Taormina

Taormina

Perched on a rock 200 meters above sea level. Taormina occupies a prime position, overlooking the sea and Mount Etna. A travel destination since the 1700s, it is only in the last three decades of the nineteenth century that it experienced a remarkable development of tourism. Many foreigners came here and many, especially British and Germans, decided to build villas in the city. Many personalities stayed here, including Emperor Wilhelm II of Prussia and King Edward VII of Britain along with prominent families of the day (like the Rothschilds, the Krupps).

Taormina and Its Legend

Legend has it that a Greek vessel, as it was sailing along the east coast of the island, was foolish enough to be distracted while making a sacrifice to the god of the sea, Neptune. The latter, outraged, whipped up a wind strong enough to cause the ship to be wrecked. Only one of the sailors miraculously escaped certain death and the god’s wrath, managing to land on the head of the beach at Schisi. Fascinated by these places, Teocle, the sole survivor, then decided to return to Greece. He convinced some of his compatriots to return to Sicily and found a colony there: Naxos.

Taormina is located high on the promontory, but its has some beautiful beaches lying below it. The small bay of Mazzarò is closed to the south by Capo Sant’Andrea, full of caves, among which the Blue Grotto is the most famous. The yells of fishermen inviting us to take the trip can be heard across all the beaches. Beyond the headland a gracious bay closed in by Isola Bella, a narrow strip of land connecting to the shore, stretches out. However, the longest beaches, Spisone and Mazzeo, are both just north of Mazzarò.

The center of Taormina, which is a pedestrian precinct, is built around Corso Umberto I, the main street, from which you can reach all, or almost all, the main points of interest of the city.

The mild climate, the beauty of the landscape and the calm that reigns all around have made Taormina famous the world over.