From its cliff-top perch on the slopes of Mt. Tauro overlooking the magnificent blue Ionian Sea, with ominous Mt. Etna on the horizon, Taormina will take your breath away. Located on the east coast of Sicily, fairytale Taormina offers a variety of charms, from the cobbled alleys and pretty squares to historic architecture, charming cafes and bistros, and gorgeous views of the sea or Mt. Etna from nearly everywhere. The diverse attractions, stunning panoramic views, and gorgeous beach Taormina will take your breath away!
The city and its surroundings are an absolute must-see when you’re in Sicily. It’s been a sought-after holiday destination since the days when the Grand Tour of Europe was a rite of passage for jet-setters, through the Golden Age of Hollywood, and even today it was recently used as the season two filming location for HBO’s successful series White Lotus.
Taormina is one of the most picturesque locations in all of Italy, on par with the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre for astounding allure and gorgeousness.
Taormina at a Glance
- Location: Sicily, Italy
- Population: 10,909
- Currency: Euro
- Climate: Mediterranean
- Religion: Roman Catholic
When to Go to Taormina
Although it’s particularly lovely in summer, if you don’t like crowds, this would not be the best time to visit. Taormina’s popularity has only increased over time, and it is jammed with tourists during this peak season, almost unbearably so when cruise ships are in port.
How Long to Stay
Taormina is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy; while some travelers zip through Taormina in one day, adding a few more days will allow you to explore not only Taormina but some of the surrounding sites as well.
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Here are the best attractions and beach Taormina:
10 Alleys
As mentioned, the main thoroughfare of Taormina can get pretty jammed with tourists. To escape the hordes, detour up the steep staircases to the picturesque alleys that shoot off the main Corso Umberto. You’ll discover shops and galleries with colorful pottery, jewelry, and artwork, not to mention small attractive squares where you can grab a bite or espresso.
9 Gelato
Gelato is the Italian word for a frozen dessert of Italian origin, akin to American ice cream. While both gelato and ice cream contain cream, milk, and sugar, there are differences, too. Authentic Italian gelato generally contains 6%–9% butterfat, which is lower than other styles of frozen dessert, and doesn’t contain egg yolks which are a common ingredient in ice cream.
It is yummy, and I get it every chance I can when in Europe!
8 Cannoli with a View
beaches taormina
Can anything be better than indulging in a cannoli and espresso while gazing out over the dreamy Mediterranean? I think not.
And since they originated in Sicily, it would be a crime not to have (at least) one.
Cannoli is an Italian pastry consisting of a tube-shaped shell of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy filling of mostly ricotta—a staple of Sicilian cuisine.
As a strong symbol representing Italian heritage, the cannoli has a unique and rich history possibly dating back to the presence of the Moors in Sicily. There are two tales surrounding the origin of cannoli. Some food historians place the origins of cannoli in 827–1091 in Caltanissetta in Sicily, by the concubines of princes looking to capture their attention. The second tale takes place in a convent, outside of the castle, where nuns concocted a new type of pastry made of a shell called “scoria” with a filling of ricotta, sugar, chocolate, and almonds to celebrate Carnival, which is a celebration that takes place before the beginning of Lent.
Whether it was concubines or nuns, the commonality is that this delicious dessert was made by women.
7 Piazza del Duomo
Home to Taormina’s medieval Duomo (the Church of San Nicola) and an impressive Baroque fountain with a centaur (from Greek mythology – part human, part horse), the Piazza del Duomo is a beautiful place to stop for a spell.
The Duomo, built around 1400 AD, is the main Roman Catholic church and cathedral in Taormina and is fairly understated as Italian cathedrals go, looking more like a fortress than a church. It has a very long and interesting history and has been rebuilt several times in the past.
At the center of the piazza is a Baroque fountain that contains a centaur which is the symbol of Taormina. This small but beautiful piazza is the perfect place to relax and unwind for a spell.
6 Homemade Pasta
If you’ve ever eaten or made homemade pasta, you’ll know it is so much better than the store-bought counterpart. Dried pasta is made with a different kind of dough and without eggs, which, along with flour, are the primary ingredients in fresh pasta.
The two products have very different textures, tastes, and colors. Homemade pasta is soft, slightly damp, and takes only minutes to cook. Store-bought pasta is dry and takes longer to cook.
I had an exquisite entre of homemade seafood ravioli in a small bistro on a balcony overlooking the Mediterranean. It was absolutely delicious, and I followed it up with a cannoli and espresso (see #8 above).
5 IX Aprile Piazza
No visit to Taormina would be complete without stepping onto the black and white chessboard piazza to gaze across the famous views of the Ionian Sea and Mt. Etna below. Considered the epicenter of town, the piazza is about halfway down the Corso Umberto, the main boulevard.
IX Aprile is named after a famous date in Sicilian history. On April 9, 1860, during a mass held in the Duomo of Taormina, rumors spread that Garibaldi had arrived in Marsala to liberate Sicily from Bourbon domination. The rumor turned out to be unfounded, but Garibaldi did arrive a month later on May 9th.
Adjacent to the piazza is the Chiesa di San Giuseppe, a beautiful early 18th-century baroque church with a pale pink and yellow facade. Located in the square are several monuments and buildings of interest including the Church of Sant’ Agostino (now the site of Taormina’s public library), the Baroque Church of San Giuseppe built in the 17th century, and the Torre dell’ Orologio clock tower.
