5 Filming Locations from White Lotus You Can Explore in Sicily

If you're online or know someone who is, you've likely heard about HBO's The White Lotus series. With two seasons released (the first in 2021 and the second in 2022), the show centers on the wealthy yet neurotic guests at the fictional White Lotus hotels, alongside the eccentric staff managing it all. However, the breathtaking real-life locations where The White Lotus is filmed often steal the spotlight.

While the first season took place in Hawai‘i, the second season ventured to Sicily, depicting a dramatic week filled with infidelity, scheming, and murder. Amidst all the chaos, characters relax on the beach, explore beyond the hotel, and even sail on a murderer’s yacht. The common thread? Every location is stunning. Their feature in The White Lotus has ignited a wave of “set-jetting,” where travelers flock to see filming spots.

For your upcoming trip to Italy, here are five White Lotus filming sites you can visit, including a couple of ancient villas and one of Sicily's most striking hotels:

1. San Domenico Palace

Location: Taormina

The luxurious hotel that represented this season’s lavish White Lotus retreat is the San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel (the first season was filmed at the Four Seasons, Resort Maui at Wailea). Initially built in the 15th century as a monastery, the San Domenico Palace is perched on a cliff with stunning views of the Ionian Sea, Mount Etna, and the ancient Greek theater. In 1896, the former convent was converted into a high-end hotel, welcoming illustrious guests such as Oscar Wilde, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Sophia Loren, and Audrey Hepburn.

Today, the hotel boasts 111 suites (some of which were once monk cells), two bars, an outdoor infinity pool, and beautifully landscaped courtyards and gardens that hark back to its monastic origins. The interiors, crafted by renowned Naples-based architect Valentina Pisani, feature smoked mirrors, exquisite marble finishes, bronze accents, and a blend of historical and modern artwork. Recommended activity: Savor one of the hotel's signature cocktails while lounging by the pool, channeling your inner Monica Vitti with a scarf stylishly tied in your hair next to your uninterested husband.

2. Cefalù Beach

Location: Cefalù

Each season of The White Lotus opens with a death. In this season, Daphne (Meghann Fahy) discovers a body floating in the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean during the first episode. While hotel scenes were filmed at San Domenico Palace, the beach scenes were actually shot at the renowned Cefalù Beach in Sicily, often framed by the iconic Norman Cathedral in the background. Cefalù, a picturesque coastal town in northern Sicily, is about a 2.5-hour drive from Taormina and is celebrated for its sandy shores, dramatic cliffs, and ancient buildings, including a temple dedicated to the Roman goddess of the hunt, Diana.

3. Villa Elena

Location: Camastra

This stunning estate served as the residence (and symbolic burden) of the conniving Quentin (Tom Hollander), nearly stealing the spotlight from the characters with its vibrant artwork, frescoes, sculptures, and antiques. In the series, Quentin informs the naive heiress Tanya (the award-winning Jennifer Coolidge) that he inherited the opulent estate from his father. When Tanya arrives and takes in the villa's extravagant interiors, she exclaims, “Oh, my God. You must have spent a fortune on this place.”

Villa Elena is currently owned by French interior designer Jacques Garcia, who invested significant time and resources into restoring this historic estate to its modern grandeur. “This 17th-century monastery is built atop a 12th-century Norman villa, which succeeded a 10th-century Moorish palace, which in turn replaced a fifth-century Roman house, which took the place of a Greek villa from the third century before Christ,” Garcia mentioned in a 2019 interview with Architectural Digest. Good news for White Lotus enthusiasts: Villa Elena can be rented for your own wicked Italian getaway (price available upon inquiry).

4. Castello degli Schiavi

Location: Fiumefreddo

In the third episode, Albie (Adam DiMarco), along with his father Dominic (Michael Imperioli), grandfather Bert (F. Murray Abraham), and new friend Portia (Haley Lu Richardson), explores Castello degli Schiavi, the famous castle that served as Michael Corleone’s (Al Pacino) sanctuary in the 1972 classic The Godfather. Located about 10 miles south of San Domenico Palace, this castle was built in the 1800s and carries an intriguing legend linked to its name, which means “Castle of the Slaves.” According to lore, in the 1700s, a doctor from Palermo saved the Prince of Palagonia’s son, who then rewarded him with land. The doctor constructed a castle for himself and his wife, Rosalia, but soon after, they were captured by pirates aiming to sell them into slavery. Fortunately, they were rescued by militants led by Rosalia’s lover (in a twist reminiscent of White Lotus) and escaped. The castle has been known as Castello degli Schiavi ever since.

Nowadays, Castello degli Schiavi is privately owned, but the estate is open for tours. However, you won’t find a Godfather-themed gift shop or café outside the castle in reality.

5. Villa Tasca

Location: Palermo

Imagine this: your husband’s best friend’s wife, whom you barely get along with, has unexpectedly whisked you away from your weeklong vacation and charming hotel for a surprise girls’ trip. But can you genuinely be that upset when you’re staying at Villa Tasca? Located in sunny Palermo, far from Taormina, this 16th-century treasure is set in a sprawling 20-acre park filled with citrus trees, featuring vibrant frescoes, Murano chandeliers, and stunning majolica tiles.

Interestingly, Villa Tasca’s moment on The White Lotus isn’t its first encounter with fame. Esteemed guests like Jacqueline Kennedy and Otto, Prince of Bismarck, have stayed at this exquisite palace, and it’s rumored that Villa Tasca has even inspired compositions from classical maestros like Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner. Thankfully, your palatial Italian dreams can come true, as Villa Tasca is available on Airbnb for $5,900 per night.