The arrival of the guests in episode one shows them arriving by boat into the Bay of Naxos below Taormina. The seaside town in the background is Giardini Naxos and this is my town. Earlier this year in May one of the beaches, La Cambusa Beach Club, where we take our dog Daisy every morning, started to be transformed with luxurious sun beds and gazebos and the beach club signage was replaced with signs saying, "The White Lotus Resort Sicily". Thereafter we were not able to access the beach as filming took place for a week. The wardrobe and costumes were located in the nearby Giardini Naxos bus terminal and each morning we would drive past the beach where we were quite often stopped whilst scenes were being shot. The jetty of La Cambusa Beach Club set the scene for hotel manager Valentina and her staff who greet their new guests with some "Italian Prosecco". Thereafter the guests set off in black minibuses with The White Lotus Sicily logo up the winding road towards Taormina. The port of Giardini Naxos was used as the base for the yacht that takes Tanya and Portia with Quentin and his friends to Palermo and during filming we would see the yacht heading off each morning and return again each evening.

The Legend of the Moorish Heads ...

On arrival at the hotel the new guests are surrounded by ceramic sculptures of heads. The Legend of the Moorish Heads is a tragic tale unique to Sicily, it is a story of love, betrayal and revenge, a perfect legend to match the guests of The White Lotus. The legend tells us that a beautiful young maid fell in love with a young Moor and they began a passionate love affair however the Moor concealed a secret. One day the maid found out that her lover would have to leave Sicily to return to his wife and children in the middle east. The maid was overtaken with anger and one night after he had fallen asleep she cut off his head. However she then decided that she would miss his handsome face and so she made his head into a plant pot and placed a shoot of basil in it so that she could continue her love for him. She watered the plant with her grief stricken tears until it grew big and lush arousing the envy of her neighbours who went to local ceramic artists asking them to make vases that looked similar. You can find similar heads to those seen in the series at Auté Taormina, a shop located adjacent to the entrance of the hotel.

Mount Etna and Wine Tasting ...

Our beautiful volcano Mount Etna is one of the world's most active volcanoes and it is in an almost constant state of activity. Etna's fertile volcanic soils support extensive agriculture, with vineyards and fruit orchards and olive groves spread across the lower slopes of the volcano. Mount Etna dominates the eastern side of the island with several vast craters with a height of 3,330 metres. For visitors it offers breathtaking views, great hiking, wine tasting and jeep excursions plus you might just see an eruption like in the final episode. Etna features throughout the series between scenes. In episode five Cameron, Daphne, Ethan and Harper embark on a volcanic wine tasting adventure which was filmed at the Planeta Sciaranuova Winery located on the slopes of Etna.

Ethan's Morning Run ...

Every morning whilst staying at The White Lotus Ethan goes for a run before having breakfast on the hotel terrace. Can I just add that in real life the San Domenico breakfasts are pretty amazing. You will see Ethan running through an empty early morning Taormina along the main pedestrianised street Corso Umberto and through Piazza Aprile IX which is one of the town's most iconic locations where elegant bars will entice you. The square opens out into Corso Umberto which runs from the medieval arches of Porta Catania and Porta Messina, also seen in scenes, and the square is the main focus of social gatherings in the town. In episode two we see Ethan running high above Taormina in the hillside where a Saracen castle and the Sanctuary of Madonna Della Rocca are located and he stands and looks at the view across Taormina.

Lucia’s ‘Pretty Woman’ shopping moment ...

When Cameron's luggage goes missing in Rome he needs to buy a new wardrobe and in episode two he heads to the Liu Jo Boutique on Corso Umberto where at the same time Lucia, with Mia admires a “bellissimo” dress in the window. In episode three Lucia returns to the boutique to buy the dress like the scene from Pretty Woman in Beverley Hills on Rodeo Drive. Now I have my own White Lotus moment to share, in May myself and my friend Isabella, of Weddings in Sicily Taormina, were with a lovely wedding party from the UK walking down Corso Umberto with the newlyweds and their happy guests lead by a Sicilian folk group. As we danced our way down the Corso tourists parted to let us through with clapping and shouts of "Auguri and Congratulations" and then we were stopped by The White Lotus security who looked and did not know quite what to do, should they stop us or let us through whilst filming was going ahead in the boutique? So what did we do? Yes, you guessed it we steamed through security and danced through the filming whilst the cast and filming crew looked on in dismay. We then took the wedding party into Piazza Aprile IX for a traditional Sicilian dance among the cameras, wardrobe department and props. We then headed off to the wedding venue in a well known beachside hotel where a bemused Jon Gries was walking towards us alone. He nodded and said “Buona serata” and that is how I knew before it was officially announced that 'Greg' would be returning to season two!!! P.S keep a look out for my friend Isabella who was an extra on set, you will mostly see her in the hotel bar and restaurant scenes.

Tanya’s Italian Dream ...

