Antonio Di Fede
&
Samantha Li-Yan-Hui
Taormina, Sicily - 28th August 2015
How to reach Taormina:
As soon as you arrive in Taormina, you will feel the magical, mythical atmosphere spread all around which has enchanted visitors from all over the world for years and years. Settled on a hill of the Monte Tauro, Taormina dominates two grand, sweeping bays below and on the southern side, the top of Mount Etna, the European highest active volcano, often capped with snow, offering to the visitors a breathtaking, dramatic and memorable view over almost one hundred miles of Mediterranean sea.
Catania Fontanarossa “Vincenzo Bellini” International airport is the nearest and most convenient airport at some 55 km from Taormina. It features several flights from the major Italian cities such as Milan, Rome, Naples and Venice (Alitalia, Windjet, Meridiana, etc.) and many international direct flights from important European cities such as London (British Airways, Easyjet, Ryanair), Paris (EasyJet), Berlin, Stuttgart, Zurich (Air Berlin), Munich (Lufthansa), Dubai (Neos), Malta (Air Malta) and many more.
From Catania airport you can reach Taormina in one hour drive by very convenient direct highway A18 (direction Messina, exit TAORMINA).Taxis cost approximately € 80/90,00 one way and it takes about one hour. Direct buses from the airport to Taormina town centre are available every day. Check the timetable on www.interbus.it. It takes about one hour and a half. Taormina has its own modern bus terminal right in the town centre and Frequent buses run from Palermo, Catania (airport included) and Messina.
Things to do in and around Taormina:
Greek Amphitheater (Teatro Greco)
Taormina's premier attraction is this perfect horseshoe-shaped theatre, suspended between sea and sky, with Mt Etna looming on the southern horizon. Built in the 3rd century BC, it's the most dramatically situated Greek theatre in the world and the second largest in Sicily (after Syracuse). In summer the theatre is used as the venue for international arts and film festivals.
Parco Comunale di Taormina
This garden is lovely and absolutely well worth a stroll around - the sculpture of two winged lovers, the topiary, the beautiful follies and of course the view all make for a delightful place full of calm. Although we visited in early spring when the weather was quite pleasant, I could imagine this would be a lovely cool place to be in the heat of the summer - and it is free . What more could you want. Bellissimo!
Corso Umberto
One of the chief delights of Taormina is wandering along its pedestrian-friendly medieval main avenue, Corso Umberto I, lined with antique and jewellery shops, delis and designer boutiques. Midway down, pause to revel in the stunning panoramic views of Mt Etna and the seacoast from Piazza IX Aprile and pop your head into the charming rococo church, Chiesa San Giuseppe .Continue west through the 12th-century clock tower, Torre dell'Orologio, into the Borgo Medievale, the oldest quarter of town. A few blocks further along is Piazza del Duomo , where teenagers congregate around the ornate baroque fountain.
Isola Bella (Sicilian: Ìsula Bedda) is a small island near Taormina, Sicily, southern Italy. Also known as The Pearl of the Ionian Sea, it is located within a small bay on the Ionian Sea; it was a private property until 1990, when it was bought by the Region of Sicily, being turned into a nature reserve, administrated by the Italian branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature. There is a narrow path that often connects the island to the mainland beach. The island has a small and rather rocky beach which is a popular destination for sunbathers.
Dominating the landscape of eastern Sicily, Mt Etna is a massive brooding presence. At 3329m it is Italy's highest mountain south of the Alps and the largest active volcano in Europe. It's in an almost constant state of activity and eruptions occur frequently, most spectacularly from the four summit craters, but more often, and more dangerously, from the fissures and old craters on the mountain's flanks. This activity, which is closely monitored by 120 seismic activity stations and satellites, means that it is occasionally closed to visitors.
Lipari is the largest, busiest and most accessible of the Aeolian Islands. Visitors arriving from the mainland will likely experience it as a relaxing introduction to island life; on the other hand, if you've just come from the outer Aeolians, it may feel a bit like the big city!The main focus is Lipari Town, the archipelago's principal transport hub and the nearest thing that islanders have to a capital city. A busy little port with a pretty, pastel-coloured seafront and plenty of accommodation, it makes the most convenient base for island hopping. Away from the town, Lipari reveals a rugged and typically Mediterranean landscape of low-lying macchia (dense shrubland), silent, windswept highlands, precipitous cliffs and dreamy blue waters.
