local attractions
CORSO UMBERTO ( See map)
This is the most significant tract of the ancient “via Valeria”, the consular road that linked Messina to Catania. From the coast (Spisone) it twisted its way along the ridge of the Sant’Antonio torrent, until it reached the temple of Giove Serapide and the town’s northern gate Porta Messina. It ran all the way through the city, today’s Corso Umberto, around which the town concentrated its monuments from different domination, from Greek-Roman to Arabs, from Normans to Aragon.
TEATRO GRECO
The Greek –Roman theatre is one of the most beautiful attraction of Taormina, situated on a lofty hill you can admire the Naxos bay, Mt. Etna and Castelmola.The origins of the theatre are Greeks although it was restored after by the Roman empire.Today the Theatre is place of millions of visitors that come all year around to see this piece of art.
NAUMACHIE
After the Greek theater, is certainly the most important piece of antiquity in Taormina. Place of entertainment in the Roman’s time: where in an artificial lake, a "naval battle" was showed to entertain the audience. The original building was probably built at the end of the third century AD: it was, in essence, a vast and deep basin that, at the shows, was almost entirely filled with water. The remains of Naumachie came to light in recent times: most of the immense building is covered by the Corso Umberto.
VILLA COMUNALE
The Villa is the green heart of the town, built by the family of Florence Trevelyan, it is the right place were you can enjoy a moment of relax, with stunning view over the blue Mediterranean sea and Mt Etna.
ISOLA BELLA
Is a small Island, situated between Mazzarò Bay and Capo Taormina, is connected to the land only by a little stripe of sand that with the high tide disappear.Today is a Natural reserve the right place for the snorkelling lovers, where you can admire different species of fishes and molluscs.
CASTELMOLA
Castelmola it is small medieval borg, one of the most beautiful of Italy, nestled above Taormina, offers natural terraces overlooking Taormina, Mt Etna, and Naxos Bay.
ALCANTARA GORGES
The Alcantara Gorge is a destination to visit for all nature lovers, a place where the river Alcantara over millions of years managed to get space between ancient flows of lava that once dominated the area. Looking at them you feel small in the presence of walls as high as 25m.
You can get through the gorges for approximately 200m where crystal clear water, waterfalls and black basaltic rocks dominate the scene.
ACTIVITIES AND TOURS
- THE GODFATHER TOUR
Visiting Savoca, the place where some of the scenes of the Movie “the Godfather “was shot.
- PRIVATE BOAT TOUR
Go with one of the Barcaioli of Mazzarò or Isola Bella to sightsee Taormina from the sea.
- DIVING
Taormina’s coast offers many places of diving for both beginners and advanced divers.
- MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDING TOURS
Getting to know Mt. Etna, in the healthiest way
- ETNA TOURS
You will discover and visit the tallest active volcano in Europe, an amazing experience not to be missed
- COOKING LESSON
Get “in the know experience” of real Sicilian food, naturally Home Made, by you!!!
- ETNA VINEYARDS
A journey through the typical wine maker villages of Mt.Etna , tasting native grapes of the region
