Taormina

Taormina

Neighboring villages of Naxos and Taormina are in such harmony with their surroundings they almost seem carved from the hillside. Blooming jacarandas and bougainvillea grow in profusion over balconies and stone buildings built in medieval times. Palm fringed avenues wind through quiet streets and the view from Castle Mola provides a stunning look at the Ionian Sea, the town and Mt Etna.

Attractions

From the Greek Amphitheater, Taormina's most visited monument, you can see the active volcano Mount Etna, and beautiful views of the coastline. The amphitheater was built sometime during the third century B.C. by the Greeks and expanded later by the Romans who added their own structural characteristics. It's also the site of the Taormina Film Festival held every summer.

Activities

Explore the Roman Odeon, a small theatre next to the Church of St. Catherine. The theatre was built around 21 A.D., however, it was discovered by accident in 1892, by a local blacksmith Stroll along the city's main street, Corso Umberto I, and through the Piazza del Duomo, where you'll find Taormina's main cathedral, which was built in the 1400s Visit the most famous palace in Taormina, the Palazzo Corvaja, and the Museum of Art and Popular Traditions, located in the Piazza Santa Catarina. The palace also houses the tourist office Spend the day relaxing in Villa Comunale, a small park built by Lady Florence Trevelyan in the late 19th century. Another favorite garden in the city is the Public Garden, which overlooks the Mediterranean Sea

Shopping

The main street in town, Corso Umberto I, is also where you'll find the best shopping at reasonable rates, often better than what you'd find in larger Italian cities. Look for fine Italian-made clothes and jewelry, as well as handmade ceramics and antiques. Many of the side streets offer additional shopping, and if you need to take a break, there are plenty of cafes and pastry shops to choose from.

Food

Not surprisingly, the cuisine you'll find in Sicily has a lot of traditional Italian ingredients: pasta, tomatoes, olive oil and seafood. However, you'll find that Sicilian food is also influenced by the island's long history of Arab influence; for example, couscous is often served with fish stew.

Currency

The Euro (EUR), the currency of the European Union, is the official currency of Italy. Many stores and restaurants also accept major credit cards, which usually offer you a good exchange rate. When shopping, remember there is a Value-Added Tax added to most purchases.

Weather Forecast

Sailing Calendar

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