MY TRAVEL STORIES
Taormina — A Breathtaking Splendor and Charm
Taormina Can Be Seen In The Distance As A Settlement Perched On The Mountain
As I was saying, the decision to see Taormina came after watching the series “The White Lotus”; I told myself that I had to visit Sicily, impressed by the beauty of these places.
The scene of one of the characters riding a Vespa motorcycle remained etched in my memory. Coincidentally, such a motorcycle was parked every day in front of the apartment in Giardini Naxos where we were staying, always reminding me of that particular scene, which also had a touch of humor.
From the San Giovani station, located about 250 meters from our apartment, we took the bus to Taormina several times, with the cost of a ticket being 1.90 Euros, which can be purchased from the driver.
Taormina appears in the distance as a settlement perched on the mountain, and the bus ride takes about 20 minutes, although it’s only three kilometers from our accommodation.
The landscapes are stunningly beautiful, with the sea on one side, dotted with numerous yachts and boats, and on the other side, the mountain with the winding road.
Taormina was founded in the 4th century BC by the Greeks and remained under the influence of Syracuse until it was conquered by the Romans.
Today, the city is a popular destination for international tourism, with many tourists arriving each year from around the world to discover its beauty.
From the central station where the bus drops us off, it’s about 800 meters on foot to the Messina Gate. Once we enter through the stone arch of the gate, we step into an enchanted world, where the new intertwines with the vestiges of the past, resulting in a dreamlike atmosphere.
The Messina Gate is also known as Porta Ferdinandea, as King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon wanted it to be built. The inauguration year is 1808, as indicated by a plaque still visible at the top of the gate.
The Messina Gate is one of the old city gates, and together with the Catania Gate, which is diametrically opposite, it borders Corso Umberto, the main street of Taormina.
From this street, narrow alleyways branch off, ascending or descending, with the narrowest among them being Vicolo Stretto, which only allows for single file passage.
We are on Corso Umberto, a pedestrian street that runs through the entire old town. We continue to walk around, admiring the antique and ceramic shops with display windows where the famous Moor heads, also known as Graste.
These heads are said to be the result of a macabre legend according to which a young Sicilian woman fell in love with a Moor.
However, the Moor had a big secret; he was married and had children he had to return to, so the young woman, consumed by rage after finding out the news, decided to take revenge, killed him, and made his head into a vase in which she planted basil.
The neighbors saw how the vase became more and more beautiful, so they made similar vases to beautify their balconies.
Also on Corso Umberto, the major luxury brands have their stores, from Dior to Rolex. I even remember that the Rolex store was guarded by the police.
We arrive in front of the Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria, built in the Baroque style with an entrance portal made of Taormina pink marble.
The marble statue of St. Catherine depicts her holding a sword in her right hand with which she kills a demonic being, and in her left hand, a book, a symbol of education.
In front of the church, there is a very chic and colorful Fiat car, if I’m not mistaken, with which almost all tourists take photos.
Nearby is also Palazzo Corvaja, a medieval palace that was built in the 14th century and bears the name of one of the oldest and most well-known families in Taormina.
Here, on the ground floor, is a tourist information point, and on the first floor, a museum which I must confess I have not seen.
We continue our way among tourists, looking at shop windows, and arrive at Piazza IX Aprilie, the most beautiful part of Taormina in my opinion.
We stop at the viewpoint on the marble pavement with black and white tiles arranged in a chessboard pattern, and the view here takes your breath away.
The panorama offers splendid views of the sea towards the Gulf of Naxos and towards Mount Etna. We find a free spot and take some photos, then we sit on a bench to catch our breath.
We cannot help but admire the historic buildings and the few terraces next to the Clock Tower, Torre dell’Orologio, built in the 12th century. Here is also the Baroque church of San Giuseppe, from whose steps the entire square can be seen fantastically.
We get up from the bench to continue our journey, pass through Porta di Mezzo, walk a bit more, and arrive at Piazza Duomo where the Cathedral of Taormina — San Nicolò di Bari, dedicated to St. Nicholas, is located.
Built around the year 1400 on the remains of a church from the 13th century, the dome of Taormina has an austere stone facade and has undergone several renovations over time.
In front of the Cathedral, we can admire the Baroque-style fountain from the 17th century, which has in its center the symbol of the city of Taormina, a crowned centaur holding the world in its left hand and a scepter in its right hand.
We return to Piazza IX Aprilie, where we sit on a bench and wait for the evening to fall, the lights begin to turn on and the place seems even more beautiful, soft music can be heard in a corner and everything is magical.
The next afternoon, we visited the Ancient Theatre, probably the most photographed and spectacular place in Taormina, located on a hill with impressive views of the Ionian Sea.
Right after entering through the Messina Gate, there are signs directing you towards the theatre. We bought the entrance tickets from the ticket office, costing 15 EUR per person.
The ancient theatre is the second oldest in Sicily, after the one in Syracuse, and is currently used as a venue for theatre performances and classical music concerts.
On the day following our visit, there was a concert with Andrea Bocelli, and when we arrived, sound checks and orchestra rehearsals were taking place.
Tickets could be purchased online, the cheapest being around 100 EUR, but unfortunately, they were already sold out three months before the event.
The theatre has a diameter of about 109 meters and a height of 20 meters, with a capacity of up to 10,000 seats. In 1787, Goethe visited the theatre and was delighted by the panorama that could be admired from here, reminiscing about the beauty of the place in his writings.
We stayed here until almost 8 PM and took lots of photos.
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