Taormina is an attractive town in all respects located on the island of Sicily, Italy. Here you can admire the enchanting landscape to infinity, in which steep hills are replaced by the Ionian Sea the color of azure, and lush greenery mixed with bright colors fringes all this splendor.
Attractions are ubiquitous in Taormina. This resort with its rich history and enchanting terrain will make an indelible impression - there is no doubt about it!
A Brief History of Taormina
This ancient Greek city was founded in 365 BC at the side of Mount Tauro. Probably, it was the picturesque environment of the territory that became the reason that the Greeks wanted to settle here. They formed a settlement, which subsequently received the name "Tauromenius". The population consisted mainly of indigenous people, who were called Siculas.
No wonder they say that the cause of many tragedies is beauty. And it doesn’t matter whether this applies to a person or to a locality. From the moment of her birth, Taormina did not know a quiet life. The uprisings ending in brutal wars, the transition from one people to another, attacks by the Arab troops and long endless battles - this was so throughout the life of the city, until in 1078 the Normans cleared Taormina from Muslims and until the Christian religion was revived here.
Popular places
In Taormina, attractions are located at almost every step. As a rule, first of all, people want to see the oldest structures. In Taormina, this is an ancient Greek theater, which was erected in the III century BC. He was able to accommodate up to 10,000 people, but building it at that time was not an easy task. And the point here is not even technology. Workers had to level the area, because there was a hill, and they also removed as much as 100,000 m² of limestone. And all for the sake of the viewer having the opportunity to admire not only the performance, but also the sea.
Next we go to the indoor Roman theater of Taormina. Sights, which are several hundred years old, also include naumahia in their list - this is an interesting building, recreated by the hands of the Romans. It is a pool, in ancient times used for sea gladiatorial battles.
Corvaggio, a palace with an Arab tower of the 11th century, the only one preserved in Europe, can also be called an attractive architectural creation. This masterpiece is famous for its unique combination of several styles at once - Norman, Arabic and Byzantine, since it was built over three centuries.
Another attractive palace for tourists is Santo Stefano. Its construction dates back to the XIV century, however, during the Second World War it was badly destroyed. But still, tourists visiting the city of Taormina visit it. Sights are also churches, of which there are many. For instance:
- St. Nicholas Cathedral;
- Church of St. Augustine;
- Church of St. Pankratia and Mother of God in the rock.
These are the most famous, but in general there are really a lot of churches here, you can literally spend your entire vacation visiting each. Almost all the cathedrals and temples were built in the XV-XVI centuries, and they mark a certain event.
Be sure to visit the central square of the city - it is called April 9th. From here, tourists admire the charming Ionian Sea and, with luck, Etna.
The city of Taormina is beautiful, the sights, the photos of which are presented in this article, are simply mesmerizing. But sometimes it bothers. The man seems to be oversaturated with emotions, and he wants to relax. If this happens, you should take a break, especially since you can take time and other interesting activities. For example, go shopping. There are a lot of similar establishments, but antique shops will be especially interesting. Be sure to visit Taormina Art - this is a festival that has been held in the town for more than 30 years. The program includes dance, music and theater performances.
Are there any hot springs in Taormina?
There are different attractions in Taormina. Hot springs are perhaps the only exception. But there are many of them in other places on the island of Sicily. For example, Sciacca (almost 200 km from Taormina), Acireale (28 km) and Termini Imerese (234 km). Thermal springs in a particular village contribute to the cure of some diseases: some are designed to treat the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, others save from pathologies in the field of gynecology, others restore the children's body and perfectly increase immunity, and so on. So do not spare the time and money to travel - it's worth it.
Is a beach holiday in Taormina possible?
Taormina is not very suitable for a beach holiday, especially when traveling with a child. But there are still places for swimming. True, the beaches are all pebble, and the entrance to the sea is uncomfortable. Most often, tourists come here to contemplate the beautiful, and go swimming in other resorts of Sicily. The nearest is 5 km away, in the village of Giardini Nakos. It is sandy, on both sides protected by capes, and therefore ideal for recreation, including with children.
Taormina (Attractions): Route
You can draw up a plan of movements when you are at home (open a map on the Internet and paint all the points so that it is convenient to visit them), or you can already navigate the area by buying a map of the city with important places or taking it free of charge at the Taormina's guest information desk. In general, it is very difficult to get lost here. You wander along the Italian streets, and as a result you go out to some familiar place. In this regard, a little advice: towards tourist routes! Better than an independent walk, there is nothing.
First of all, you should go to the Messina gate. Here begins the main historic street - Corso Umberto. And it is here that the main attractions, interesting houses, various shops and restaurants with aromatic dishes are located. On the left side of the street you will meet the church of St. Katerina of Alexandria, where masterpieces of painting and architecture of famous masters are stored. Further, the paths diverge, and you can visit these places on different days, so that there is enough time.
- Directly (along Corso Umberto): the ruins of Naumakhia, many shops, restaurants, hotels, as well as churches will meet. Here you can admire the architectural beauty to infinity. There are always a lot of people on the main street of the city, and most of them are tourists.
- Via Via Teatro Greco, which crosses Corso Umberto, also has something to see. If you turn right, you can see the Odeon, and next to it is the library, which was once the church of San Giuseppe. Turning to the left, at first the guest of the city will meet the palace of Corvay, and then the Greek theater - it is at the very end of the street.
- Be sure to visit Villa Communale - a huge park created by Florence Trivilian. It is located on Via Bagnoli Croce.
- At the other end of the city, if you walk along the winding Salita Castello street, you will find the Church of the Madonna della Roca. To her left is Badia Vecchia, and to the right, a little further, the ruins of an Arab castle. Both of these places boast panoramic views.
- It is also recommended to visit the Dome Cathedral of St. Nicholas. To get to it, you need to turn off Corso Umberto onto Via Damiano Rosso. Churches, restaurants and hotels will meet along the way.
How to get to the resort town?
Tourists usually fly to Catania International Airport. To see the city of Taormina (Italy), attractions and other interesting places, you need to find a bus. The duration of the trip is an hour and a half. The fare is 7 euros. You can also order a taxi or transfer.
Italy, Taormina. Attractions: reviews
Probably, this is one of the few resorts that made an exceptionally favorable impression on everyone who rested there. Taormina is a truly unique place, “divine”, as tourists write about it. The splendor of this town cannot be overestimated, no matter what epithets describe it. Goethe also wrote that Taormina is the most heavenly place on earth. So the time spent here will be remembered for a long time, and only on the positive side.