Taormina

The most famous of all hill towns this towering beauty holds breath-taking scenery from its ancient terracotta tiled roofs, baroque palaces, churches and fountains in its heart

Known as "The Pearl of the Ionian" Taormina is a picturesque small town in eastern Sicily which boasts a wonderful panorama across one of the world's most beautiful landscapes.

The ancient Greeks loved to construct their buildings in beautiful scenic locations. Here they built the main monument of the city, the Greek theatre, which is 2nd largest on the island behind Siracusa and has breathtaking setting. The town is perched on a rocky cliff with a cable car facility to transport sun worshippers down to the famous beaches of Mezzaró and the island of Isola Bella.

Taormina is a popular destination for honeymooners as well as a hot stop off for Mediterranean cruise ships, making it quite crowded in peak season and geared towards tourism. There's the annual film festival, an active literary life, summer performances in the theatre., an abundance of home style eateries as well as upscale restaurants, interesting shops, and cafes to enjoy.

It is a great place to spend your entire holiday mixing between beaches and exploring, however it is within easy reach of Catania, Mount Etna and Giardini Naxos for those wishing to travel further afield.

Taormina is probably the most visited destination in south Sicily behind the Amalfi Coast and is definitely worth a visit.