Explorations of an adorable city high above the Mediterranean Sea.
Taormina was my first stop in Sicily. While this was my fourth visit to Italy, it was my first to the island. While Taormina was chosen mostly for its ancient theater, I did fall a bit in love with the whole adorable town.
Taormina has been a tourist town since the 19th century, and you can tell. However, unlike most touristy beach towns you see today, Taormina didn’t lose its old-world charm. It helps that the beach is located a bit downhill from the city center, which is up 250m (820 ft) above sea level. The road from the coast is a doozy. When you park in a parking garage near the city center, you ride the elevator up a few stories even further, which was confusing at first since it wasn’t an underground parking garage. Once you step outside those doors though, you are instantly rewarded with sea views and a fabulous town.
One of the first places along you come across is this tiny stone church, Sant’Antonio Abate.
And then the city gate.
The Duomo of Taormina. The area was teeming with people since it was Sunday morning.
Opposite the duomo in the plaza, is this lovely fountain. However, the top of the fountain is a little strange.
A very ornate door on the side of the duomo.
Since there were services going on that morning, I later had to return to the duomo to see the interior. A simple, but lovely church.
The main street continues from there towards the theater.
Another awesome stone church.
I love that many of the old stone doorways and archways were saved when the more modern stores were built behind.
These weird vases were everywhere. So creepy.
Old medieval gatehouse. I love the local use of cobblestones.
The other side of the restored gatehouse, or the Torre dell Orologio (Tower of the Clock), complete with a town clock.
In front of the gatehouse, is a large plaza, Piazza IX Aprile, featuring an overlook and two churches. This church, San Giuseppe, is opposite the overlook.
The ex-church of Sant’Agostino. The plaza is a favorite place for bands and festivals.
Still so many awesome things to look at.
I like the building with all the plants on the right.
The stones, the balconies, the windows, so much right with this building.
A lot of flair with the glass awning and doors with this one.
The tower of the 10th century Palazzo Corvaja.
I’m not sure what is going on with this building but I love it.
It took me much longer to walk to the theater than I imagined. Not that it was a long distance or anything. I just kept getting distracted. Lots to look at in Taormina.
Taormina was founded by the Ancient Greeks. The settlers didn’t come straight from Greece but from a town on the cost called Naxos (founded 734 BCE). The town must have been prosperous because they built a very impressive theater. They also survived into the Roman period. Not many Ancient Greek cities did in Sicily.
Few remains remain from Taormina’s ancient days. This mosaic floor dates from the 2nd century BCE and can be found near the Duomo.
The Ancient Theatre of Taormina was built in the 3rd century BCE, in the Greek style. Who exactly built the theater is up for debate since the theater was built in brick, a Roman building material. A Greek built theater may have been altered later by the Romans. So, the theater may be even older but at least it’s still in great shape.
The modern entrance to the theater.
Super high ceilings in here. Super impressive.
Mosaic pavement from somewhere in the theater.
You first walk out onto the bottom floor of the theater. It’s hard to grasp how large it is from down there. You can only take a picture of only half the stage at a time.
Only part of the seating area from the floor of the theater.
Luckily, they let you climb up to see the theater from where the ancient spectators would have experienced it.
From here you can get some truly remarkable views of Taormina and the surrounding countryside.
More views of the stage. Remarkable construction.
Just amazing that the Greeks and Romans were able to build something this amazing and that it is still here to amazing us today!
The Romans built a smaller Odeon in BCE, which has been somewhat reconstructed. A later church is kind of in the way, however, performances are still given here today.
The Roman Odeon and its wooden reconstruction.
Taormina is in a beautiful area of Sicily, which I need to explore more of. I only had fleeting glimpses of Mt. Etna, so at least that’s one thing return to see and of course, I will be back to Taormina, such a lovely little city, with more wandering to be had.
Check out my next update where I visit the Baroque city of Noto, Sicily!
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Explore more of the fantastic country that is Italy!
