Taormina

Greeks and RomansTaormina dates back to ancient Tauromenion, which arose in the 4th century BC above Naxos, Sicily's first Greek colony. The theatre was laid out in the 3rd century BC and later remodelled by the Romans. From the Middle Ages date the Cathedral and palaces such as Palazzo Corvaja.Destination Since 18th CenturyGoethe visited the theatre in 1787 and described the view in his Italian Journey. In the 19th century, painters, writers, and wealthy travellers arrived, including the photographer Wilhelm von Gloeden and Friedrich Nietzsche. The Englishwoman Florence Trevelyan laid out the current city park and bought Isola Bella in 1890.FestivalsThe ancient theatre is a venue for concerts and the Taormina Film Fest. In May 2017, the G7 summit took place in Taormina.

On Foot and by Cable CarExplore the Corso on foot, as it's largely car-free. A cable car connects the center with Mazzarò on the coast, near Isola Bella, running every 15 minutes, and until late at night in summer. A city bus goes to Castelmola.Getting ThereThe nearest airport is Catania. Taormina-Giardini train station is located on the coast along the Messina–Syracuse line, about four kilometers below the center; from there, you can take a bus or taxi up.CarFor cars, park at the Lumbi multi-storey car park on the old town's edge; a shuttle bus runs from there to the center. Peak season parking fees are high. For Mount Etna and the Alcantara Gorge, a rental car or guided tour is practical.