4 Mazarro Beach
Deborah Cordwell, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
If you take the cable car ($3) down from via Pirandello, the first beach you’ll come to is lovely Mazzaro Beach. It’s small and one of the most popular beaches so at midday you can expect it to be crowded with rows of umbrellas lining the shore.
Note that this is not a white sand beach but made of pebbles. There are also dramatic cliffs directly offshore where adrenaline junkies dive into the sea.
3 Teatro Greco
Undeniably the most popular and photographed attraction in Taormina is the ancient theatre of Taormina, a fine example of the skill of the Greeks. Built in the 3rd century on a hill overlooking the Ionian Sea with Mt. Etna looming in the distance, the well-preserved semi-circular ruins will not fail to impress even those not interested in history.
While the theatre was built by the Ancient Greeks for dramatic performances, the Romans who later renovated it in the 2nd century BC used it to host gladiator mêlées. Because of its remarkable preservation and excellent acoustics, the magnificent Greek Theatre is still used today for concerts from rock and roll to opera, as well as other performances.
2 Isola Bella
Nicknamed the ‘Pearl of the Ionian Sea,’ Isola Bella is an incredibly beautiful islet (small island) which you can access by walking on a narrow pebble path (wear water shoes!) from Isola Beach Beach (next to Mazarro Beach) during low tide, but it’s also possible to swim to it when the path is obscured. The island is surrounded by picturesque grottos and boasts a small rocky beach.
The rocky outcrop was bought by English woman Florence Trevelyan in 1890 who fell in love with Taormina and promoted Isola Bella and the house she built for conservation. Today Isola Bella remains a designated nature preserve and is supervised by the World Wide Fund for Nature.
1 Corso Umberto
Corso Umberto is the vibrant main thoroughfare and pedestrian-only street of Taormina that stretches from Porto Catania to Porto Messina, lined on both sides with chic boutiques, quirky galleries, gelato vendors, cafes, and restaurants.
This is such a fun place to explore! We spent hours here. At night the street comes alive with music and entertainment and can resemble a party atmosphere.
Day Trips You Can’t Miss
While many people visit Taormina as part of a Mediterranean cruise, one day just isn’t enough to fully experience the town. If you can manage it, three or four days would be better, and allow you time to also explore surrounding attractions, and spend more time at beach Taormina, and Mt. Etna.
Randazzo Yoga Retreat
Located in the foothills of Mt. Etna, this luxury resort is one of the best Sicily yoga retreats and also includes meditation, hiking, visits to medieval villages, and delicious farm-to-table meals.
Mt. Etna
If you’re looking for a little more excitement, take a day trip to the crater of an active volcano! Mount Etna is not only Europe’s largest volcano but is also its most active.
On a clear day, the views of Mount Etna look like you could reach out and touch it. But standing on an active volcano with your own two feet would be one of those not-to-be-forgotten moments of your lifetime.
You can either hike or take the cable car farther up the mountain to some of the more recent eruption sites. If you want to go still higher there are four-wheel drive buses that will take you as high as possible, depending on the status of the volcano.
Messina
Once the capital of a great kingdom, Messina is a lovely, authentic harbor city with a rich history. Less than an hour away, Messina is definitely worth visiting if you have a few days in Taormina.
Messina is easily explored by foot. Some sights include the Neptune Fountain, Norman Cathedral with its Gothic portal, 15th-century windows, and Bell Tower with astronomical clock, marble fountains decorated with mythological figures,
Alcantara Gorge
Marco zagami, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, Wikimedia Commons
In the foothills of Mt. Etna, the Alcantara Gorge is a spectacular canyon flanked by high basalt bulwarks that were formed thousands of years ago by the Alcantara River and runoff lava flows from Etna.
Cold river water cooled the lava, which resulted in the lava crystallizing and creating unique ballast rock columns. Over the next few thousand years, the river carved a path through the pillars resulting in an outstanding gorge.
This natural gem contains one of the most extensive biodiversity in the Mediterranean basin. Still unscathed by mass tourism, it is a great alternative to crowded beaches, especially for adventure seekers. You can hike, river trek, body surf, bike and swim at Alcantara.
It is possible to take a full-day trip that also includes both Mt. Etna and the Alcantara Canyon.
Castelmola
Located on a hill high above Taormina, Castelmola is one of Italy’s Borghi Più Belli – Most Beautiful Villages. The tiny village was built around the ruins of a 16th-century Norman castello (castle) which was originally built to protect Taormina from attacks.
Castelmola is famous for its panoramic views, quaint winding alleys, Castello di Mola Norman castle ruins, and other historical architecture.
One of the highlights is Piazza Sant’Antonio, a charming black-and-white piazza in the historical center. I enjoyed sipping coffee at one of the tables with panoramic views.
Castlemola is famous for vino alle mandorle (almond wine). The technique for creating the wine (adding the almond flavor to the island’s white wine) was invented by the Greeks during their rule of the town.
Another highlight is the remains of the ancient Norman Castle, built around the 9th century by order of the tactician Costantino Caramalo to circumvent the Arab enemies. The remains of the castle itself are not significant, but it is worth the climb to the ruins for the spectacular views of Taormina and Mt. Etna.
You can get to Castelmola by taxi, bus, or guided tour. Or, the more athletic can opt to hike up to Castelmola.
Taormina is one of the most beautiful places in Italy and should make your short list of places to visit!
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About the Author
Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and the southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.
She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover” which is scheduled to premiere in the new few months.
Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.
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