After Naples, we traveled to Taormina on the east coast of Sicily. When Chad told me that we would be taking a train from Naples (on the mainland) to Taormina (which is on an island), I didn’t understand how we were going to cross the sea to get there. Is there a bridge to Sicily? Why no, there is not. Instead, the train drove onto a boat, and the boat carried us across the water. What??? I didn’t even know that was possible. I kind of felt like I was seeing a platypus in real life.
Our train loaded on a ferry, ready to sail to Sicily
Once the boat reached Sicily, the train drove off onto the tracks on land and took us to Taormina.
View from the train as we traveled along the coast of Sicily – the Italian mainland is in the distance
Taormina was a resort town when it was occupied by the ancient Greeks and then the Roman empire, and it is still a resort town today. The place is expensive and overcrowded with tourists in high season. However, I succumbed to the allure of the place.
The town itself is nestled on the side of a mountain, high above the sea. Buildings spill down the mountain with a variety of architectural styles, each vying for the perfect view of the water. The main draw of Taormina is the many beaches in the vicinity, but the town itself has much to offer.
View of the town from the old Greek theater
The old town is the real draw. Because the streets are so narrow, motorized traffic is severely limited which adds to the appeal of the place. The main street, Corso Umberto, is loaded with tourist shops, expensive clothing stores, bars, restaurants, piazzas, churches, and cool little buildings.
Fortification wall and entry portal to the old town
Corso Umberto early in the morning
Another view of Corso Umberto
A large piazza with a 12th-century clock tower
A pretty mosaic inside the clock tower passageway
Entrance to a cute side street – steps lead down the hill
This side street was only about 2 feet wide
The Passagiata in the evenings here is insane, with the Corso packed shoulder-to-shoulder with people taking a gentle stroll – some in flip-flops, some in high heels – window shopping, eating a gelato.
An evening in the main piazza
Evening passagiata on Corso Umberto
The same view in the morning before the tourists arrive
The biggest draw, however, is the old amphitheater. Originally built by the Greeks, the Romans restored it in the 2nd century AD, and it continues to be a performance venue to this day. And I must say, the setting is stunning as it is perched on a hilltop and looks over the town and the sea. Those Greeks knew a thing or two about architecture and urban planning.
The old Greek theater with a view towards the sea
Sitting in the theater
Theater stage backdrop
Ancient columns just lying around because ancient columns are a dime a dozen
You can also visit the Odeon which was an ancient Roman temple. The site itself is small, but I had three “a-ha” moments when we saw it. 1) I was looking at something that was 2,200 years old. Yowza. 2) The modern town has built around it, taking its cues from the Odeon’s original layout. 3) The Odeon would have probably been obliterated by a strip mall if it were in the US.
The seating in the Odeon
A small passageway behind the seating
Finally, there are the beaches around Taormina. The weather down here is usually sunny, the water is calm, and there is infinite coastline. It’s a perennial draw for Greeks, Romans, and modern-day tourists.
You can take the aerial tram down the mountain to the beach
One of the beaches
The first photo of Corso Umberto in the morning reminds me of the streets in Cascais. You look so beautiful sitting in the theatre!