So first things first. The question everyone asked me the second I touched down back in America — is the Four Seasons San Domenico at all like it is in White Lotus? The answer is yes…mostly. Immediately upon checking in, I noticed how seemingly familiar everything was to the fictional White Lotus hotel TV — from the outfits worn by the staff, to the iconic Sicilian ceramic head statues dotting every corner, the HBO art team clearly took inspiration directly from the hotel’s established aesthetic. The rooms looked identical, the pool, just as beautiful, even the piano player during happy hour — suspiciously similar-looking to the gal on the HBO show. As for the location itself? This is where there is a slight deviance. Parts of the show, including the infamous first scene, take place on a beach, seemingly next to the hotel. So yeah, no beach here. Those scenes were actually shot in Cefalù, a few hours drive away on the northern part of Sicily. The San Domenico sits high on top of a cliff, which makes for dramatic views from the infinity pool, but there is a thousand foot drop down to the water, making it extremely treacherous for walkable beach access.

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