15 Romantic Things to do in Taormina

It is that time of year again when love is in the air which is the perfect opportunity to whisk your special someone away to one of Europe's most romantic destinations ... Taormina.

Twelve years ago in a February issue of UK Glamour magazine I read a travel article about alternative Valentine Weekend getaways and that was how I first discovered Taormina.

A weekend away was booked and we fell in love with Sicily as soon as we set foot on the island, two years later we bought our Sicilian home.

Taormina is perched on a series of high terraces overhung with tropical gardens overlooking a breath taking coastline and views of Mount Etna. It oozes elegance, style and glamour which has been created by a rich history full of romantic myths, legends and love stories. The town is full of beautiful flower draped villas and palazzos amongst candlelit narrow alleys with boutiques, cafes and restaurants on the pedestrianised Corso Umberto.

The town is the perfect destination for a romantic weekend break or honeymoon and here are my 15 Romantic Things to do in Taormina.

  1. Stay in a Historic Hotel ..... from heavenly historic hotels with glistening swimming pools and sweeping views of the Ionian Sea to boutique resorts nestled in the foothills of Mount Etna or private villas and apartments, Taormina and its surrounding area has numerous luxurious and gorgeous accommodation to choose from.
  2. Dinner for 2 ..... Sicilian food is to die for and you will be spoilt for choice with restaurants most boasting views of Mount Etna and the Bay of Naxos offering traditional gastronomic cuisine. Enjoy exploring Taormina's alleys up and down searching for tempting trattorias. Do not forgot to order a cannolo, pastry tubes filled with sweetened ricotta to share for dessert.
  3. Cocktail Time ..... follow in the footsteps of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton who ran away together unseen to Taormina in the middle of filming Cleopatra and enjoyed sipping cocktails at the Wunderbar café in Piazza Aprile IX.
  4. Wine Tasting for 2 ..... take an exciting trip to Europe's highest and most active volcano Mount Etna and sample delicious Etna wines accompanied by the best local produce whilst enjoying true Sicilian hospitality.
  5. A Cooking Class ..... enjoy a hands on cooking class together in a beautiful historic villa learning to make traditional Sicilian dishes.
  6. Horse Riding ..... a morning ride along the beach or an afternoon ride through the pine woods of Mount Etna, horse riding is the perfect romantic experience
  7. Take a Boat Trip ..... what could be more romantic than a boat trip around the Taormina coastline visiting the Grotto Amoretta (Lovers Cave) and then enjoy dinner anchored in the Bay of Naxos watching the sun go down over Mount Etna?
  8. A Mountain Walk ..... from Taormina take winding steps up to the hamlet of Castelmola and enjoy stunning views down to Taormina. For the adventurous take the rustic mountain path where you will hardly pass a soul, perfect for a cheeky smooch.
  9. Watch the Sunset from the Greek Theatre ..... after exploring the historic theatre sit on the steps and watch the sunset behind the stage which boasts the natural scenery of Mount Etna and the bay of Naxos, holding hands is a necessity. In Summer book to watch an opera.
  10. Ceramic Painting ..... get artistic together and join a ceramic painting class painting in the typical way of Sicilian ceramic artists.
  11. Taormina Cult ..... follow the Taormina Cult trail and see 21 places where the muses fell in love with Taormina and made their homes, after all it was in Taormina that DH Lawrence drew inspiration for his novel Lady Chatterley's Lover supposedly written about an English noblewoman living in the town who fell in love with her Sicilian gardener.
  12. Have your Caricature drawn ..... Taormina is steeped in artistic history with many famous artists choosing the town as their inspiration, have fun being drawn by a Sicilian caricaturist in Piazza Aprile XI and have a keepsake you can enjoy forever.
  13. Hire a Vintage Fiat 500 ..... hire one of Italy's most iconic cars and drive along the stunning Taormina coastline visiting the hilltop towns where the Godfather movies were shot, headscarf and dark sunglasses are a must.
  14. Get Married ..... with last year seeing wedding tourism in Sicily at its highest level Taormina is the most perfect place for a romantic destination wedding. From baroque churches to beautiful palazzos, luxurious hotels to beach weddings the possibilities are endless to create a day you and your guests will remember for a lifetime.
  15. and finally Fall in Love again ..... not with each other but with Sicily, let yourselves be seduced by our beautiful island and join the elite club where you return year after year after year and say to your friends "Have you ever been to Taormina? It's a must see!"
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 Love Sarah x






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