Taormina's most important tourist attractions are this ancient amphitheater and the picture-perfect qualities of the town itself. But there's a lot more to see and do here, whether it's marveling at the beautiful Baroque church interiors, shopping in the boutiques that lure the town's many cruise ship passengers, strolling in its streets and gardens, climbing up to its castle, or descending to the beaches below.
1 Teatro Greco (Greek Theater)
Taormina's most famous landmark is the Greek Theater, originally built in the third century BC under Hiero II of Syracuse. But under Roman rule in the second century BC, it was completely rebuilt with all the characteristics of a Roman theater. The perfectly semicircular cavea rises in stepped seating to an upper diameter of 109 meters, the stage stands above the level of the orchestra, and the finely decorated stage loft is so high that its sides adjoin the top rows of seats to create an enclosed space. A fortuitous gap in the wall of the loft frames Taormina's most celebrated view of the surrounding countryside as far as Mount Etna, one that has been immortalized in paintings and photographs as one of Italy's most iconic.
Address: Via Teatro Greco, Taormina
2 Townscape
For most tourists, the greatest appeal of Taormina is the town itself. Its streets are a pleasure to stroll, lined with romantic buildings and opening onto terraces with stunning views. The approach is equally compelling: from the coast road at Cape Taormina, Via Pirandello snakes its way up the mountain, passing Byzantine rock-graves on the left, the belvedere on the right, and the funicular to Mazzarò. It brings you to Porta Messina which, together with the adjoining Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, forms the grand entrance to the town. This is the start of the main street, Corso Umberto, which then crosses the town before ending at Porta Catania. The entire street with its squares and terraces, shops, open-air cafés, and lanes leading from it, seems made just for sauntering and stopping to savor the views of Mt. Etna and the sea.
3 Piazza IX Aprile and San Giuseppe
Piazza IX Aprile, which lies along Corso Umberto, opens onto a terrace with a beautiful view of Mt. Etna and the bay. This piazza is where the older part of the town begins, marked by a square stone clock tower. Decorating the piazza is the double stairway and Baroque façade of San Giuseppe, a pink confection of an exterior. The bright interior of Rococo stucco work is so ornate and white that it looks like cake frosting.
4 Cattedrale di San Nicola
Opposite the Town Hall, the street widens out into Piazza del Duomo, with the Cathedral of San Nicola. Founded by the Hohenstaufens in the 13th century and altered several times in the 15th-17th centuries, it combines medieval and more recent features. The unplastered exterior with its crenellations is original, whereas the Baroque main door was added in 1636 and matches the 1635 Baroque fountain in the middle of the square. The three aisles of the basilica are separated by large pillars supporting pointed arches. The interior is decorated with a number of works dating from the 15th and 16th centuries, including the 15th-century Visitation of the Virgin Mary by Antonio Giuffrè and Madonna and Child with Saints by Antonello da Saliba, painted in 1504.
Address: Piazza del Duomo, Taormina
5 Via Circonvallazione
Via Circonvallazione runs parallel to Corso Umberto, and a stepped road leads from here up to the Madonna della Rocca, a chapel whose ceiling is the rough rock from which it was carved. The route continues up to Castello di Taormina, 398 meters above sea-level on Monte Tauro. This castle with its tower stands on the site of the ancient Acropolis, and the view from here is spectacular. It is also possible to reach the castle along the winding road that starts on the Circonvallazione and continues to the picturesque mountain village of Castelmola, even higher at 529 meters. It's about five kilometers from the center of town and accessible by bus link. Here are the ruins of another old castle and more excellent views.
6 Isola Bella (Beautiful Island)
Taormina is a small rock-bound island with a nature preserve, almost connected to the mainland by a sandy beach. You can cross to walk the paths around its perimeter and enjoy the views from its terraces. All along the shore below Taormina are coves and beaches for swimming, which you can reach by paths. There is also a cable car between Taormina and the beach resort of Mazzaro, just below town. Just north of Mazzaro are more beaches at Spisone, Mazzeo, and Letojanni. You can also take a bus to the beaches.
7 Porta Catania and Palazzo Duca di Santo Stéfano
Corso Umberto, Taormina's main street, ends at the 1400 city gate, Porta Catania, emblazoned with the Aragon coat-of-arms. Near it stands the three-storied Palazzo Duca di Santo Stéfano, built at the same time as Porta Catania. It is easy to recognize because of its Gothic windows, fish-tail crenellations, and detailed stonework along the top. Concerts are held in the Great Hall, and two rooms display works by the sculptor Giuseppe Mazzullo (1913-88).
Address: Via de Spuches, Taormina
8 Palazzo Corvaia
Completed at the very beginning of the 1400s, Palazzo Corvaia in Taormina housed the Sicilian Parliament of Nobles meetings in 1410. The best preserved palazzo in Taormina, the palace incorporates a 10th-century Saracen tower with a later triple window under graceful curved arches. The severe crenellated front has twin windows, also with slender columns and arches. On the left side, a Gothic doorway leads into the inner courtyard where you'll see reliefs depicting the Creation. Inside the palace is the Sicilian Museum of Art and Folk Traditions, filled with works by Sicilian craftsmen from the 16th to the 20th centuries. Here, you'll see examples of ceramics, wood sculpture, colorful Sicilian carts, and needlework. The church of Santa Caterina and remains of a small Roman theater are in the same square.
Address: Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, Taormina
9 Villa Comunale
Below the former Dominican monastery, Via Roma runs east to the municipal gardens of Villa Comunale. The gardens were created by Florence Trevelyan, an Englishwoman who planted rare species here and built the fanciful and imaginative Victorian stone follies that survive today. Its commanding position offers some excellent viewpoints, and you'll find more if you follow Via Bagnoli Croce on to the Belvedere. From here, you can return on Via Luigi Pirandello, passing below the Greek Theater, to the Porta Messina.
Address: Via Roma, Taormina
10 Sant'Agostino
The little Gothic church of Sant'Agostino was built in 1448 as part of a monastery of the Hermits of St. Augustine, and is now used as a library. Its campanile is a small crenelated tower, and the door was added in 1700.
Address: Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina
