Perched on a rocky promontory high above the sea, Taormina has been the most popular tourist destination in Sicily for hundreds of years, ever since it became an integral part of the Grand Tour. Beautifully restored mediaeval buildings, breathtaking views around every corner and a giddy network of winding streets strewn with shops, bars and restaurants make for a perfect holiday spot.
View of Taormina
The main attraction is, without doubt, the theatre. Now home to all manner of events, including plays, fashion shows, concerts, and cinema festivals, the Teatro Greco, as its name suggests, started its life in the 3rd-century BC hosting performances of works by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes. Originally quite small, it was enlarged by the Romans to accommodate their own particular brand of theatrical extravaganza. The views from the theatre are spectacular, taking in a (usually) smoking Mount Etna and the Bay of Naxos down below.
Teatro Greco
Taormina is centred around its main thoroughfare, Corso Umberto I. At the beginning of this charming street is perhaps the greatest symbol of Taormina’s long varied history: Palazzo Corvaja. Its architecture is a sublime mix of Arab, Norman and Gothic and includes battlements, mullioned windows and shady courtyards. The Arabs built the original tower as part of the town’s defenses. Its cubic structure, which is typical of many Arab towers of this period, is thought to have evoked that of the Ka’aba in Mecca. In the 13th-century, the tower was enlarged by the Normans who added a wing containing a hall and some wonderful artwork. The Spanish followed suit, adding another wing at the beginning of the 15th-century to house the Sicilian Parliament. Its present name recalls one of the town’s most important noble families who owned the building from 1538 to 1945.
The Coastline
The coastline of Mazzaro is in great demand among tourists. In the summer season, it is rather crowded, so it is necessary to take care of the place in the sun in advance. The entry is free, but the infrastructure is only in paid territory. If you decide to relax on your own, you need to be prepared for the fact, that there will be no fresh water, a shower, sunbeds, toilets. In season, it is possible to get it all for free in a local restaurant near the coastline, only if you will be a visitor. The owners of the restaurant provide facilities for a beach rest in addition to dinner.
Mazzaro Beach
The coastline is sandy and the depth increases gradually, so the place is ideal for both family vacationers and lovers of an active lifestyle. It is fantastic for catching a wave or scuba diving.
Views of the Coastline
Cable Car
Taormina is served by its very own cable car which ferries tourists to and from the seaside resorts down along the coast. Extensive beaches, rocky coves, tiny islands (such as the famous Isola Bella) and sea stacks abound, making this enchanting coastline a firm favourite with Sicilians and visitors alike.
Visiting by Cable Car
Isola Bella
The small island of Isola Bella was bought in 1890 by Miss Florence Trevelyan who enhanced it by building a house and cultivating rare precious essence plants. In the 1950s it became a residential hotel of the elite and was declared of significant historical and artistic interest in 1984 by the Department of Cultural Heritage. More than an island it is considered an offshoot of the mainland connected by a thin strip of pebbly beach that, in the central section remains submerged.
Isola Bella
Garden of Taormina
The Public Garden of Taormina, which once belonged to the English noblewoman Lady Florence Trevelyan, was built in the late nineteenth century on the model of the English gardens. The park is built on different levels, connected by wide staircases and stepladders leading to small squares, hidden among the many, fine plants that make this park a small botanical garden. Inside the garden you’ll find the so-called “Victorian Follies”, some fantastic constructions with an evident Eastern influence, where Lady Florence used to go for painting or to welcome her guests. Taking a walk to the “Villa”, as it is called by the people of Taormina, and enjoying the amazing view of the Bay of Naxos and Mount Etna in the background, while seated on a bench is a real rejuvenation experience.
The Garden of Taormina