Taormina, the beautiful Sicilian town that will host the G7 in 2017
Next year, Italy holds the presidency of the G7.
Taormina is known as the Pearl of the Mediterranean.
As highlighted by UNESCO, Taormina’s fortune in all times is closely linked to its extraordinary location, lying on a narrow terrace above the sea formed by typical variously colored calcareous rocks which ensured its fame in ancient times.
At the beginning, the site was inhabited by the Siculi, as attested by the remains of a necropolis. The foundation of the Greek polis is esteemed to date back to the year 358 B.C.; it was built by Andromacus, who gathered the survivors of the nearby Naxos, the first Greek colony in Sicily, up on the hill.
The foundation of the various temples, whose remains are still included in the basements and parts of the walls of some Christian churches, as well as in the Ancient Theater, dates back to the Greek epoch, when the town structure had been planned.
Under the Roman rule, Taormina obtained privileges and it was one of the three civitates federates of Sicily as mentioned by Cicero. The town was embellished by remarkable buildings: the small Odeon, the Gymnasium, the monumental tombs, the public bath, the Theater in its present structure and the Naumachias, an important building of imperial epoch whose function is still uncertain, due to the lack of similar structures.
As highlighted by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi during the presentation of the logo of the Italian presidency of the G7, Taormina’s iconic Theater will be a key element of the upcoming G7 in 2017, including the family photo with the heads of state and government.
The Theatre is one of the most suggestive spots, sited on a fantastic position and dipped into the blooming nature of this land. It is hard to say if the audience, today as well as at that time, attend the performances without sustaining the fascination of the wonderful view that it is possible to admire from the ancient stalls. The view goes straight across the sea and reaches the Calabria coasts, the town of Siracusa and the peak of the Etna volcano.
For more on Taormina and our dispatches about the Italian presidency of the G7 in 2017, follow our G7inUS publication here on Medium and Medium Italiano, or follow us on Twitter. For the official channel of the G7 presidency in 2017, follow @G7Italy2017 on Twitter and use hashtag #G7Italy2017.
