Taormina is on the northeastern coast of Sicily; a 45 minute drive from Mt. Etna. The town is built high above the sea with some incredible views but is also a beach city famed for the Isola Bella beach and nature reserve which is reached by aerial tramway. The Old Town overlooks the sea 250 meters below and even higher up is a Saracen castle which is 150 meters above the town. You can still see the remains of the ancient city walls around the crown of the hill where the ancient city stood.
Among the ancient structures which have survived there are tessellated pavements; water reservoirs; sepulchers and the 2nd largest ancient theatre in Sicily.
Take a stroll down Corso Umberto to explore the narrow lanes which veer off of the main thoroughfare. Other non-archaeological sites in Taormina include the 10th century Palazzo Corvaja; the Church of San Domenico and the beautiful public gardens, Giardini della Villa Comunale. Nearby is the beach resort Giardini Naxos and the Capo Sant’Andrea Grottoes.
If the have the time, try and visit the following:
Isola Bella which is a small island near Taormina, also known as The Pearl of the Ionian Sea, it is located within a small bay on the Ionian Sea;and is being turned into a nature reserve, administrated by the Italian branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature. There is a narrow path that often connects the island to the mainland beach. The island has a small and rather rocky beach which is a popular destination for sunbathers.
The Ancient theatre of Taormina (Teatro Antico di Taormina) is an ancient Greek theatre built in the third century BC and although it is of Roman date, the plan and arrangement are in accordance with those of Greek, rather than Roman, theaters.
Palazzo Corvaia is a medieval palace dating from the 10th century. It was principally built at the end of the 14th century and is named after one of the oldest and most famous families of Taormina which owned it from 1538 to 1945. Today the palazzo is used as an exhibition centre.
The Cathedral of Taormina (Duomo di Taormina) is a medieval church dedicated to St. Nicholas of Bari located along the Corso Umberto near Porta Catania. It has historic significance relating back to the Byzantine, Arab and Norman periods.
