Taormina between Antiquity, Garden Art and Coastline
Accommodation in Taormina
Taormina combines significant remnants of antiquity with historic palaces, an exceptional garden and the distinctive coastal landscape around Isola Bella. If you are looking for accommodation in Taormina, you are choosing a place where very different discoveries can be combined: an epigraphic collection, medieval architectural history, art, nature and connections between the town centre and the coast.
Antiquity and city history in exceptional concentration
The Casina degli Inglesi is located in the Teatro Antico di Taormina and houses Taormina’s important epigraphic collection. This gives your visit an opportunity to view inscriptions as an independent gateway to the history of the place. The Palazzo Corvaja is also closely connected with Taormina’s successive historical layers. It stands on the site of the ancient Greek agora and the later Roman forum and represents three historical periods of development. Its central tower was built by the Arabs between 902 and 1079 for defensive purposes.
The Castello di Taormina, also known as Castel Tauro, likewise leads back to an earlier era. It stands on 396-metre-high Monte Tauro, where the Greek acropolis is believed to have been located. The Castello di Taormina was founded by the Arabs in 902 and rebuilt between the 13th and 14th centuries. The combination of the precise elevation, presumed earlier history and subsequent rebuilding makes the site a particularly complex historical point of reference, without reducing its history to a single era.
Palaces, art and a historic garden
The Palazzo Duchi di Santo Stefano is a tower palace 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 building and garden display 39 sculptures and 17 drawings by Giuseppe Mazzullo. This creates a connection between medieval architecture and a clearly defined collection of modern art.
The Parco Trevelyan conveys a different kind of local character. The historic, irregularly shaped garden covers an area of 22,400 m². Together with the palaces and archaeological sites, it expands the Taormina experience to include designed outdoor spaces. For families who want to alternate between focused cultural moments and open-ended impressions, this variety provides a clear basis for taking their preferred daily itinerary into account when choosing accommodation.
Isola Bella and the connection to the coast
The Isola Bella nature reserve includes Isola Bella, Capo Sant'Andrea and Capo Taormina. Those who want to include the coastal area in their travel plans will therefore find in Taormina a place where natural and cultural spaces become a shared destination for exploration. The cable car connects the centre of Taormina with the coastal area of Mazzarò.
The connection from Taormina to Isola Bella involves taking the train to Taormina-Giardini station and then a bus operated by ASM Taormina to the destination. This described connection differs from the cable car route to Mazzarò and helps you distinguish between the respective destinations and transport routes when planning.
Further traces of history
The Roman Baths of Taormina are also among the notable archaeological remains. They preserve three large rooms that served as caldaria or tepidaria, with floors made of marble slabs heated by praefurnia. The ruins of the so-called Naumachiae preserve part of a large water reservoir. It served to supply water to the ancient gymnasium and as a reserve for the entire city.
If you would like to view other places in the same navigation area in addition to Taormina, you can also find Monforte San GiorgioMonforte San Giorgio, San NicolòSan Nicolò, MazzeoMazzeo, RoccavaldinaRoccavaldina and ReitanoReitano.
For the overarching travel overview: Messina.
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