In episode two Tanya lives her "Perfect Italian Dream just like Monica Vitti" and so she dresses up in a Monica Vitti style outfit for a Vespa ride with Greg. Monica Vitti was an Italian actress who starred in the 1960's Italian movie 'L' Aventurra" that was filmed in Sicily and the Aeolian Islands, which are located just north of Sicily. Tanya and Greg's Vespa ride takes them up and around the winding roads of Taormina's surrounding mountain ranges and the seaside town of Santa Teresa di Riva can be seen in the distance below. This mountainous area is known as "The Land of The Godfather" due to the fact that scenes from The Godfather Part I were filmed in Savoca and Forza d'Agro, two charming hilltop towns close by. The location where Tanya and Greg finish their day with dinner and the scene when Greg tells Tanya that he has to go back to America were filmed in Ristorante Baronessa which is one of the most popular restaurants in Taormina at 148 Corso Umberto, however although we see them arriving and going through the entrance of the restaurant the actual dinner scenes were filmed inside the Igiea Terraza Bar at the Hotel Villa Igiea, a Roccoforte hotel in Palermo.

The Ancient Greek Theatre & Persephone …

In episode two Bert, Dominic and Albie Di Grasso with Tanya’s PA Portia visit the Ancient Greek Theatre of Taormina. The Greek Theatre was built in Greek times but was reconstructed during the Roman Empire era. The theatre is divided into three parts, the stage, the orchestra pit and the spectators area. The natural curve of the hill it sits on was used to build the seating area. The stage was constructed creating a natural backdrop with the Bay of Naxos and Mount Etna as scenery. The theatre comes alive in summer months with opera and concerts featuring some of the worlds most famous performing artists and sets the scene each year for the annual Taormina Film Festival. In this episode Bert tells Dominic and Albie the myth of "The Rape of Persephone", a story from Greek mythology that is very well known to Sicily. The myth tells the story of the abduction of Persephone, daughter of Demeter and Zeus, by Hades the God of the Underworld. Hades convinces Persephone to eat six pomegranate seeds from his kingdom and then enforces that she must spend six months of the year with him and six months with her mother in Sicily. It is said that this is how the seasons come and go, the autumn and winter of Demeter's grieving for her daughter and the spring and summer at the joy of her daughters return.

Valentina's Morning Coffee Spot ...

In episode three we see Valentina stopping for her morning coffee. In Sicily grabbing a quick espresso is like a religion and they are served at the perfect temperature so you can just stand at the bar and drink and go. Valentina takes her morning coffee at the Bam Bar. Bambar is a must visit in Taormina and the granite there is to die for. It is a place to be seen. Granite is the traditional Sicilian breakfast usually served with a warm brioche bun. It is an ice cold refreshment made using water, sugar and traditionally lemon juice but these days there is an amazing choice of flavours to try. Granita is like a crunchy frozen slush and is ravishingly refreshing on the most sultriest of Sicilian summer days. The owner Saro welcomes you with his staff and has had his photo taken with many a celebrity over the years, including the cast of The White Lotus, and you can see some of his photos on the wall inside the bar.

The Di Grasso’s Godfather Tour ...

In episode three Bert, Dominic, Albie and Portia embark on a Godfather Tour with a private driver. The location where they sit for lunch is the Castello degli Schavi (Castle of the Slaves). In The Godfather Part One this privately own residence was used in the movie as Michael Corleone's safe house and it is where his new wife Apollonia is murdered when the car she is sitting in is blown up. In real life the castle is not open to the public and you will find no Godfather movie props there like in the scene in The White Lotus. The building set among citrus groves is a splendid example of Sicilian baroque of the eighteenth century and is located not too far from Taormina. Visits are possible by appointment only with the owner and the location is a very popular venue for weddings and events.

Harper and Daphne’s Excursion to Noto ...

In episode three Daphne has booked an excursion to the south eastern town of Noto with a private driver but Cameron would rather spend time with Ethan and so Harper goes with her instead. Noto is located in the south eastern corner of Sicily and is a most beautiful Baroque city and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, its nickname is "The Stone Garden of Europe". It was lovingly reconstructed after a devastating earthquake. Noto fascinates visitors with its noble palaces and churches which turn a honey coloured hue as the sun sets. It is a wonderful town to explore and was used recently as the filming location for the movie Cyrano starring Peter Dinklage from Game of Thrones and was the destination of choice by Madonna this year to celebrate her 64th birthday. Daphne and Harper enjoy a Campari in Piazza del Duomo in front of the Cathedral of San Nicolò. Harper has her own Monica Vitti moment in Noto where in a scene reminiscent of L' Aventurra she feels the eyes of dozens of ogling men watching her as she walks past the Church of Santa Chiara. I would just like to add that after fifteen years of living in Sicily I have never experienced this kind of male behaviour in Sicily and please keep in mind that this scene was made for the screen, so please do not think that this happens in real life, so ladies you will be safe.

Harper and Daphne’s Palazzo ...

