Ancient splendour, natural beauty
In the shadow of Mount Etna, with an incredibly well-preserved Greek-style amphitheatre and forget-me-not-blue views out over the Ionian Sea, Taormina is one of Sicily’s most beautiful, sought-after spots. This is a setting full of romance, with Taormina holidays offering dreamy vistas and a classic Sicilian backdrop, with the scent of oranges and lemons in the air.
There’s so much to do, from exploring Greek and Roman ruins to taking a cable car to the beach – not far from the amphitheatre, dramatic sea cliffs lead to white-sand stretches that are edged by that gorgeous sea. The cliffs end at the Isola Bella, a nature reserve and tiny island that’s connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of sand. Holidays to Taormina have it all, whether you’re looking for a blissful beach and translucent sea, or historical glories and great cuisine.
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Your Taormina questions, answered
You could easily spend your whole holiday in Taormina, but you’re also well placed for excursions to Etna, Catania and the hilltop village of Savoca.
It’s one of Sicily’s most fashionable resorts, with visitors drawn to its striking setting and town centre full of designer boutiques and excellent restaurants – but all budgets are catered for.
Any time of year. At the height of summer, Taormina will be extremely busy. The little town is lined with designer boutiques and, in July and August, it draws in the rich and famous in their droves. Outside of those months, you’re more likely to find spots on the beach and the barstools with the best views. In the winter, you can still explore this beautiful corner of Sicily and even head inland to see snow on the highest mountain tops.
If you’re planning to stay only in Taormina you won’t need a car, but if you’re keen to explore it’s well worth getting one – and car hire is inexpensive.
The beaches at the base of Taormina are some of the most beautiful in all Italy. You’ll struggle to find towel space if you’re here in the summer. Head south for longer stretches of golden sand, though, or even further south to volcanic black sand beaches such as at Praiola. There’s a road running the length of Sicily’s east coast and, if you rent a car, you can spend days driving up and down, stopping off at tiny inlets with towel-sized pebble beaches.
It’s an easy base for holidays with children as you’re so close to some beautiful, safe swimming beaches – one of which can even be accessed by a cable car. If you’re lucky, there will be a performance at the Greek Amphitheatre, a once-in-a-lifetime event for anybody. During the day, the remarkably well-preserved ruins make for a fun few hours exploring. Take the children for a hike to the top of nearby Etna to see inside a volcano and then fill them with delicious gelato when you’re back to town.
First and foremost, the Greek Amphitheatre. The setting looking out towards Etna and the Mediterranean was chosen in the third century BC, the theatre carved directly into Mount Tauro’s hard rock. It is, quite rightly, one of the most visited tourist attractions anywhere in the world. The town of Taormina has more to offer, though. The pretty white houses are draped in bright bougainvillaea, and the little boutiques are packed with local products to suit all budgets. Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant and Oscar Wilde are just some of the famous people drawn to Taormina over the decades.
The little town itself can be thoroughly explored in a day but it’s also the sort of place you could easily spend a whole week’s holiday. There are enough viewpoints to be mesmerised from a different one each day and a multitude of restaurants with traditional Sicilian treats. Outside the busiest months, Taormina makes a perfect base to explore the eastern side of Sicily. Hire a car to head up and down the coast or inland to the tiny mountain villages.
Sicily is well-known for its ceramics and these are readily available in Taormina. Look for handmade, hand-painted pieces, or those thrown from terracotta. Handmade puppets are also a feature of the Mediterranean island and make an unusual memento. The heartlands of Sicily are lined with almond groves and the nuts are used to make marzipan and multiple delicious pastries. You’ll find these everywhere in Taormina. Also, several antique shops hide some unusual pieces from Sicily’s past.