Car Hire Taormina - Mini guide to Taormina

Taormina is an ancient settlement that dates back to the 4th century BC. Hugging the edge of a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea and with the towering Mount Etna in the background, Taormina is a spectacular place to visit. Known as the most beautiful town in Sicily, it is a pleasure to visit, with wonderfully mild temperatures, friendly locals, beautiful beaches and great food.

The town has managed to maintain its medieval atmosphere and boasts a host of intimate piazzas and palazzi full of restaurants, taverns, and shops. There is plenty to see and explore, both within and around Taormina. Hike up Mount Etna, walk to Catelmola, take a day trip to Syracuse, climb Mount Tauro, or simply hang out at the beach.

Taormina’s most famous site is the Teatro Greco (Greek Amphitheatre), with beautiful views of Mount Etna and the sea. The amphitheatre was hewed out of the rocks by the Greeks and today is the site of the annual Taormina film festival. Two churches are worth exploring, the 17th century Chiesa Santa Caterina and the Duomo (cathedral) of Taormina. Both are architecturally breathtaking, with beautiful interiors. Of the various museums in Taormina, the newest is the Museo Archeologico di Taormina, housing the many Roman artefacts that have been recovered in and around the town from various archaeological digs.

For something different, visit the various parks in town. The Villa Communale, sometimes called Parco Duca di Cesarò, is one of the most beautiful little parks in all of Sicily. The gardens were the creation of a Scottish lady, Lady Florence Trevelyan, in the late 19th century. Another garden, the Giardino Púbblico (Public Garden) is flower-filled and overlooks the sea and is a wonderful place to relax and write some postcards.

Taormina can easily be reached by rail on the Messina line south. The journey from Rome to Messina takes about eight hours and from there you can connect to Taormina. The railway station is only one mile away from the town centre. The other alternative is to drive from Messina (53kms), south along the A18, a beautiful scenic drive. Taormina lies 250kms east of Palermo and 53kms north of Catania.