Whilst in Noto, Daphne surprises Harper with a visit to a palazzo that she has seen "online" and then announces that she has booked the whole place for one night. In real life this palazzo is actually located in Palermo not Noto. The residence is Villa Tasca which is set in a 20 acre park full of citrus orchards and century old trees. The house was built in the 1500's. It is here that Mike White drew inspiration from the frescoes on the walls inside the house for the opening credits of season two and it is said by some avid White Lotus fans that the paintings in the opening credits resemble the characters and their fate. Harper's bikini that she borrows from Daphne to swim in the pool was designed and hand made by my lovely friend Martina founder of Mavi Bikini.

The White Lotus Beach Club ...

In episode four most of the episode is set at the beach club. This is when Quentin invites Tanya to join him and his friends and when Portia first encounters Jack and Albie first meets Lucia by the pool. These scenes were filmed at the Hotel Capotaormina which is carved into a rockface by the sea. The hotels private beach and outdoor pool are reached through a cave which Mia uses when she is looking for Lucia to help with Giuseppe the piano players 'problem'. Embedded in a rock on the coastline close to the hotel there is the cross that features prominently between scenes, it is said locally that this cross was set in memorial for some schoolgirls and nuns that lost their lives in a boating tragedy close by.

Isola Bella ...

The story that Quentin tells Tanya, whilst at the beach club, about the tiny island is not true, there has never been a Swedish family that lived there however it is true that the island is open to the public. Isola Bella is a beautiful little island that emerges from the sea. It is accessed by steps leading down to an enticing beach and the island is accessible by foot when the tide is low. A Scottish lady named Florence Trevelyan bought Isola Bella in 1890. She moved to Taormina after a rumoured romantic entanglement with Queen Victoria's son the Prince of Wales, who was to be the future King. Florence built a house on Isola Bella and established a garden there and it is with thanks to her that we have such a beautiful island in Taormina. Isola Bella is now protected by WWF and it has been declared a Nature Reserve thanks to its beauty and untouched nature. It is at Isola Bella that Daphne lures Ethan to in the final episode.

Palermo ...

In episode five Tanya and Portia head by sea to Palermo with Quentin and his “high end gay” friends, in their yacht, to stay in his villa. As I mentioned earlier we used to see the yacht departing from the port of Giardini Naxos usually with a helicopter and film crew in smaller boats following. Palermo is the intriguing capital city of Sicily. Its history is ancient and interesting. It was the Arabs, describing it as 'paradise on earth' who contributed to its glory. Subsequently, with thanks to Norman domination the city became a rare example of majestic architecture. Today what remains of earlier ages coexists with modern life creating a multicultural city. The city boasts fabulous street food markets that makes it a perfect destination for foodies. It is in Via Bara all'Olivella located opposite the opera house where Jack and Portia run down after not paying for their arancini or as Jack calls them “rice balls”.

Quentin’s Villa ...

Quentin's opulent villa in Palermo that he inherited from his "silly sausage" father in real life is located in Noto. This residence is Villa Elena which is a 17th century monastery that was renovated by a interior designer named Jacques Garcia. The monastery was built on a 12th century Norman villa that had been built on a 10th century palace from Arabic rule which was originally a 5th century Roman house built on top of a Greek house BC. Welcome to the world of Sicilian history!!! Jacques Garcia added furnishing with drapes made of silk, chandeliers, paintings, statues and busts and antique furniture. The villa set the scene for that jaw dropping finale in episode five.

A Night at the Opera ...

In episode five Quentin and his friends take Tanya to the Teatro Massimo, the opera house of Palermo, to see Madame Butterfly. The Teatro Massimo is most famous in cinema history as the filming location for the final scenes of The Godfather Part III. In the last movie of the trilogy Michael Corleone's son Anthony gets a part in the opera Cavalleria Rusticana performing at the opera house. The movie ends in tragedy as the Corleone Family leave after the performance and Michael's beloved daughter Mary is murdered by an assassin on the opera house steps.

The Di Grasso Family Reunion ...

The Di Grasso Family, Bert, Dominic and Albie’s main reason for travelling to Sicily is so they can trace the town where Bert's mother was born called Testa dell'Aqua where they hope to meet their Sicilian descendants. The family find out that there is still a Di Grasso family living in the town and in episode six they hire a car to meet them. Testa dell'Aqua does exist and is a small town located near Noto. The house they visit is a privately owned home.

Catania Airport

The final scenes of The White Lotus are set at Catania airport, the gateway to Taormina, Noto and Eastern Sicily. I hope to see you all there soon.

Links:

The Four Seasons San Domenico Palace Hotel Taormina https://www.fourseasons.com/taormina/?source=ppc|SDH|msn|acr|RG|Brand.WW&ppc=true&gclid=a3d1c895f64e1cc31a78ab01360db23d&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=a3d1c895f64e1cc31a78ab01360db23d

Planeta Winery www.planeta.it

For Harper's bikini in Episode Three in Noto visit Mavi Bikini www.mavibikini.com

For Sicilian ceramics as seen in The White Lotus visit Auté Taormina www.estrotaormina.com

Ask me about Private Drivers in Sicily 😎

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I hope you have enjoyed my White Lotus Filming Locations post?

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