Taormina: Ancient Buildings, Art and Nature

Taormina brings together ancient buildings, military history, art and protected landscapes in a diverse travel experience. When choosing a hotel for an individual trip to Italy, you can set your priorities: historic architecture, Roman evidence, nature or the connection between the town centre and the coast.

Historical Layers and Art

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

Castello di Taormina is also known as Castel Tauro and stands on the 396-metre-high Monte Tauro, where the Greek acropolis presumably stood. In 902, Castello di Taormina was founded by the Arabs; it was rebuilt between the 13th and 14th centuries.

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

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, the palazzo has been the seat of the Fondazione Mazzullo and displays 39 sculptures and 17 drawings by Giuseppe Mazzullo in the building and garden.

The Roman Baths of Taormina preserve three large rooms that served as caldaria or tepidaria, with marble-slab floors heated by praefurnia.

The ruins of the so-called 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.

Landscape Between Coast and Garden

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. Within this landscape theme, it provides a distinctive horticultural accent.

Getting Around Between the Town Centre and the Coast

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 a bus operated by ASM Taormina to the destination. When planning your days and choosing the location of your accommodation, you can take these different connections into account.

Choosing Accommodation Based on Your Interests

When choosing your hotel in Taormina, it is worth organising your own interests in advance. The cultural sites range from the epigraphic collection and ancient complexes to palazzi representing different historical periods; the natural area includes a nature reserve and a historic garden. This allows you to base your accommodation decision on your preferred daily rhythm: focusing more on architectural history and art, more on the landscape or a mixture of both.

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To the higher-level travel overview: Messina.

More About the Destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Swimming, hiking, pilgrimage: holiday between Messina and Taormina, a beach holiday in Taormina and experiencing its ancient heritage.