More than any other city, Syracuse encapsulates Sicily's timeless beauty. Ancient Greek ruins rise out of lush citrus orchards, cafe tables spill onto dazzling baroque piazzas, and medieval lanes lead down to the sparkling blue sea. But handsome as it is, the city is no museum piece − life goes on here much as it has for 3000 years, as you'll soon see from the snarling mid-morning traffic and noisy markets.
At one time the fourth-largest city in the known world, Agrigento, or Akragas as it was then known, is home to Sicily's most impressive Greek ruins. Situated about 3km below the ugly modern city, the Unesco-listed Valley of the Temples is one of the most mesmerising sites in the Mediterranean, boasting the best-preserved Doric temples outside Greece. On the travel radar since Goethe sang their praises in the 18th century, they are now Sicily's single biggest tourist site, with more than 600,000 visitors a year.
Aeolian Islands:
Astonishingly beautiful and extremely varied, the seven islands and various uninhabited islets of the Aeolian archipelago were designated a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2000. Their volcanic origins left a dramatic legacy of black-sand beaches, smouldering craters and splintered, rocky coastlines. Island-hoppers can discover their individual charms: from the spartan conical Alicudi, where donkeys are the only form of land transport, to the international jet-set playground of Panarea.
Lipari - the main island and the main town (called Lipari as well) is the transportation hub, with plenty of hotels and makes a good base.
Vulcano - right next to Lipari, this island is dominated by the Gran Cratere volcano cone giving off clouds of sulphurous gas. This peak gives great views. The island is popular for its beaches and mud baths
Salina is lush and hilly - great for a relaxing walk. Some of the film Il Postino was shot here.
Panarea - a smaller, upmarket island with great views across to Stromboli.
Stromboli - the most remote of the islands, it is little more than a volcano rising out of the sea. Popular for trips out at night to see magma spurting out of the cone.
Filicudi and Alicudi lie to the West and are much less visited, particularly Alicudi, which is still primarily agrarian.
Getting there:
There are 3 hydrofoil / ferry companies operating in the Aeolian Islands (navi means ferries, aliscafi are hydrofoils):Ustica Lines, Siremar and SNAV (Naples-Salina).
From Milazzo:
It's easiest (especially outside midsummer) to fly to Catania and then take a taxi / bus / hire car to the Sicilian city of Milazzo (2 hours away). From here there are 5-10 daily hydrofoils crossing to the Aeolian Islands (journey time approx 90mins), as well as a slow ferry which takes 3-4 hours.
From Messina:
Another option is to take the hydrofoil from Messina on Sicily. There are fewer sailings and a longer journey time, but it's closer to Catania (and the Italian mainland, should you be coming from there).
Taormina's Nightlife:
Nightlife in Taormina is very well-known and popular beyond Italy's borders.People start off the evening by having a tasty drink in one of Taormina's hottest bars and pubs to get rightly prepared for the nightlife.
Sicilians, who are keen on partying, usually do not have dinner before 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. At that time tourists as well as inhabitants choose one of the various chic and romantic restaurants in Taormina to have their dinner.
THE bar of the town. If you want to know the locals...then go here! Open till late, great cocktails, live dj music, cool elegant place.
Daiquiri Lounge
Unique location on the steps facing the Duomo Square. Great drinks and small plates. Vibrant and fun - mostly due to the energy of the owner who endlessly sprints up and down the ancient steps seating people and serving drinks.
Panasia Beach Taormina
A Monte Carlo feeling in Taormina (or maybe even better) directly on the beach.This is one of the hippest party locations in Taormina where hot nights and a cool atmosphere are guaranteed.
La Giara
If you want to spend a romantic evening then this is the right address. Authentic Sicilian cuisine offering mainly fish and sea food. Here you can have the genuine taste of Taormina in Sicily. Also known for its Discotech.
