Giardini Naxos became an independent city only at the end of the 18th century when it was officially separated from Taormina. In spite of being so young Giardini Naxos has become more and more popular even in comparison with its famous neighboring resort. Today Giardini Naxos is one of the most famous resorts on Sicily.
Giardini Naxos is situated on the place of the first Greek colony on Sicily. The colony had the name Nacsos. What concerns the word “Jardini” it is of Italian origin (or Sicilian to be exact) and means “Citrus Gardens”. But nowadays the gardens are not so popular as beaches at a modern resort, because a great sum of money comes to the municipality of Giardini Naxos not from the gardens but from the beaches. Most of tourists say that the beaches in Giardini Naxos are the best places for the sea holidays in Sicily.
There are many sights in Giardini Naxos. The most interesting are the Scizo Castle, the Vinjazza Tower and the Archaeological Museum. In the part of the resort where the Nacsos colony was situated there are ruins of temples and burial places of the 5th century B.C.
Tourists go to Giardini Naxos not to see the sights, but to have a comfortable rest. The scopes of Etna are situated near the city and attract tourists all the year round. In winter tourists come there to ski at the foot of the volcano. Summer period in Giardini Naxos is a holiday celebrated day and night: noisy disco parties, numerous water attractions, the tables of trattorias at the sea-front. For those who prefer calm bourgeois rest there is Pikkiolo that is a golf-club situated in Giardini Naxos.
There are some small family manufactures in Giardini Naxos. So if you want some authentic souvenirs, you can buy ceramic items, rugs, castings and moldings.
The most interesting events in Giardini Naxos are celebrated in summer. Among them are the concerts of the Nacsos famous Folk Ensemble and the performances of the famous Sicilian Puppet Theatre (“l’opera dei puppi”).
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