Discover Taormina

Taormina offers a range of starting points for planning your trip: ancient architectural and water-related history, palazzi from later periods, a historic garden, and a protected coastal landscape. If you are looking for a hotel in Taormina, you can first consider which places and themes are especially important to you during your stay. The named transport connections can also help you organize your sightseeing plans.

Ancient Traces and Historic Architecture

In the Teatro Antico, the Casina degli Inglesi houses Taormina’s important epigraphic collection. Epigraphy is the study of inscriptions and thus adds written evidence to our view of ancient history. Castello di Taormina, also known as Castel Tauro, stands on Monte Tauro, which is 396 meters high. The Greek acropolis was probably located here. The castle was founded by the Arabs in 902 and rebuilt between the 13th and 14th centuries.

Palazzo Corvaja brings together further historical connections: it stands on the site of the ancient Greek agora and the later Roman forum, and represents three phases in Taormina’s development. Its central tower was built by the Arabs between 902 and 1079 for defensive purposes. The building offers a view of both the site’s earlier use and the tower’s own history of construction.

Palazzo Duchi di Santo Stefano offers a different architectural accent. The tower palace was built between the late 14th and early 15th centuries and is considered a masterpiece of Sicilian Gothic architecture. Since 1981, it has been the seat of the Fondazione Mazzullo. The foundation displays 39 sculptures and 17 drawings by Giuseppe Mazzullo in the building and garden. As the exhibition layout may change, check what is currently on display before your visit.

Archaeological Spaces and Garden Landscape

The Roman Baths and the ruins of the so-called Naumachiae also offer insight into ancient water and architectural history. Three large rooms have been preserved in the baths; they served as caldaria or tepidaria. Their marble-slab floors were heated by praefurnia. The Naumachiae preserve part of a large water reservoir. It supplied water to the ancient gymnasium and also served as a reserve for the entire city. The two sites therefore represent different functions: heated rooms at one, and a water-supply reservoir at the other.

The Isola Bella nature reserve includes Isola Bella, Capo Sant’Andrea, and Capo Taormina. Unlike this protected coastal landscape, Parco Trevelyan is a historic garden: it has an irregular shape and an area of 22,400 m². The precise area and distinctive shape give the garden its own character among Taormina’s described sites.

Connections for Planning Your Trip

The cable car connects the center of Taormina with the coastal area of Mazzarò. Check operating details before your journey. For travel from Taormina to Isola Bella, the described route is to take the train to Taormina-Giardini station and then an ASM Taormina bus to your destination. Check the latest connection details before you travel.

Which option is more important for your plans depends on the destinations you want to include. Together with the historic highlights—from ancient sites to Gothic architecture—this overview can help you organize your sightseeing plans for your stay in Taormina.

Discover more destinations: Calavà, Forza D'agrò, Montagnareale, Acquedolci, Barcellona Pozzo Di Gotto, Piraino, Contrada Lacco, Castel di Lucio.

Return to the main travel overview: Messina.