Taormina

“Anyone who takes their place at the highest point, once occupied by the spectators, cannot help but admit that perhaps no theatre audience has ever had such a spectacle before its eyes. To the right, above lofty cliffs, rise fortresses; down below lies the town; although these are all modern structures, similar ones stood there in ancient times and in the very same places. The view also encompasses the entire long mountain ridge of Mount Etna; to the left, the coastline stretches as far as Catania, indeed all the way to Syracuse. The enormous smoking volcano completes the immense panorama, yet without any harshness, as the vapours in the air make it appear more distant and softer than it actually is.”
Goethe, 6 May 1787

Taormina is a highly sought-after destination known throughout the world. It is undoubtedly the most famous and visited Sicilian town internationally, thanks to its perfect combination of landscapes, sea and history. Like Giardini Naxos, it is one of the oldest Greek colonies, which is why Taormina boasts several monuments of immense historical importance, such as the Ancient Greek Theatre, which hosts various major cultural and musical events during the summer, Palazzo Corvaja and Taormina Cathedral.

Furthermore, the charming architecture of the town’s narrow streets, shaped by the various foreign dominations of Sicily, creates a fascinating atmosphere which, combined with the crystal-clear sea and the spectacular Mount Etna, makes Taormina truly unique and exceptionally attractive. Perhaps Taormina enchants its visitors more than any other city or place in Sicily.

Taormina is perfect for a relaxing holiday, but also for nightlife, which is one of its distinctive features. During the summer, pubs, bars and chic venues come alive along the characteristic streets of this Sicilian town.

In 359 BC, the Greek Andromachus founded Taormina (Tauromenion) on a narrow terrace overlooking the valley to the south and, to the east, the declining territory of Naxos. The two fortresses on Mount Tauro and the peak of Mola are of Byzantine origin. Later, in the south-western area, Arab Taormina developed, while further south the Norman village grew between Porta di Mezzo and Porta Catania, between the cannon square and Taormina Castle. Today’s Corso Umberto, running from Porta Messina to Porta Catania along the route of the ancient Roman Via Valeria, connects Greek-Roman Taormina with Byzantine-Arab-Norman Taormina: one overlooking the coast, the other dominating the valley.

The Clock Tower, together with Porta di Mezzo, separates Piazza IX Aprile from the old town, with the churches of Santa Caterina, San Giuseppe dell’Addolorata and San Giovanni, as well as the 12th-century Cathedral. From the Belvedere in the square, visitors can admire a magnificent panorama stretching from the hill of the theatre to the slopes of Mount Etna, with the volcano itself completing this extraordinary succession of sights.

Modern Taormina is the result of the expansion of the medieval village over the “remains” of the original Greek-Roman settlement. The 17th century was a period of decline for the town: at the beginning of the century, the Crown “sold” the hamlets of Taormina to the north, while the population decreased and moved downhill, attracted by employment opportunities and greater prosperity along the coast.

From the 18th century onwards, Taormina began its revival with the Greek Theatre, establishing itself as one of the essential destinations on the Grand Tour of Sicily. The Greek Theatre, a testament to the town’s glorious past, is an extraordinary balcony overlooking the spectacular sea and Mount Etna.

Today, Taormina is one of the most renowned destinations in the world and is widely regarded as Sicily’s most famous town.