Taormina: Cultural History, Nature and Coast

Taormina can be explored through cultural history, landscapes and specific transport links. Ancient remains and medieval palaces stand alongside a historic garden and protected coastal areas. The range extends from an epigraphic collection and ancient sites to Sicilian Gothic architecture and connections to the coast.

Cultural History between Antiquity and Gothic Architecture

At the Teatro Antico di Taormina, the Casina degli Inglesi houses Taormina’s important epigraphic collection.

Castello di Taormina stands on the 396-metre-high Monte Tauro. It is also known as Castel Tauro; the Greek acropolis was presumably located on this site. The structure was founded by the Arabs in 902 and rebuilt between the 13th and 14th centuries. Its historical references therefore extend from the presumed Greek acropolis and the Arab foundation to the medieval reconstruction.

Palazzo Corvaja stands on the site of the ancient Greek agora and the later Roman forum. It represents three historical phases in Taormina’s development. Its central tower was built by the Arabs between 902 and 1079 for defensive purposes. The palazzo’s historical references range from the Greek agora and the Roman forum to the Arab tower.

Palazzo Duchi di Santo Stefano is a tower palace built between the late 14th and early 15th centuries and a masterpiece of Sicilian Gothic architecture. Since 1981, it has been the seat of the Fondazione Mazzullo. In the building and garden, it displays 39 sculptures and 17 drawings by Giuseppe Mazzullo. The Gothic architecture is thus complemented by specific works of art and a garden area.

The Roman Baths also provide an insight into the city’s ancient history. They preserve three large rooms that served as caldaria or tepidaria. Their marble-slab floors were heated by praefurnia. The ruins of the Naumachiae preserve part of a large water reservoir. It served to supply water to the ancient gymnasium and as a reserve for the entire city. The baths and the reservoir thus represent different structural functions of the ancient city.

Landscape and Transport Links

The Isola Bella nature reserve includes Isola Bella, Capo Sant'Andrea and Capo Taormina. Parco Trevelyan is a historic, irregularly shaped garden covering an area of 22,400 m². The landscape therefore ranges from protected coastal areas to a historic garden.

The cable car connects the centre of Taormina with the coastal area of Mazzarò. The connection from Taormina to Isola Bella involves taking the train to Taormina-Giardini station and then an ASM Taormina bus to the destination. Taormina-Giardini station is the interchange between the train and the bus. The two coastal destinations therefore differ in their respective connections: cable car to Mazzarò, and train and bus to Isola Bella.

Other Destinations

For your further travel planning: Lipari, Fondachello, Ficarra, Rodi Milici, Montalbano Di Elicona, Alì Terme, San Pier Niceto and Barcellona Pozzo Di Gotto.

For the higher-level travel overview: Messina.