The hilly town of Taorminais beautifully situated on the slopes of Monte Tore, offering spectacular viewsof Mount Etna, the largest volcano in Europe. Its winding, narrow streetmeander, lined by medieval buildings and pastel houses, all interspaced withquaint bars and cafes. Soak up the history and architecture of the Old Town,sunbathe on the beach and see at show at the 2000 year old amphitheatre.
Taormina has beenaround since the “Grand Tour of Europe", a 17th and 18thCentury voyage made by prominent members of the English upper class. It’s beena favourite destination for the rich and famous ever since. Follow in thefootsteps of celebrities, past and present, who have spent their holidays here,such as Oscar Wilde, Truman Capote, Francis Ford Coppola and Woody Allen.
The city’s amphitheatre, the Teatro Greco, has tobe the town’s most spectacular feature. Founded originally by the Greeks in thethird century BC as a theatre, it was adapted into an amphitheatre to holdgladiator fights after Roman conquest. As mentioned before, it’s still inoperation today. Now it is an open-air room with a view of Mount Etna and acts asa performance space for plays and concerts for international stars.
The pedestrianised Corso Umberto I is the town’smain shopping street. Check out the Palazzo Corvaja, home to the medievalpalace, which now houses the local tourist office and the Sicilian Museum ofArts and Traditions. On the other side of the street is the Piazza Duomo. Thisbaroque fountain, founded in 1635, makes for a perfect photo opportunity. Explorethe town’s cathedral and peruse the religious works inside.
To reach the town’s beaches take the cable car downto the lower ocean. Walk from the beach to the IsolaBella, a tiny island which has a cute little beach of its own andnature reserve, connected to the mainland by a narrow path.
Taormina is easy toreach, simply fly into Catania and Messina and take the bus, train or taxi tothe town. You won’t need a car during your stay, the town can easily beexplored on foot.
