Taormina Travel Guide

 SallyM Says:  The Odeon is a small Roman theatre, dating from the first century AD. It was discovered in 1892.Part of the site is covered by the church of St Catarina, but the visible part of the ruins can be visited free of charge. The site is open from 9.00 a.m. until sunset. 

 SallyM Says:  You have the choice of either walking up to Castelmola or taking the local bus. In the summer heat, I would recommend the bus (just under 3 Euro for a return ticket in summer 2012).Once you reach Castelmola you can admire the views over the bay, and sample the local... 

 SallyM Says:  The beach at Taormina is quite small and rocky. It's not the place to go for solitude and wide expanses of sand.On the plus side, it is also very picturesque, and being in Italy, it is extremely well-run with various lidos offering sun lounger and pedalo hire, showers and... 

 brendareed Says:  At the base of the massive rock that Taormina sits on is the coast of Sicily and the small town of Giardini Naxos. Our first couple days in Sicily were based out of Giardini Naxos located along the coast between Catania and Messina. It was from here that we made our day... 

 brendareed Says:  “Never did any audience, in any theatre, have before it such a spectacle.” ~Goethe, 1787, on a visit to Taormina’s Greek TheatreThe showpiece of Taormina is the Greek theatre the overlooks the sea and provides stunning views of Mount Etna (when the clouds aren’t obscuring... 

 brendareed Says:  In the Piazza del Duomo, across from the façade of the cathedral, is the interesting fountain that has become a symbol of Taormina. The top of the fountain has a unique creature that looks like a cross between an angel and a bull. While this is most likely a Baroque piece of... 

 brendareed Says:  Well, it wouldn’t be a trip to Italy without tasting the gelato! After visiting the Greek Theatre, we made our way back down Corso Umberto I and stopped at a gelato shop that had seats outside. Hubby got a double of some chocolaty deliciousness and we settled down outside to... 

 brendareed Says:  Standing as a backdrop to Taormina is the ever present and looming volcano, Mount Etna. It is an easy day-trip from Taormina for those that wish to get a better look at Etna.Parco dell’Etna was a must-see stop for us on our holiday in Sicily. Mount Etna is Europe’s highest... 

 brendareed Says:  As you are walking along the main street of Taormina, Corso Umberto, the path will lead you under a 12th century tower. This beautiful clock tower was built with stones cut by the Greeks (most likely culled from the theatre). Inside the arch of the tower where pedestrians... 

 brendareed Says:  Taormina’s cathedral is located near the Porta Catania on the west side of the city. The Duomo was founded in the 13th century, although later additions in the 15th and 16th centuries have added two side portals. The stone façade of the cathedral faces the Piazza del Duomo... 

 SallyM Says:  If you just want a snack for lunch, you can get an arancino (Sicilian rice ball) and a soft drink here for 4 euros 50. They come with a range of fillings, from the traditional meat and peas, to tuna or sausage. Arancini, obviously! They do sell other snacks,such as pizza,... 

 brendareed Says:  As the saying goes: getting there is half the fun! Because Taormina is locating high on top of a rocky bluff above the Ionian Sea, it makes for an interesting drive to get there! We drove from the autostrade A18 almost at sea level and made our way up the switchback two-lane...