Taormina Travel Guide
Travel to Taormina - Amazing Theatre with Etna as a Backdrop
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A small town on the east coast of the island of Sicily, Taormina sits about midway between Messina and Catania. As well as having with fantastic beaches, the town itself has endlessly winding medieval streets and tiny passageways hiding away great restaurants, cafés and ice cream bars. The town has fascinating archaeological monuments, magnificent views of the sea and lies close to the active volcano, Mt Etna. Its theatre, backed by Mt Etna, is unforgettable.
Founded by a Greek settlement around 395 BC, Taormina flourished in the time of the Romans. Normans took possession in 1079 and it became a prosperous town throughout medieval times. Since the end of the 19th century the town became a popular tourist destination, attracting a colony of expatriate artists, writers, and intellectuals during the early 20th century. Since then it has long been Sicily's most famous resort town.
Attractions in Taormina
The Teatro Greco of Taormina was built in Hellenistic period and is a principle place of interest for visitors to the town. The Piazza IX Aprile overlooks the sea and offers wonderful views over the bay and across to Mt Etna. Contained within the piazza is the Torre dell'Orologio, clock tower, dating as far back as the 6th century AD, when the tower formed an integral part of the town's defences.
The Palazzo Duca S. Stefano dates from the 15th century and was built for the Dukes of Santo Stefano, part of the Spanish De Spuches family. Parco Duca di Cesaro is one of the finest parks in Sicily, containing several species of exotic and local plants.
Activities in Taormina
Take a couple of days to explore the streets of Taormina which are full of shops displaying craft items such as ceramics and mosaics or sample the local seafood in one of the many restaurants.
Relaxing
Take time out to relax at the beach at Giardini-Naxos which is a few kilometres away.
Getting Around
You can easily get around Taormina on foot, it is the best way to get to know its hidden treasures and enjoy its medieval atmosphere. If you want to go a bit further afield, renting a scooter seems to be a good choice as there are many rental companies in the town. Driving is not recommended as the roads are narrow and steep and parking spaces are limited.
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