Taormina
Taormina 'the Mediterranean Pearl', is situated on a natural sheer terrace above the sea. In the 1800s, after the Goethe praised its beauty throughout Europe, mentioning it in his book Italian Journey, Taormina became a mandatory stop on the Grand Tour – the long journey made in continental Europe – by the young European aristocracy of the time to enrich their own culture. Today, it is a tourist capital of Sicily and travellers liven its streets throughout the year.
The Greek theatre is one of the most interesting spots in Taormina, sited on a fantastic position above the town and dipped into the blooming nature of the land. The expansive and wonderful view that you can admire from the ancient stalls acts as the backdrop to the theatre, a sight which has remained largely unchanged since performances begun. The view goes straight across the sea and reaches the Calabria coasts, the town of Siracusa and Mt. Etna's peak.
In this ancient Greek theatre, art still blossoms, the Taormina Film Festival is found here every year, renown globally.
Taormina is an ideal destination all year round, thanks to the mild climate and the touristic offer oriented to fun, relaxation and joie de vivre. It is recommended a walk in the Villa Comunale, that offers a classic Mediterranean maquis vegetation with a nice view of the sheer cliffs rising from the sea.
The coast offers charming sandy beaches lapped by crystal-clear water: the ones of Giardini Naxos and Mazzarò are the most frequented. The beach of Isola Bella, in front of Capo Sant' Andrea, is today a protected natural oasis. After spending the day at the beach you can visit the workshops on the main street, where you can find ancient crafts from pottery to jewels to classic clothes.