Monday, July 13, 2015



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Taormina, Sicily 
Teatro Antica di Taormina

It's quite a special adventure driving up the narrow steep roads, with the busy bustling traffic. But when you finally arrive it's more than just special; it's exceptional! Firstly, the locals are just so polite and friendly. They sort of make a real special effort to be hospitable, which is genuinely inviting. As you initially walk along the narrow long high street from Porto Messina towards Porto Catania, you see a vast array of outstanding gelaterias all serving colorful gelato. However the ones you see first are not as good because they are aimed purely at tourists rather than locals, which implies that prices will be higher. Walking along this high street you can smell beautiful sweet flowers, and this complements the gorgeous old style Italian architecture. You can hear at every moment at night the sounds of jazz saxophone and other interesting instruments such piano and guitar being played, which creates a lovely atmosphere while strolling along the narrow streets.

This small town, perched on the edge of a cliff, provides inspiration for your senses and captures your imagination. Taormina is just so lively; there is always something going on. One of the greatest highlights of Taormina is the Ancient theatre, known locally as Teatro Antica di Taormina. This beautiful Greek style theatre is truly amazing; as you see through the great hole in the middle fantastic views of the coastline including the bay of Naxos and Mt Etna, the summit is clearly visible in good visibility. It costs around eight euros per adult to enter, but it's a price definitely worth paying; if you don't go you will simply regret it. The main high street of Taormina is inundated with lavish and expensive designer boutiques, such as Parisi and MaxMara, however unless you're a millionare there's not much point going in!



Corso Umberto


However for the budget traveler there are a few shops that sell regional specialties from Sicily and other ornamental items at bargain prices. I usually advise my friends when travelling abroad: "Don't act like a tourist!". I know it's hard and seems ridiculous, but pretending to be a local when walking the streets and perusing through shops and restaurants honestly can be useful, especially in Taormina as you tend to be harassed by shop keepers, waiters and waitresses a lot! 

Taormina is home to many hotels. Some ultra-luxury with five stars and quite a lot with little more than one star. Below Taromina is the bay of Isola Bella, which has a few five star hotels including the famous Belmont hotel. These hotels usually have both a private beach and pool where as the hotels up in Taormina just have pools. There is a sense of convenience which ever side of Taormina you want to stay in as transportation links are both cheap, quick and easy. However hotels down in the bay are extremely expensive and in high season the minimum price would be in the four thousand euro area. Nevertheless, some websites such as Secret Escapes and Voyage Prive offer rooms that the hotels can't sell and offer them at much more reasonable prices. 

Below is my usual travel advice, and remember the best time to visit Taormina is in the late afternoon and evening, as during the day in the peak of summer, it's unbearably hot. 
Good Luck!

Information for the traveler:

Eating out - The vast range of restaurants and cafes can mean that making a choice for where to eat pretty difficult, but to help you make the best choice possible I have made a list of the three best restaurants in my opinion, all of which I personally ate in.


  1. GranducaCorso Umberto I, 172, 98039 Taormina ME - 00390942 24983 - Be sure to reserve this place well in advance, as demand is usually always high, even in low season. This restaurant was the best in my opinion, as the decor and sea view was truly amazing and it also offered the best value for money. This fabulous restaurant serves all kinds of Italian dishes including regional Sicilian specialties. I went for the medallions of beef with mushroom sauce and sauteed potatoes (16 euros). This dish was splendid and I would highly recommend it!  www.granduca-taormina.com 
  2. BaronessaCorso Umberto I, 148, 98039 Taormina ME - 00390942628191 - Firstly this restaurant is quite posh, but don't be put off as the prices are not as bad as you may envisage. The food here is truly scrumptious and the service is really attentive and hospitable. I ate spaghetti with almonds, raisins and sardines called "Alla Norma" (15 euros), which was well seasoned and moreish. Just like the aforementioned restaurant, remember to reserve in advance.  www.ristorantebaronessa.it
  3. La BottePiazza Santa Domenica, 4 - 98039 Taormina ME - 0039094224198 - Again this restaurant really impresses. They have a wide range of choices on their menu from swordfish (another local speciality) to Pizza Margarita, and the service is good and it is always busy (which is usually a good sign). I chose the Pizza al Fungi (9 euros) which certainly did not fail to impress; it had a thin crispy crust generously topped with mozzarella, mushrooms and tomato sauce. This is definitely one of the best pizzas I have eaten in a long while. Bravo!   www.labotte1972.it
Places to visit:

Teatro Antica di Taormina - This Greek style amphitheater should really be your first port of call in Taormina; the views are spectacular and if you're lucky you may hear some opera or a concert rehearsal while you're there! Tickets cost 8 euros per person and young children go free.



Castelmola 


Visita Virtuale Piazza - This small piazza in the heart of Taormina boasts fantastic views of the bay of Naxos and also glorious Mt. Etna. This piazza is a designated public space so there are no admission charges. 

Giardini della Villa Comunale - This garden is truly amazing; all the plants and surrounding vegetation is beautifully arranged and colourful. The commanding view of Etna in the background adds to this park's majestic charm. Admission is free.

Duomo di Taormina - This is one of the oldest churches in Sicily and there are usually weddings taking place in this church all year round on the weekends, particularly on a Saturday.  

Taormina cable car - This is definitely a must attraction because you really experience splendid views of the surrounding area from this cable car. It is also the fastest way to get up to Taormina. However in high season you could be waiting around 30 minutes just to get on! Tickets cost 3 Euros per person and small children go free.

Castelmola - This small village should really be an extension to your trip to Taormina. It's particularly difficult to get to, as buses do not run that often from Taormina, even in high season, and the winding roads up the cliff can be daunting at night - however the views of the surrounding area and of Mt. Etna are probably the best in the area, and there are a few restaurants and cafes at which to have a quick snack or three course meal. Be sure to check out the old Bar Turrisi, they serve some fantastic granitas which are a specialty among this area - the almond (Mandorla) one is especially well known. 




The main piazza of Taormina - Vista Virtuale 



Transportation: 

Many tourists tend to rent a car, for ease of travelling around and because they are touring many different parts of the island. However if you are just going to Taormina, it's probably not worth renting a car, because it is quite expensive. The buses that run in and around Taormina and also from Catania Airport to Taormina are quite reliable and cheap. Many tourists including myself relied on this option for transportation. The nearest airport to Taormina is Catania Fontanarossa Airport, located just south of the city of Catania, transfers to and from there to Taormina are around one hour. The major airlines that operate from this airport to Europe are Alitalia, Ryanair and Easyjet.



Once again thanks for reading and if you have decided to go to Taormina good luck, and enjoy your stay! Please subscribe for the latest articles and holiday information and please also comment.

Thank you.



Award winning travel writer, journalist and blogger, Etan Feingold visited Taormina on the 5th July 2015 for 4 days.









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